Understanding The New Florida Condo Website Law

Beginning January 1, 2019, new Florida Condo laws require condos to operate an independent website for their community Association and residents.

Understanding The New Florida Condo Law

Beginning January 1, 2019, new laws regarding Florida condominium Associations and other residential Associations, took effect.

The new Florida condo laws stipulate that condominium associations are required to own and operate an independent website for their community Association and residents. 

Here we’ve answered some general questions about the new Florida condo laws.

We’ll explain who the laws apply to, how this affects your HOA or Board, and details of what to include on your property Association website.

Who does the new Florida Condo law affect?

As with all legal documentation, the laws can be ambiguous and vague.

This new ‘Florida Condo Association,’ law is no exception. The law, as written, does not formally express which Associations are excluded, claiming more generally that,

“Each association shall designate on its website.”  Thereby, cleverly imposing the law upon any residential community with an Association. 

Our suggestion?

Go ahead and build your condo website.

It is better to be safe than sorry.

If you live in a condominium or residential neighborhood in Florida, even if it’s an HOA, a website is a great tool to have for residents and the Board anyway.

Even if it is not strictly applicable in the 2019 law, it very likely will be soon.  

How does this affect my Florida condo Association or HOA?

In a general sense, this should be a wake-up call to your Florida Condo Association to begin transitioning to technology-based platforms.

The Board must take into consideration the uses of the website as stipulated by the law to ensure it is compliant.

This may mean updating an existing condominium website or starting from scratch. 

The law states that the Florida Association should run “an independent website or web portal wholly owned and operated by the association; or A website or web portal operated by a third-party provider with whom the association owns, leases, rents, or otherwise obtains the right to operate a web page, subpage, web portal, or collection of subpages or web portals dedicated to the association’s activities and on which required notices, records, and documents may be posted by the association.”  

Inasmuch, the website can be run by the Association OR a third-party agency, but must be private and include various private and public subpages. Your Florida condo Association or HOA must own, operate, and maintain a website. 

Florida Condo Association Website specifics 

• The association’s website must be accessible through the Internet
• The association’s website must contain a private and protected subpage or portal accessible only to residents, unit owners, and employees and inaccessible to the general public
• The association’s website must include digital copies of governing documents
• The association’s website must include lists of contracts, documents, open bids, and other executive documents. Budgets and financial documents are also required to be digitally accessible via a private webpage or portal. 
• The association’s website must include information on the Board of Directors, Board meeting notices, and agendas.

An exhaustive list of required documentation and website features can be found on the Florida State Senate website.  (Scroll down to point 194, starts at line: (g)1.)

As of January 1, 2019, Florida Condominium Associations are required by law to have a website.

If your Florida Association does not own and operate a private website, from a legal standpoint, now is the time.

The website should meet the stipulations addressed in the new Florida condo law, outlined above.

If you need help or have questions, we’re here to help.

Let us help you build a condo website that meets all necessary legal requirements, and serves your community.