Council approves mandatory condo inspections and cleans up land‑development code language

On April 15 the Estero Village Council approved two code items: it adopted Ordinance 2026‑02 on second reading to implement mandatory condominium and cooperative structural inspections required by state statute, and it approved Ordinance 2026‑03 on first reading to strike an unclear provision in the land‑development code related to nonconforming lots.

Manager Steve Sarkozy summarized the second‑reading ordinance and said the code change implements requirements set by state law: staff will direct and coordinate inspections, but responsibility for implementing and paying for inspections remains with condominium owners. “This is a section of the code that is required by state statute that makes mandatory structural inspections of condominiums and related buildings, consistent with the state statute,” Sarkozy said.

Village attorney Rob Eshenfelder explained that the land‑development amendment removes a provision (large capital letter B) carried over from county code that, as written, was redundant and potentially confusing. “This ordinance is just to clean up the section of code by removing it,” he said, arguing that the law of takings already applies generally and does not need a special call‑out in that subsection.

Council approved the condo‑inspection ordinance on second reading; the land‑development code amendment passed on first reading and staff will advertise it for public hearing on May 6.

Ending: The condominium inspection ordinance becomes part of the village code following adoption; the code cleanup will return for a public hearing and final action in May.