WOW! The housing sales numbers for 2021 were just released from the Realtors Association and they show what we ALL know. Real estate is booming in northern Palm Beach County. In Jupiter the median and average sales prices of detached houses were both up over 20%. In Palm Beach Gardens they were up 30%. IN ONE YEAR.

In the wake of the tragic events surrounding the Surfside Condominium collapse there is a public demand for change and to be clear I agree 110%. Nothing lasts forever and that includes the best built buildings. It was only after the Harbour Cay Condominium in Cocoa Beach collapsed in 1981 that Florida Threshold Inspection Laws were passed. After Hurricane Andrew that the Florida Building Code was enacted. I have little doubt that there will be a law (laws) passed which will address the need for re-certification of buildings. And in fact there are forces at work at the state level to draft and enact changes to the Florida Building Code, and licensing statute(s), which will address these concerns.

The report and recommendations from a coalition of Florida professionals. This coalition includes engineers from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Florida, the Florida Engineering Society, the Florida Structural Engineers Association, the Florida Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and other building professionals from the International Concrete Repair Institute, the Building Officials Association of Florida, and the Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects. These are all groups that represent people who are knowledgeable on the “all day – everyday” design, permitting, inspection, construction, maintenance and repair of structures.

The International Code Council is currently working on a document titled “Ensuring the Safety of Existing Buildings”.

https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/FLESEBFL2021P1

This is an entity which writes technical codes, including the base code for the FBC, and it does take time however in the end there will be a well thought out and just as important CONSISTENT document produced. Consistent with existing provisions of the FBC which may then be adopted by the Florida Building Commission as a part of the FBC to become law in Florida. We will have a law in effect at the state level which “meshes” with the building code (and state licensing) and is consistent across the various counties and municipalities throughout the state. When it needs modification, this will happen at the state level.

In short, this is coming but it takes time.