Century Village East Boards Gain New Tools for Repairs and Owner Voting

As of July 1, 2025, new Florida condominium laws have gone into effect that significantly change how associations manage financial reserves and conduct voting. The revisions, passed as part of HB 913, are designed to ease financial pressures on condo associations while modernizing community governance.

One of the most impactful changes provides greater flexibility in how associations fund mandatory reserves. Previously, Florida law required associations to maintain strict reserve accounts to cover the cost of structural repairs and long-term maintenance—requirements that caused significant financial strain, particularly after the post-Surfside inspection mandates. Now, associations are allowed to use loans or lines of credit to fund these reserves, offering them an alternative to immediate large assessments. Additionally, the new law allows associations to temporarily pause reserve contributions for up to two years while they address urgent repairs identified during mandated milestone inspections. However, this pause must be approved by a majority of unit owners. These updates are intended to give associations more practical tools to manage safety and structural needs without placing overwhelming financial burdens on residents, many of whom are retirees living on fixed incomes.

Robert G. Smith, President of the South Region for FirstService Residential, noted that these changes will offer immediate relief to many communities. “The immediate impact is that condo associations now have much more flexibility,” Smith said. “They can prioritize the urgent repairs, especially those flagged during inspections.” His comments reflect the concerns many associations have voiced since state lawmakers began tightening safety regulations in response to the 2021 Surfside condo collapse.

In addition to financial relief, the legislation brings Florida’s condo voting process into the digital age. Associations are now permitted to conduct elections and owner votes using electronic platforms, as long as the systems comply with state security and privacy standards. This move is expected to boost participation, especially among absentee owners and seasonal residents who may not be physically present for meetings. Associations may also now distribute meeting notices and election materials electronically, removing the previous requirement for mailed 14-day notices. While this change is expected to reduce costs and improve efficiency, boards must ensure that all digital communications and voting systems meet legal requirements for transparency, authentication, and record-keeping.

These reforms are seen as a major shift in how Florida’s condominium communities can operate, offering both cost-saving options and technological updates. Association boards are encouraged to update their bylaws, educate residents about the new processes, and implement secure digital infrastructure to comply with the updated laws. As these changes take root, the long-term impact will depend on how effectively each community adopts the tools and safeguards now available to them.