New inspection rules, post-Surfside?

Palm Beach County wants the state to ‘take the lead on this’

Stricter building inspection policies are likely coming to Palm Beach County in wake of the Surfside collapse — but it now may be months before anything happens.

County Commissioners debated implementing stricter measures on Tuesday, but elected to punt the issue in hopes the state of Florida will step in and institute a new statewide code in January when the Legislature reconvenes. That means the issue likely wouldn’t be revisited in Palm Beach County until March, County Commissioner Mack Bernard said.

Broward and Miami-Dade counties require structural and electrical safety inspections for condo buildings every 40 years. Inspections are carried out every 10 years, and building owners must make corrections on any issues that are found.

Palm Beach County, however, has no such law. Currently, inspectors approve new buildings, then inspect again if someone files a complaint or alerts them of potential unsafe buildings.

“The best thing would be for the state to take the lead on this,” Commissioner Gregg Weiss said.

“But if they’re not and they abdicate that responsibility to the people of Florida, then I think at some point we’re going to have to do something to make sure things are being done properly, because at the end of the day, people’s lives are on the line.”

While Palm Beach County held off on proceeding, Boca Raton moved forward with its own measures in August, enacting a rigorous new building inspection for the city.

The ordinance requires safety and structural inspections for every building older than 30 years. Building owners will be responsible for the cost of improvements, meaning assessments and condo fees are likely to increase for residents.

Palm Beach County officials last discussed the issue on Aug. 17, with commissioners in support of stronger policies to safeguard older and taller buildings. At the time, the building department was directed to continue crafting a plan and identify the number of buildings in Palm Beach County that are three stories or taller.

During Tuesday’s meeting, Building Department Director Doug Wise identified 1,500 buildings that fit that criteria, including nearly 900 that are 30 years or older. Wise said reinspecting and recertifying that many buildings would a “big reach for us,” adding that the department is short-staffed and “challenged to fill vacant positions.”

“I’m not inclined to go off and launch a big regulatory program right now unless [I’m directed to],” Wise said. “This is a difficult problem [with staffing].”

Wise insisted he believes the “majority of buildings in the county are safe” and said the department does its due diligence with following up on reported issues.

“I’m going to tell you in no uncertainty: We come,” Wise said. “People call us and we’re going to show up and we’re going to investigate. I don’t care what it is, we write it down and we go look.”

County Commissioner Robert Weinroth worried about the financial ramifications for condos and building developments. “A whole new system of re-inspections and certifications and all the costs that are attributed to that will be counterproductive.”

“I’m concerned [the Surfside collapse] has turned into something that we’re all reacting to [when] nothing really has changed here in Palm Beach County,” Weinroth said.

“We had a system in place where inspectors are going out, responding to complaints, seeing on their own accord situations that required mediation. And that system is still in place today.”