Commission holds first reading on mandatory condo milestone inspections; members ask for scope clarifications

The commission conducted first reading of Ordinance 25‑024 to establish mandatory milestone (structural) inspections and a time frame for repairs following a phase‑2 inspection report for condominium and cooperative buildings.

Paul Thomas, the building director, explained that milestone inspections (established in state law) require third‑party structural reviews for condominiums three stories or higher and typically at ages starting at 30 years; a phase‑1 inspection establishes whether deficiencies warrant a phase‑2 forensic report. The proposed city code codifies a 365‑day period for owners to commence or schedule repairs identified in a phase‑2 report.

Commissioners pressed the building director for clarification: whether milestone inspections require investigations of interior unit electrical, plumbing or HVAC systems; whether the city’s permitting timeframes would force immediate expenditures; and the potential cost burden on fixed‑income residents and condominium unit owners. Mr. Thomas and staff said the milestone program is carried out by third‑party engineers and that the building department enforces necessary permits and inspects repairs to the building code, but is not conducting forensic sweeps of every unit. Staff reported that Fort Pierce completed phase‑1 inspections for about 50 qualifying structures and that most findings led to minor repairs rather than large‑scale failures.

Commissioners requested a written follow‑up from the building department clarifying inspection scope, permitting timelines, examples of typical repairs and local compliance status before the ordinance’s second reading.