2,500+ Florida Condos Show Structural Damage, Just 5 Evacuated, State Report Finds

A new state report reveals that more than 2,500 Florida condominium and cooperative buildings showed signs of significant structural deterioration, and dozens were deemed "unsafe and uninhabitable"—yet only five were evacuated. The 24-page report, released this week by the Florida Legislature’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), compiled reporting data from "milestone" inspections that were carried out in 2024 and 2025.Under a state law passed in the aftermath of the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, which killed 98 people, Florida condominiums and co-ops that are three stories or taller and at least 30 years old are required to undergo milestone inspections and maintain their reserve funds to cover any necessary repairs and maintenance. In most jurisdictions, the process is split into two phases: Phase 1 is a visual inspection by a licensed engineer or architect to determine whether the building shows signs of severe degradation requiring a more in-depth Phase 2 inspection. As part of the Phase 2 inspection, testing is conducted to assess the building's structural soundness and recommend specific repairs. Building owners then ...