Phase 1 milestone inspection in Fort Lauderdale
Due within 180 days of your building department's notice.
Get Your Free Proposal
Tell us about your building and any notice or deadline you have. We will respond right away with next steps and a proposal.
We arrange and coordinate Phase 1 inspections 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
Phase 1 is the visual examination and sealed report that opens every milestone inspection, and in Fort Lauderdale we line it up with the notice and filing rules of the City of Fort Lauderdale Building Services. Notices go out by certified mail between 1 June and 31 August each year. The safety report is due within 180 days of the notice, on separate structural and electrical forms.
Last updated
Who this is for
Associations that have received, or expect, the building department's certified letter, and managers who need the 180-day clock and owner notices handled.
What Fort Lauderdale sets for Phase 1
- BORA gives each city its list of buildings due by June, and Fort Lauderdale mails the notices by certified mail with return receipt between 1 June and 31 August.
- The inspection and report are due within 180 days of the notice, on separate structural and electrical inspection forms with color photos of the conditions found.
- Reports are digitally signed and sealed and uploaded as separate files through the BSIP application in the LauderBuild Plan Room; paper submissions are no longer accepted, and the review fee is $375.
- The electrical report is prepared by a Florida-licensed professional who specializes in electrical design, and anyone removing electrical covers for the inspection must show NFPA 70E and OSHA 1910 training.
- For threshold buildings, more than three stories or 50 feet tall, the structural portion is prepared by a Florida-licensed professional who specializes in structural engineering and qualifies as a Special Inspector.
How we handle Phase 1 inspections in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale boards plan around a summer notice season. Letters arrive between June and August, the report is due 180 days later, and repairs are due 180 days after the report, so a building noticed in July is usually repairing by the following summer. Because BORA counts the Broward inspection as both milestone phases, we scope one structural and electrical inspection for the LauderBuild filing.[1][2]
Permits in Fort Lauderdale
- City of Fort Lauderdale Development Services, Permitting Services: Building Safety Inspection Program notices, report review and repair permits
What happens in a Phase 1 inspection?
- Review of available drawings, prior reports and repair records
- Walk-through of common areas, garages, roofs, balconies, walkways and a sample of units
- Visual assessment of load-bearing elements and primary structural members and systems
- A sealed report with a separate summary of material findings and recommendations
What must the Phase 1 report say?
- The seal and signature of the engineer or architect
- The manner and type of inspection
- Any substantial structural deterioration, its extent and recommended repairs
- Whether unsafe or dangerous conditions, as the Florida Building Code defines them, were observed
- Recommended remedial or preventive repairs for damaged items that are not substantial deterioration
- Items requiring further inspection
Timeline from notice to owner summary
- Day 0: certified letter from the building department
- By day 14: association notifies unit owners of the inspection and due date
- By day 180: Phase 1 report submitted to the building department
- Within 45 days of receiving the report: inspector summary to every owner, posted on the property and on the association website if one is required
| Topic | Rule in Fort Lauderdale | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Extensions | The Building Official may allow up to 60 extra days to file, and 60 days to obtain repair permits. | BORA Policy 05-05 |
| First inspection | Fort Lauderdale's first safety inspection comes at 25 years for every covered building, then every ten years. | City of Fort Lauderdale |
| Buildings covered | Structures under 3,500 square feet and small residential buildings are exempt. | City of Fort Lauderdale |
| Repairs | Repairs are due within 180 days of the report unless the Building Official sets another timeline. | City of Fort Lauderdale |
Frequently asked questions
How long do we have to finish Phase 1 in Fort Lauderdale?
The inspection and report are due within 180 days of the notice, on separate structural and electrical inspection forms with color photos of the conditions found. If the engineer cannot meet the date, ask for an extension before it passes.
When do Fort Lauderdale notices go out?
By certified mail between 1 June and 31 August each year. The 180-day report clock starts from the notice.
How do we file in Fort Lauderdale?
Digitally signed and sealed reports go through the BSIP application in the LauderBuild Plan Room, with a $375 review fee. Paper is no longer accepted.
Who prepares the electrical report in Fort Lauderdale?
A Florida-licensed professional who specializes in electrical design, using the separate electrical inspection form.
Sources
- Building Safety Inspection Program, City of Fort Lauderdale, City of Fort Lauderdale. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- 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.
- s. 553.899, Florida Statutes, Online Sunshine, Florida Legislature. Accessed October 28, 2026.
- Milestone Inspection Reporting Data 2024 and 2025, Report 26-04, July 2026, Florida Legislature, OPPAGA. Accessed October 27, 2026.
Get a free quote
Tell us about your project and we will get back to you fast.