Condo Safety Florida

Waterproofing and sealants in Fort Lauderdale

Keep water out of the concrete, and budget for it in your SIRS.

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Your building department decides if salt water means a 25-year inspection.

We arrange and coordinate waterproofing and sealants for condo and co-op associations in Fort Lauderdale, working to the rules of the City of Fort Lauderdale Building Services from the first notice to the final report.

  • Free, no-obligation proposal
  • Inspections by Florida-licensed engineers and architects
  • Milestone, SIRS and recertification deadlines

The short answer

Waterproofing and sealants keep water and salt out of Fort Lauderdale concrete, and the SIRS treats waterproofing and exterior painting as a reserve item. Fort Lauderdale's first safety inspection comes at 25 years for every covered building, then every ten years. Repairs are due within 180 days of the report unless the Building Official sets another timeline.

Last updated

Waterproofing work in Fort Lauderdale

Mid-rise and high-rise beachfront condominiums behind palms and a wide beach in Fort Lauderdale
  • Repairs are due within 180 days of the report unless the Building Official sets another timeline, and the engineer or architect gives the owner and the city a sealed letter, valid for up to 180 days, on whether the building may stay occupied during the work.
  • The Broward program expressly includes balconies, elevated decks, and docks and seawalls that are attached to or support a structure, and it states that parking garages and guardrails are not exempt.
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How we handle waterproofing and sealants in Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale gives 180 days from the report to finish repairs unless the Building Official sets another date, and keeping an active permit is the condition for any longer timeline. We line up the repair contractor early, and coordinate the engineer's occupancy letter and the amended report the city expects once the work is done.[1][2]

High-rise condominium roof half stripped to the deck and half covered with new white membrane, with rolls of membrane on pallets

Permits in Fort Lauderdale

Where waterproofing matters most

Condo balcony deck with a fresh grey waterproof coating and glass railing overlooking the ocean
  • Balcony and walkway traffic coatings
  • Sealant at windows, doors, railing posts and expansion joints
  • Garage deck membranes and drains
  • Facade coatings and painting
  • Roof membranes, which are a separate SIRS item
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Planning it with restoration

Waterproofing is usually cheapest done straight after concrete repairs, while scaffolds and swing stages are already up. Ask the engineer to include coating and sealant specifications in the repair documents.

Impact-resistant sliding glass doors and windows opening onto a condo balcony above the ocean
Waterproofing and sealants in Fort Lauderdale: the local rules at a glance
TopicRule in Fort LauderdaleSource
Coastal ruleFort Lauderdale's first safety inspection comes at 25 years for every covered building, then every ten years.City of Fort Lauderdale
NoticeNotices go out by certified mail between 1 June and 31 August each year.City of Fort Lauderdale
Report deadlineThe safety report is due within 180 days of the notice, on separate structural and electrical forms.City of Fort Lauderdale
FilingReports are filed online in the LauderBuild Plan Room, and the review fee is $375.City of Fort Lauderdale
From the official pages, read 28 October 2026. Confirm dates with the City of Fort Lauderdale Building Services. Sources: City of Fort Lauderdale, Building Safety Inspection Program, City of Fort Lauderdale; Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals (copy linked from the City of Fort Lauderdale BSIP page), Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals Policy #05-05, Building Safety Inspection Program (effective 9 August 2024). Last updated October 28, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does waterproofing belong in the reserve plan in Fort Lauderdale?

Fort Lauderdale applies Broward's Building Safety Inspection Program under BORA Policy 05-05. The first inspection is due at 25 years from the certificate of occupancy, for coastal and inland buildings alike, and the next ones every ten years from the year the first was required. Waterproofing and exterior painting are SIRS items under s. 718.112(2)(g), so the work belongs in the reserve schedule.

Are balconies and garages part of the Fort Lauderdale inspection?

Yes. The Broward policy includes balconies, elevated decks and attached docks and seawalls, and says parking garages and guardrails are not exempt.

How long do we have for repairs in Fort Lauderdale?

180 days from the report unless the Building Official sets another timeline. Longer work needs an active permit and the engineer's approved timeline.

Sources

  1. Building Safety Inspection Program, City of Fort Lauderdale, City of Fort Lauderdale. Accessed October 28, 2026.
  2. Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals Policy #05-05, Building Safety Inspection Program (effective 9 August 2024), Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals (copy linked from the City of Fort Lauderdale BSIP page). Accessed October 28, 2026.
  3. s. 718.112, Florida Statutes (2026): Bylaws, including (2)(f) budget and reserves, (2)(g) SIRS, (2)(h) milestone inspections, The Florida Senate. Accessed October 28, 2026.
  4. Milestone Inspection Reporting Data 2024 and 2025, Report 26-04, July 2026, Florida Legislature, OPPAGA. Accessed October 27, 2026.

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