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Corona Virus / Emergency Powers For Community Associations
Yes. See item (a) below in each Statute
2. Can the Board hold an executive session Board meeting and exclude Owners from attending?
No. Chapter 718, 719 and 720 only allow a closed board meeting when 1. The attorney is present to discuss proposed or pending litigation or something that is attorney client privileged; and 2. To discuss a personnel matter. There is no “emergency” exception in the law.
3. Can the Board close portions of the common elements?
Yes. See (g) in the Statutes below. The CDC and other government emergency management officials have recommended closing such facilities so you do not need a specific direction to do so for your property.
4. Do emergency powers allow the Board to tell other owners if another member is under quarantine or has the virus?
No. The Board cannot disclose any private medical information about a resident.
5. Can the Board postpone the annual meeting or allow and require members only to attend the annual meeting or a Board meeting via a conference call?
Yes. The Board may postpone the annual meeting. See (b) below. Further, Section 617.0721(3) Florida Statutes authorizes the Board to allow members to attend a members meeting via conference call and count towards the quorum if the Board can reasonably determine the person on the phone is the legal member/owner of the Unit/Lot. The Board may also close the location of the annual or Board meeting to physical attendance and require telephonic attendance per the emergency powers.
718.1265 Association emergency powers.—
(1) To the extent allowed by law and unless specifically prohibited by the declaration of condominium, the articles, or the bylaws of an association, and consistent with the provisions of s. 617.0830, the board of administration, in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency is declared pursuant to s. 252.36 in the locale in which the condominium is located, may, but is not required to, exercise the following powers:
(a) Conduct board meetings and membership meetings with notice given as is practicable. Such notice may be given in any practicable manner, including publication, radio, United States mail, the Internet, public service announcements, and conspicuous posting on the condominium property or any other means the board deems reasonable under the circumstances. Notice of board decisions may be communicated as provided in this paragraph.
(b) Cancel and reschedule any association meeting.
(c) Name as assistant officers persons who are not directors, which assistant officers shall have the same authority as the executive officers to whom they are assistants during the state of emergency to accommodate the incapacity or unavailability of any officer of the association.
(d) Relocate the association’s principal office or designate alternative principal offices.
(e) Enter into agreements with local counties and municipalities to assist counties and municipalities with debris removal.
(f) Implement a disaster plan before or immediately following the event for which a state of emergency is declared which may include, but is not limited to, shutting down or off elevators; electricity; water, sewer, or security systems; or air conditioners.
(g) Based upon advice of emergency management officials or upon the advice of licensed professionals retained by the board, determine any portion of the condominium property unavailable for entry or occupancy by unit owners, family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees to protect the health, safety, or welfare of such persons.
(h) Require the evacuation of the condominium property in the event of a mandatory evacuation order in the locale in which the condominium is located. Should any unit owner or other occupant of a condominium fail or refuse to evacuate the condominium property where the board has required evacuation, the association shall be immune from liability or injury to persons or property arising from such failure or refusal.
(i) Based upon advice of emergency management officials or upon the advice of licensed professionals retained by the board, determine whether the condominium property can be safely inhabited or occupied. However, such determination is not conclusive as to any determination of habitability pursuant to the declaration.
(j) Mitigate further damage, including taking action to contract for the removal of debris and to prevent or mitigate the spread of fungus, including, but not limited to, mold or mildew, by removing and disposing of wet drywall, insulation, carpet, cabinetry, or other fixtures on or within the condominium property, even if the unit owner is obligated by the declaration or law to insure or replace those fixtures and to remove personal property from a unit.
(k) Contract, on behalf of any unit owner or owners, for items or services for which the owners are otherwise individually responsible, but which are necessary to prevent further damage to the condominium property. In such event, the unit owner or owners on whose behalf the board has contracted are responsible for reimbursing the association for the actual costs of the items or services, and the association may use its lien authority provided by s. 718.116 to enforce collection of the charges. Without limitation, such items or services may include the drying of units, the boarding of broken windows or doors, and the replacement of damaged air conditioners or air handlers to provide climate control in the units or other portions of the property.
(l) Regardless of any provision to the contrary and even if such authority does not specifically appear in the declaration of condominium, articles, or bylaws of the association, levy special assessments without a vote of the owners.
(m) Without unit owners’ approval, borrow money and pledge association assets as collateral to fund emergency repairs and carry out the duties of the association when operating funds are insufficient. This paragraph does not limit the general authority of the association to borrow money, subject to such restrictions as are contained in the declaration of condominium, articles, or bylaws of the association.
(2) The special powers authorized under subsection (1) shall be limited to that time reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the association and the unit owners and the unit owners’ family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees and shall be reasonably necessary to mitigate further damage and make emergency repairs.
History.—s. 15, ch. 2008-28.
720.316 Association emergency powers.—
(1) To the extent allowed by law, unless specifically prohibited by the declaration or other recorded governing documents, and consistent with s. 617.0830, the board of directors, in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency is declared pursuant to s. 252.36 in the area encompassed by the association, may exercise the following powers:
(a) Conduct board or membership meetings after notice of the meetings and board decisions is provided in as practicable a manner as possible, including via publication, radio, United States mail, the Internet, public service announcements, conspicuous posting on the association property, or any other means the board deems appropriate under the circumstances.
(b) Cancel and reschedule an association meeting.
(c) Designate assistant officers who are not directors. If the executive officer is incapacitated or unavailable, the assistant officer has the same authority during the state of emergency as the executive officer he or she assists.
(d) Relocate the association’s principal office or designate an alternative principal office.
(e) Enter into agreements with counties and municipalities to assist counties and municipalities with debris removal.
(f) Implement a disaster plan before or immediately following the event for which a state of emergency is declared, which may include, but is not limited to, turning on or shutting off elevators; electricity; water, sewer, or security systems; or air conditioners for association buildings.
(g) Based upon the advice of emergency management officials or upon the advice of licensed professionals retained by the board, determine any portion of the association property unavailable for entry or occupancy by owners or their family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees to protect their health, safety, or welfare.
(h) Based upon the advice of emergency management officials or upon the advice of licensed professionals retained by the board, determine whether the association property can be safely inhabited or occupied. However, such determination is not conclusive as to any determination of habitability pursuant to the declaration.
(i) Mitigate further damage, including taking action to contract for the removal of debris and to prevent or mitigate the spread of fungus, including mold or mildew, by removing and disposing of wet drywall, insulation, carpet, cabinetry, or other fixtures on or within the association property.
(j) Notwithstanding a provision to the contrary, and regardless of whether such authority does not specifically appear in the declaration or other recorded governing documents, levy special assessments without a vote of the owners.
(k) Without owners’ approval, borrow money and pledge association assets as collateral to fund emergency repairs and carry out the duties of the association if operating funds are insufficient. This paragraph does not limit the general authority of the association to borrow money, subject to such restrictions contained in the declaration or other recorded governing documents.
(2) The authority granted under subsection (1) is limited to that time reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the association and the parcel owners and their family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees, and to mitigate further damage and make emergency repairs.
History.—s. 19, ch. 2014-133.
719.128 Association emergency powers.—
(1) To the extent allowed by law, unless specifically prohibited by the cooperative documents, and consistent with s. 617.0830, the board of administration, in response to damage caused by an event for which a state of emergency is declared pursuant to s. 252.36 in the area encompassed by the cooperative, may exercise the following powers:
(a) Conduct board or membership meetings after notice of the meetings and board decisions is provided in as practicable a manner as possible, including via publication, radio, United States mail, the Internet, public service announcements, conspicuous posting on the cooperative property, or any other means the board deems appropriate under the circumstances.
(b) Cancel and reschedule an association meeting.
(c) Designate assistant officers who are not directors. If the executive officer is incapacitated or unavailable, the assistant officer has the same authority during the state of emergency as the executive officer he or she assists.
(d) Relocate the association’s principal office or designate an alternative principal office.
(e) Enter into agreements with counties and municipalities to assist counties and municipalities with debris removal.
(f) Implement a disaster plan before or immediately following the event for which a state of emergency is declared, which may include turning on or shutting off elevators; electricity; water, sewer, or security systems; or air conditioners for association buildings.
(g) Based upon the advice of emergency management officials or upon the advice of licensed professionals retained by the board of administration, determine any portion of the cooperative property unavailable for entry or occupancy by unit owners or their family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees to protect their health, safety, or welfare.
(h) Based upon the advice of emergency management officials or upon the advice of licensed professionals retained by the board of administration, determine whether the cooperative property can be safely inhabited or occupied. However, such determination is not conclusive as to any determination of habitability pursuant to the declaration.
(i) Require the evacuation of the cooperative property in the event of a mandatory evacuation order in the area where the cooperative is located. If a unit owner or other occupant of a cooperative fails to evacuate the cooperative property for which the board has required evacuation, the association is immune from liability for injury to persons or property arising from such failure.
(j) Mitigate further damage, including taking action to contract for the removal of debris and to prevent or mitigate the spread of fungus, including mold or mildew, by removing and disposing of wet drywall, insulation, carpet, cabinetry, or other fixtures on or within the cooperative property, regardless of whether the unit owner is obligated by the declaration or law to insure or replace those fixtures and to remove personal property from a unit.
(k) Contract, on behalf of a unit owner, for items or services for which the owner is otherwise individually responsible, but which are necessary to prevent further damage to the cooperative property. In such event, the unit owner on whose behalf the board has contracted is responsible for reimbursing the association for the actual costs of the items or services, and the association may use its lien authority provided by s. 719.108 to enforce collection of the charges. Such items or services may include the drying of the unit, the boarding of broken windows or doors, and the replacement of a damaged air conditioner or air handler to provide climate control in the unit or other portions of the property.
(l) Notwithstanding a provision to the contrary, and regardless of whether such authority does not specifically appear in the cooperative documents, levy special assessments without a vote of the owners.
(m) Without unit owners’ approval, borrow money and pledge association assets as collateral to fund emergency repairs and carry out the duties of the association if operating funds are insufficient. This paragraph does not limit the general authority of the association to borrow money, subject to such restrictions contained in the cooperative documents.
(2) The authority granted under subsection (1) is limited to that time reasonably necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the association and the unit owners and their family members, tenants, guests, agents, or invitees, and to mitigate further damage and make emergency repairs.
History.—s. 16, ch. 2014-133.
Community Associations and COVID-19 FAQs
WHAT DOES THE STATEWIDE STAY AT HOME EMERGENCY ORDER MEAN FOR ASSOCIATIONS?
HOW DOES A FLORIDA STATE OF EMERGENCY EFFECT HOW MY ASSOCIATION OPERATES?
WHAT ARE THE EMERGENCY POWERS?
HOW DOES MY ASSOCIATION CONDUCT A BOARD MEETING?
HOW DOES MY ASSOCIATION CONDUCT AN ANNUAL OR MEMBERSHIP MEETING?
CAN THE ASSOCIATION CLOSE A PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATION PROPERTY? AND SHOULD YOU?
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMEONE IN THE COMMUNITY TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19?
HOW DOES THE FEDERAL STIMULUS AFFECT ASSOCIATIONS?
CAN THE ASSOCIATION CONTINUE TO COLLECT ASSESSMENTS? AND SHOULD YOU?
ARE SHORT-TERM RENTALS (LESS THAN 30 DAYS) PERMITTED? WHAT ABOUT LONG TERM RENTALS (MORE THAN 30 DAYS)?
HOW DOES THE ASSOCIATION TIMELY COMPLETE ITS YEAR-END FINANCIAL REPORT?
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