Building Recertification Program

BDRecert@cityofdoral.com

City of Doral Guidance Document

Building Recertification (former 40-Year Recertification) Guide(PDF, 143KB)

The City of Doral is one of 35 municipalities in Miami-Dade County. In addition to local ordinances, the city follows and enforces the Code of Miami-Dade County as well as Florida Statutes F.S. 553.899.

Section 8-11(f) of the Code of Miami-Dade County pre-dates the state “Milestone Program” and is more restrictive.

Changes effective January 2022

The recertification program in Miami-Dade County has been strengthened to include inspecting additional building components and providing a more detailed look into existing buildings. Approved by the Board of Rules and Appeals (BORA), the updated guidelines and report templates have been revised. Information about how the new guidelines and report templates have changed is available on Miami-Dade’s site here:

•  Miami Dade Templates & Forms Available: https://www.miamidade.gov/global/economy/building/recertification.page

•  Each page of the electrical and structural report must be signed and sealed by the engineer or architect, unless submitted electronically using a verifiable digital signature. In addition, if there is more than one building on the property, a site plan or copy of a survey showing the location of each building must be submitted. The building that is the subject of the Recertification report must be clearly identified on the site plan or survey submitted.

Changes effective June 2022

How are building recertifications affected by the new law?

  1. The new state law, which went into effect on May 26, 2022, created new requirements for milestone inspections of condominium and cooperative association buildings that are three stories and taller. Miami-Dade County has had a building recertification program since 1975, which was amended on June 1, 2022. The integration of the new law together with the amended Miami-Dade ordinance has the following impacts to all existing buildings in Miami-Dade County:
    • All buildings built on or before 1982 that have already had an initial recertification inspection through Miami-Dade’s 40-Year program will continue to follow the established schedule.
    • Coastal condominium and cooperative buildings three stories or taller built between 1983 and 1997 and located within three miles of the coastline must have a recertification inspection by December 31, 2024, and every 10 years thereafter. These buildings are being identified through a GIS mapping project.
    • All other buildings built between 1983 and 1992 must have a recertification inspection by December 31, 2024, and every 10 years thereafter.
    • All condominium and cooperative association buildings that are three stories or taller located within three miles of the coastline (not applicable for City of Doral) built on or after 1998 must have a building recertification inspection when the building age reaches 25 years, and every 10 years thereafter.
    • All other buildings built on or after 1993 must have a recertification inspection when the building age reaches 30 years, and every 10 years thereafter.

How the process starts

Each year, new properties become subject to the recertification process at 30 years and every 10-year interval thereafter for the life of the structure, pursuant to Section 8-11(f) of the Code of Miami-Dade County. For those properties that require certification, the property owners receive a Notice of Required Recertification to commence the process. A record will be created in the city’s permitting system. All users should follow guidance on the Videos & Tutorials page for setting up a permitting portal account.

Note that the following types of residences do not go through the recertification process:

  • Single-family homes
  • Duplexes
  • Buildings with 10 occupant load or less and 2,000 square feet or less

After Notification

Property owners must submit written recertification reports prepared by a Florida-registered professional engineer or architect, certifying each building or structure is structurally and electrically safe for the specified use for continued occupancy. The design professional must have proven qualifications by training and experience in the specific technical field covered in the inspection report (structural and/or electrical) as per the Miami-Dade County Code. The city cannot recommend a design professional.

The recertification reports must be submitted within 90 days from the date of notice by the anniversary date of the building.

The online permitting system will accept 10-year “renewal” recertification reports AFTER initial recertification. Do NOT apply for initial Building Milestone recertification through this work class. For more specific questions or concerns, please email BDRecert@cityofdoral.com.

Extension Requests

Please note that per Florida Statute & the Florida Building Code, a one-time extension of 60-days is permissible as long as the building is safe to occupy. Signed and sealed letters from the professional of record may be submitted to BuildingOfficial@cityofdoral.com.

Letters MUST include:

  • Address / Folio & Building Number if applicable
  • Confirm building is safe to occupy while final report is issued
  • If repairs are needed, indicate same
  • Building Year Built or Certificate of Occupancy (CO) Date

Kindly submit a letter to request 60-days from the anniversary date (if your due date was 12/31/24, you may be granted an extension to March 1, 2025).

IMPORTANT: The Building Recertification Program is now a 30-year/10-year program; your file names and letter body can simply reference “Building Recertification Program” or just “Building Recertification” as well as the ‘BDAD-YYMM-NNNN” number that is assigned to each building, if already in process.

Expired processes or buildings that have failed to be recertified will be referred to code compliance for immediate action.

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