Marathon to Require High-Rise Condo Recertification Every 10 Years

In response to the tragic events of the building collapse in Surfside earlier this year, all major real estate markets are reevaluating and revamping their certification processes in regards to high rise condo building safety, and the Florida Keys are no different. One of the first to tackle the issue with a workable plan is Marathon. On August 10, the Marathon City Council passed a new ordinance stating that, effective immediately, all commercial properties and high rise condos in Marathon that are older than 17 years old will need to be both inspected and recertified every 10 years. Exempt from the new law are any properties that are considered “minor”, properties that are occupied by fewer than 10 people or properties that are less than 2,000 square feet.

When buildings are up for recertification, the city will issue notice to the building owner. Upon receipt of notice, owners will have up to 90 days in order to get their building inspected by a professional architect or engineer, licensed with the state of Florida, and submit their report to city building officials. If no issues are found, the building will be recertified for the next 10 years. However, if any defects are found during inspection building owners will have an additional 150 days for repairs or changes. If the inspecting engineer or architect finds any conditions in the building deemed unsafe, a city building official must be immediately notified and a “cessation of use” can be declared for the residents’ safety.

The City of Marathon has compiled an initial list of Marathon condo buildings that will need to seek recertification, including the tallest high rise in the Keys, Bonefish Towers built back in 1975 and others. As the ordinance is rolled out, the preliminary list will continue to grow. Other local municipalities will follow, all trying to ensure resident safety in the wake of the Surfside tragedy.