By Peter S. Sachs, Esq. While Florida has had few reported incidents of federal officers visiting homeowners or condominium communities, several homeowner associations and community managers have raised questions about how to respond if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers appear in their communities. Increased public attention has pr...

By Greg McAloon, Esq.Sachs Sax Caplan, P.L. Homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and condominium boards are already under increasing financial pressure. Between rising insurance costs, post-Surfside safety requirements, and mounting special assessments, many communities are stretched thin. Yet a lesser-known issue is quietly adding another layer of fina...

By Michael S. Weiner, Partner at Sachs Sax Caplan Florida’s condominium market is undergoing a seismic shift. As the financial realities of post-Surfside safety reforms set in, many condo associations (especially in aging buildings) find it increasingly difficult to comply with reserve mandates, structural repairs, and rising insurance premiums. Fo...

By Michael E. Chapnick, Partner at Sachs Sax Caplan  Florida’s condo landscape continues to evolve. Safety rules and reserve requirements are now fully in play, while insurance costs remain high. For some aging buildings, boards and owners are weighing whether continued special assessments make sense — or whether a structured termination and r...

Florida’s gun laws changed dramatically this fall. In September, a state appellate court struck down the long-standing ban on open carry as unconstitutional. Shortly after, the Attorney General advised law enforcement that open carry should be considered lawful statewide. Floridians may now openly carry firearms in many public places without the im...

By Steven G. Rappaport, Partner at Sachs Sax Caplan Florida’s sweeping condo safety reforms, enacted after the Surfside tragedy, were designed to protect residents from another catastrophic collapse. Yet, as the dust settles, community leaders now face a sobering reality: skyrocketing fees and assessments are pushing many unit owners, especially se...

South Florida’s hurricane season is becoming more and more unpredictable. Take for example last year’s 2024 hurricane season, which started out relatively quiet before seeing back-to-back storms in late September and early October – Hurricanes Helene and Milton hitting just 13 days apart. Therefore, being proactive and prepared is the onl...

Following the devastating collapse of Champlain Towers South in 2021, Florida has undertaken the most sweeping condo safety reforms in the state’s history. These new regulations, while aimed at preventing another tragedy, have also placed significant financial burdens on condo associations and unit owners, raising concerns about affordability, prop...

Florida’s homeowners’ associations (HOAs) and condominium boards are at the center of a legal transformation. Over the past few years, Tallahassee has enacted significant legislative changes aimed at increasing transparency, financial responsibility, and structural integrity within community associations. These new regulations, while designed to pr...

As a veteran real estate and community association attorney with decades of experience, I’ve witnessed the transformative impact of legislation on our housing markets. Florida’s recent condominium safety regulations, born from the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers South, are well-intentioned measures aimed at ensuring structural integrity and...

As we usher in 2025, Florida's condominium landscape is undergoing significant transformation due to new safety regulations enacted in response to the tragic Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside. These laws, designed to enhance building safety and ensure structural integrity, mandate that condominium associations maintain adequate reserves f...

We recently wrote an article discussing the need for individual homeowners’ insurance even if you have paid off your mortgage. The prior article was specifically focused on single family homes. This article discusses the specific, detailed statutory requirement for condominium association required insurance, leaving for owners of condominium units ...

Today we'll discuss an important topic that seems to be inquired about often regarding community associations governance in Florida - and that topic is closed board of directors’ meetings. An important aspect of the board of directors’ role in governing an association—whether it is a condominium association or homeowners association—is transparency...

Creating a budget is one of the primary and most important functions that any community association board does during its tenure. The budget will serve as the guideline to determine the dollar amount owners are charged to live in their communities. There are differing obligations to consider when budgeting for a Homeowners Association (HOA) versus ...

Senate Bill 360 (SB 360) was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 13, 2023, immediately becoming effective upon such signing. The bill is sure to significantly impact construction defect claims in Florida. This is because it drastically reduces the time limit for property owners to file suit against builders and construction prof...