25-Year Building Safety Inspection Program

Overview

The 25-year or Older Building Safety Program was created in 2005 and is now in effect throughout Broward County. Modeled after Miami-Dade County’s program which has been in effect since the 1970’s, Broward’s program calls for structural and electrical safety inspection for buildings 25 years old or older and every ten years, thereafter.

Exempt from this program are:

  • One- and two-family dwellings
  • U.S. government buildings
  • State of Florida owned buildings
  • Schools under the jurisdiction of the Broward County School Board
  • Buildings built on Indian reservations
  • All buildings under 3,500 square feet

Both Broward and Dade County have had instances of structural building failures. This program helps minimize the possibilities of future building failure and better prepares us for hurricane winds.

Please review the following information for:

  • Detailed information about the program
  • Structural and electrical report forms
  • Guidelines for buildings to be inspected by design professionals hired by private building owners

Each municipality has the authority to establish a fee to review the Safety Inspection Reports. There is a $200.00 per building fee, at the time of submittal, for the City of Margate Building Department to review the reports.

After review of the reports, if the building is determined to be safe you will not be required to have another Building Safety Inspection for ten (10) years. In the event the report proves there are structural or electrical deficiencies, the owner shall have one hundred-eighty (180) days from the date of the report to obtain the required permit(s) and complete the necessary repairs.

If the 25-Year Building Safety Program affects your property, you will receive a certified letter with information about what you need to do.

For more information regarding the 25-Year or Older Building Safety Program, please email Andrew Valentino at avalentino@margatefl.com  or Linda McNamara at lmcnamara@margatefl.com  or call at 954-970-3004.


Information Resources on the 25-Year Building Safety Inspections