Building Recertification

The City of Boynton Beach Commission adopted *section 110.11 of the Boynton Beach Amendments to the Florida Building Code on December 6th 2022. This is in response to the Surfside collapse.

The purpose of the Boynton recertification program is to maintain the structural and electrical system integrity of a building throughout the life of the building, in order to protect the public health, safety, or welfare of its inhabitants. The program is not intended to determine if the condition of an existing building is in compliance with the Florida Building Code, National Electrical Code or the Fire Safety Code.

Structures that are Impacted in Boynton Beach

All of the following buildings within the Boynton Beach city limits on December 31st of the year in which the building reaches 25 years of age (based on the date the certificate of occupancy for the building was issued). After the initial recertification, buildings are subject to be recertified every 10 years.

Condominium Buildings, means the lands, leaseholds, and personal property that are subjected to condominium ownership, whether or not contiguous, and all improvements thereon and all easements and rights appurtenant thereto intended for use in connection with the condominium.

Cooperative Buildings, means the lands, leaseholds, and personal property owned by a cooperative association. “Cooperative” means that form of ownership of real property wherein legal title is vested in a corporation or other entity and the beneficial use is evidenced by an ownership interest in the association and a lease or other muniment of title or possession granted by the association as the owner of all the cooperative property.

Threshold Buildings, any building which is greater than three stories or 50 feet in height, or which has an assembly occupancy classification as defined in the Florida Building Code which exceeds 5,000 square feet in area and an occupant content of greater than 500 persons.

Exceptions

Single-family, two-family, three-family and Town homes with three or fewer habitable stories above ground.

State University and Palm Beach County School buildings.

U.S. Government, State of Florida, Palm Beach County and local municipal buildings.

Milestone inspection

A structural inspection, required under section 553.899, Florida Statutes, of a building, including an inspection of load-bearing walls and the primary structural members and primary structural systems as those terms are defined in s. 627.706, by an Architect licensed under Chapter 481 or Engineer licensed under Chapter 471, authorized to practice in this state for the purposes of attesting to the life safety and adequacy of the structural components of the building and, to the extent reasonably possible, determining the general structural condition of the building as it affects the safety of such building, including a determination of any necessary maintenance, repair, or replacement of any structural component of the building.

Phase I inspection

The licensed Architect or Engineer(s) authorized to practice in this state shall perform a visual examination of the electrical service system, habitable and non-habitable areas of a building, including, all balconies, guardrails, the major structural components of a building or structure and provide a qualitative assessment of the structural and electrical conditions of the building.

Phase II Inspections

Phase Two Building Recertification Inspection must be performed if any electrical service system or substantial structural deterioration is identified during Phase One Inspection. A Phase Two inspection may involve destructive or nondestructive testing at the inspector’s direction. The inspection may be as extensive or as limited as necessary to fully assess areas of structural distress in order to confirm that the building is electrically and structurally sound and safe for its intended use and to recommend a program for fully assessing and repairing distressed and damaged portions of the building and electrical service system. When determining testing locations, the inspector must give preference to locations that are the least disruptive and most easily repairable while still being representative of the structure.

Building Recertification scheduling & Procedure

Scheduling for recertification

The City of Boynton Beach currently has 224 buildings that meet the recertification criteria, due to the initial backlog of buildings required to be recertified, recertification on these buildings will be prioritized by location by three (3) zones and will be scheduled as follows:

Zone 1 – year 1: Barrier Island and east of Federal Hwy South of East Ocean Avenue.

Zone 2 – year 2: East of Federal Hwy North of East Ocean Avenue.

Zone 3 – year 2: West of Federal Hwy.

Procedure

Buildings that meet the recertification requirements will be notified by the City at least a year before their recertification deadline.

Required Recertification Inspection

Within 180 calendar days after the owner or owners of the building receive the written notice, the licensed Engineer or Architect, must submit Phase One of the Building Recertification Inspection reports to the Building Official for administrative review.

If the report meets the Inspection guideline requirements and there are no issues found, the building owner will be issued a Recertification Certificate.
Phase Two Building Recertification Inspection must be performed if any electrical service system or substantial structural deterioration is identified during Phase One Inspection.

If a Phase two inspection is required, within 180 calendar days after submitting receiving the written notice, the owner, must submit Phase two of the Building Recertification Inspection report(s) and must include a repair plan and schedule to the Building Official for administrative review.

Repair plan shall include a detailed proposed schedule to complete said repairs, including a schedule for submittal of application(s) for any required permit(s). The repair plan, including the schedule for completion of repairs, shall be subject to review and approval by the building official.
After permits are issued and work is complete the Architect/Engineer will submit a certificate of compliance. A Recertification Certificate will be issued.