More than 2,500 condominium buildings in Florida suffered from "substantial structural deterioration," according to a state report. Dozens were deemed "unsafe or uninhabitable." Five were evacuated, including three in St. Lucie County.

These were among the findings of a recent report published this month by the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, an independent research arm of the state Legislature.

The state research agency analyzed "phase one" and "phase two" milestone inspection reports that condominium associations submitted to local building officials from 2024-2025. A follow-up inspection is needed if a structural engineer discovers structural weakness that threatens the building's integrity.

Milestone inspections revealed substantial structural deterioration in 2,535 condominiums and cooperative buildings in Florida, the state research agency found.

Eighteen condominium associations on the Treasure Coast had substantial structural deterioration, according to a 2025 TCPalm analysis: one in Indian River County, 11 in St. Lucie County and six in Martin County.

Of the 8,736 buildings that completed initial milestone inspections, 29% had structural deterioration and required follow-up inspections, according to a TCPalm analysis of aggregate state data.

All buildings 30 years and older and three stories and taller require milestone inspections, following a state law that was passed in response to the Surfside condominium collapse in 2021. Nearly 100 people in Miami-Dade County were killed as a result of structural failure.

Workers begin repairs Aug. 9, 2024, on three Villa Del Sol condominium buildings, 11000 S. Ocean Drive on Hutchinson Island, that were deemed unsafe Aug. 8. About 11 residents evacuated from the structures in southern St. Lucie County.


There were 54 condominium buildings in eight Florida counties — Bay, Brevard, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas and St. Lucie — that were determined to be "unsafe or uninhabitable," according to the state report.

Three buildings were evacuated in St. Lucie County, which had more evacuations from milestone inspections than anywhere else in Florida. There were no reports of unsafe buildings in Indian River or Martin counties.

Aventura, a coastal city in northeastern Miami-Dade County, had 19 buildings that were "unsafe or uninhabitable," according to the report, which was the most in Florida. However, there were no reported evacuations.

"Aventura has no unsafe structures," city spokesperson Evan Ross said in a statement to TCPalm.

"The report appears to have mistakenly counted buildings with open permits while undergoing recertification as unsafe," Ross said. "The city has requested that the report be amended."

Structural deterioration was found predominantly in coastal counties and cities, the report found. Buildings near the ocean are subjected to a corrosive environment, as saltwater can accelerate corrosion of rebar within concrete, which weakens a building's integrity.

There were 10 "unsafe or uninhabitable" buildings in Osceola County, the report found, but no evacuations.

"None of the buildings were determined to require evacuation or to be uninhabitable," said county spokesperson Tyler Winik. "As of the report's publication, six of the 10 buildings identified had been fully repaired and restored."

The county's Building Safety Office enforced "immediate stabilization measures" and would have required evacuations only if hazardous conditions worsened, Winik said.

Five buildings were evacuated in Florida following milestone inspections.

  • One in Pinellas County

  • One in Monroe County

  • Three beachfront condominiums at Villa Del Sol in St. Lucie County, which displaced 11 residents.

In 2024, a structural engineer conducting a milestone inspection for Villa Del Sol videotaped rusted rebar and loose concrete chunks, which he was able to rip out with his bare hands. Residents had about 30 minutes to grab as many belongings as they could and evacuate.

"The buildings within St. Lucie County's jurisdiction were found to have significant damage to their foundations," said county spokesperson Erick Gill. "Repairs to the building were permitted and are currently being performed."

The engineer overseeing repairs at Villa Del Sol deemed the buildings were safe for residents to reenter earlier this month.

Across Florida, there were 903 permit applications for structural repairs recommended in milestone inspections, the report found. Repairs typically included concrete, electrical or structural restoration. Estimated values of identified repairs ranged from under $1,000 to $30 million.

"This report shows that Florida's condominium safety reforms are driving meaningful action," Dawn Bauman, CEO of Community Associations Institute, said in a statement.

"Thousands of milestone inspections have now been completed (and) communities are investing in critical repairs," Bauman said. "As other states evaluate their aging housing stock, Florida's experience offers valuable lessons."