Article Page – Florida Milestone Inspection Requirements
Florida Milestone Inspection Requirements
In this article, we go over the importance of ensuring structural safety through conducting milestone inspections, provide a brief overview of Florida’s milestone inspection law, and cover the core milestone inspection requirements. See when they're conducted, and the deadlines, from the free resources and tools included here.
Table of Contents
Article Summary
- A Milestone Structural Inspection Checklist helps streamline the process of structural inspection and allows professional to review each checkpoint with ease.
- The Florida Milestone Inspection Requirements can be classified in core categories such as what is inspected, who can conduct and what documents are required.
- The latest update on the Florida Milestone Inspection Law has enforced deadlines on the repair of structural issues after Phase 2 of the Florida Milestone Inspection Report has been submitted.
- Florida Milestones in Florida are required to be performed by December 31 of the year when the building reachers 30 or 25 years if near the coast
Why are milestone inspections important in structural safety in Florida?
Milestone inspections are very important in structural safety because it serves as critical checkpoints to confirm if the structure is still sustainable, safe and strong for occupancy. More importantly to project necessary repairs and avoid further damage.
Although disasters and structural issues are generally rare, but they still occur which is why constant evaluation is necessary.
In Florida, milestone inspections are statewide structural inspection requirements for buildings of specific height and age, and Florida is the only state that has a milestone inspection law. Their structural safety inspection is specific to the primary structural members and systems of condominium and cooperative buildings. These structural safety inspections focus in each milestone evaluating the load-bearing components of the structure to determine any substantial structural deterioration that could compromise safety.
How to conduct and format a Florida milestone structural inspection?
To conduct milestone structural safety inspection, you just need to consider the following essential steps:
- Know the scope of the inspection. Knowing the scope of the milestone inspection also means understanding the integrated regulations as usually there are specific laws that define the milestone of a building or structure to inspect.
- Compile relevant documents. Inspection also means reviewing validity of certifications, condition checks such as soil conditions and reports, proofs of repairs and other corresponding permits.
- Make use of a Milestone Inspection Report. Using a report would streamline the process of milestone structural inspection and would help the inspector to not miss an important checkpoint.
Below is an example of a Florida Milestone Inspection Report. The format of this checklist is pre-built to allow a seamless review of each check point and the added feature to easily snap a photo for faster completion of the report.
Free Florida Milestone Inspection Report Template
Use this Milestone Structural Inspection Checklist for free
Milestone Inspections Florida: what you need to know
Regular structural safety inspections are common and expected as part of ensuring structural stability and sustainability of a building; however, the milestone inspections in Florida are specific and targeted.
A few structural safety inspections exist in Florida before the milestone inspections; but they focus on broader structural, fire, and electrical safety, and some are more local rather than statewide.
There is nothing notably different about their method and tools for inspection, but Florida condo milestone inspections are targeted and focused on primary structural systems and load-bearing components, not just general building condition. These Florida condo milestone inspection requirements are specified in the law, including the specifics of which properties are eligible.
Florida Milestone Inspection Law
The Florida milestone inspection law was created after a tragic collapse of a condo in Champlain Towers to place a safety and preventive measure for overlooked structural issues such as, cracks in columns and beams or what is technically called primary structural membranes, cracks in walls, corrosion in steel and the deterioration in the pool deck because of the lack of waterproofing.
Ideally, if regular inspections are in place this should have been repaired. In fact, a 2018 engineering report warned that water proofing had failed and has expanded exponentially. However, perhaps it is the lack of sanctions that this was ignored. The Florida’s milestone inspection law is officially known as Florida Senate Bill 4‑D then became Florida Statute 553.899 or Chapter 553 Section 899 Florida Statues.
Florida Milestone Inspection requirements
When the milestone inspection law was passed in 2022, the Florida milestone inspection requirements differed in terms of coverage and eligibility of which buildings to inspect, repair timelines, and the imposition of deadlines. Below are the Florida milestone inspection requirements, as well as the notable updates from the recent July 2025 update to the law, classified into the following categories:
- What is inspected? – The law requires an inspection of load-bearing elements and the primary structural members and primary structural systems. These apply to buildings that are specifically three habitable stories and are of a certain age since occupancy.
- Who can conduct the inspection? – A milestone inspection must be performed by an engineer or architect licensed under Florida regulations and authorized to practice in the state. The law requires their seal, which signifies their license to conduct the inspection. It must be noted that previously only a single licensed architect or engineer was allowed; but now, as of the July 2025 HB913 update, design teams are allowed to conduct the inspection, provided they are under a licensed professional.
- What documents are required? – The law requires a sealed copy of the Florida Milestone Inspection Report from the professional engineer or registered architect performing the inspection. Previously, there was no standard format imposed on the inspection report, but now the Florida Board of Professional Engineers has introduced Phase 1 and Phase 2 forms to ensure consistent reporting of critical elements.
Another key document is a Florida Milestone Building Information Record
When are milestone inspections required in Florida?
The milestone inspections in Florida are required to be performed by December 31 of the year when the building reaches 30 years or 25 years if buildings are near coast. This will be based on the date in the certificate of occupancy, then it will be performed every 10 years and provided that these buildings have at least three habitable stories.
What is the Florida milestone inspection deadline?
The Florida milestone inspection deadline is 180 days, or about six months, after receiving the written notice from the local enforcement agency. Within this timeline, the condominium or cooperative must hire a licensed professional to conduct the inspection and perform Phase 1, which is essentially a visual inspection.
Once the Phase 1 inspections are completed and it is determined that Phase 2 is necessary, the law mandates that repairs must begin within 365 days after Phase 2 milestone inspection report is submitted to the local portal. This repair deadline is a significant addition in the July 2025 update to Florida’s Milestone Inspection Law, as it was not specified in the previous senate bill, which only required repairs to begin within a reasonable time.
Managing milestone inspection compliance
The most critical requirements once building owners proceed with having their condos inspected are what to inspect, when to inspect, and when to repair, as these are subject to penalties, fines, and the risk of the building being declared unsafe.
For design teams or professional engineers, it is essential to stay regularly updated on the latest changes and to have a quality inspection software that can keep up with frequent updates, trigger reminders, manage document storage until the next regular inspection along with all essential attachments and even push urgency for repair deadlines.
In summary: Florida Milestone Inspection Requirements
Milestone inspections in Florida continue to evolve and as local authorities are now included in the enforcement this makes the follow-up stronger and represents how inspection on structural issues are not to be taken lightly. Clear deadlines, refined roles and required documentation pushes building owners to take accountability to detect structural issues and repair it as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Milestone Structural Inspection Checklist required for the Milestone Inspection law?
No - the Milestone Structural Inspection Checklist is not required by the Florida Milestone Inspection Law. However it is an essential tool for professionals so they can easily comply with the expectations and regulations of the Law.
How is technology changing how people do Milestone Inspections?
Technology is transforming Milestone Inspections by replacing paper-based checklist and reports with digital solutions like Dashpivot. Teams can now improve compliance, submit reports faster by conveniently uploading the PDF forms in the local portal. This leads to save time and increase inspection quality .
Does Sitemate offer templates for Milestone Structural Inspection Checklist?
Yes - Sitemate offers ready-to-use and editable checklists, logs and reports that can also be edited for your workflow. Companies of all sizes in construction and safety management are using these templates right now to streamline their inspections.
Related resources
Florida Milestone Building Information Record
Fill out building information details to meet the Florida Building Code.
Florida Milestone Inspection Report
Conduct structural safety inspections on your buildings using this report form compliant with the Florida Building Code.
Building Envelope Inspection Checklist
Detail and log issues and concerns of the building envelope with this inspection checklist.
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