Summary of = Ordinance 75-34

Summary=20 of Miami-Dade County Code, Sec 8-11, Ordinance = 01-112

40=20 Year Building Recertifications

In=20 Miami-Dade County

The=20 Recertification Ordinance was initially adopted by the Miami-Dade County = Commission in 1975. It = was replaced=20 in 2001 by the current law which adopts the Florida Building Code and = continues the=20 requirement that buildings in Miami-Dade County after 40 years (and = every 10=20 years thereafter) be recertified by a registered Florida Engineer or = Architect=20 for structural and electrical safety. =20 This Ordinance applies to all of unincorporated Miami-Dade County = and the=20 incorporated Cities within the County. =20 Single family homes, duplexes and minor structures are exempt = from this=20 Ordinance.

The=20 system works as follows: = when a=20 building becomes 40 years old the Code Compliance Section of the County = or City=20 in which the building is located sends out a "Notice of Required = Inspection" to=20 the Property Owner. From = the date=20 of this notice the property Owner has 90 days during which to = complete=20 the required inspection. = Based on=20 the result of this inspection, the building will be structurally and=20 electrically recertified for ten (10) years or there will be = improvements=20 required for the recertification. =20 If improvements are required, the Property Owner is given a total = of=20 150 days (90+60 added) to complete the required = improvements. A follow up report is then = submitted by=20 the Engineer stating that these improvements have been made and the = building=20 recertified.

The=20 County has issued required "Minimum Guidelines for Building Structural = and=20 Electrical Recertification" which Professional Engineers are required to = follow. Standardized = forms issued=20 by the County are usually sent to the Property Owner with the=20 Notice.

It=20 important to note that, in many cases, buildings older that 40 years = have never=20 been sent a Notice of this required rectification. It is incumbent on = the=20 Property Owner to acquire this initial 40 year recertification whether a = notice=20 has been sent of not. = Additionally,=20 it is the responsibility of the Property Owner to recertify their = building every=20 10 years thereafter. = Building not=20 properly recertified can pose a liability to Owners in the event of a = failure or=20 accident.

A=20 copy of Miami-Dade County Code Sec = 8-11,=20 Ordinance 01-112 is a part of this web site. Additionally, in recent years, = a=20 requirement under Item # 19 of the "Minimum Electrical Requirement" is = being=20 enforced for minimum parking lot and alley lighting as adopted under = Miami-Dade=20 County Code Sec = 8C-3.