At exactly 1:22 a.m. four years ago today, the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Fla., partially collapsed claiming the lives of 98 people in an unimaginable tragedy that changed us forever.
Many of us at CAI lost friends, colleagues, and fellow members who served their communities with pride. Families were devastated, homeowners were left homeless, and board members and professional managers faced trauma while doing their best to respond to something no one should ever have to endure.
We remember them today and recommit ourselves to action.
CAI continues to emphasize the importance of building safety through proactive maintenance measures and financial sustainability in condominiums, cooperatives, and homeowners associations. CAI remains dedicated to ensuring the safety and resilience of community associations nationwide through advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels.
CAI is at the forefront of advocating for legislative changes to enhance building safety standards. We worked alongside survivors and family members who continue to fight for stronger laws and better protections in Florida and across the country. Together, we’ve made meaningful progress.
None of these legislative milestones happened by chance. They were made possible by CAI’s passionate volunteer leaders, legislative action committees, lobby teams, and state legislative partners. Their tireless efforts have helped protect lives and preserve homes in communities across the country.
We commend the hundreds of condominium communities across the country that have had difficult conversations about funding, inspections, special assessments, insurance, and long-term planning. Your willingness to face these complicated issues head on is a tribute to the lives we lost and an example of what responsible community governance looks like.
State-by-State Legislative Progress Since the Collapse
Since the tragedy in 2021, four states, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, and Tennessee have passed laws mandating reserves. Approximately 12.7 million residents live in more than 70,000 community associations in these four states. Two states, Florida and New Jersey passed laws regulating structural integrity inspections. Here’s a closer look at the progress:
Florida
Passed legislation in 2022 requiring:
- Building inspections start at 30 years, and every 10 years thereafter.
- Mandatory reserve study and funding for structural components (building, plumbing, electrical, etc.).
- Removal of opt –out for structural reserves.
- Mandatory transparency for all building safety information.
- Developer obligations pre-transition.
In 2024–25, the program was updated and expanded the My Safe Florida Home Program, offering grants for inspections and certain improvements.
Maryland
In 2022, a statute was enacted mandating reserve studies (or updates) for associations that haven’t had one since Oct. 1, 2016, and full funding within three years.
In 2024, a state program was created for authorized counties to create funding for critical infrastructure repairs in HOAs and condominiums.
In 2025, the reserve statute was updated to extend the funding timeline to five years, allowed short-term financial hardship deferrals, and required reserve studies to follow recognized standards and be conducted by qualified professionals.
New Jersey
Enacted sweeping structural integrity and reserve study legislation in 2024 requiring:
- Periodic inspections and capital reserve studies.
- Reporting and transparency to unit owners, officials, and buyers.
Tennessee
A statute was enacted requiring condominiums to conduct reserve studies starting in 2023 with updates every five years.
New Castle County, Del.
In 2023, legislation passed for routine inspections in common interest community buildings. A state-level update to the Delaware Common Interest Ownership Act is expected in 2026.
Virginia
In 2022, the state legislature formed a state work group to review building safety laws. Legislative updates are anticipated in 2026.
Other States with Introduced Legislation
Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New York, and Rhode Island introduced legislation on reserves and building safety since 2021. Some bills are pending, while others will be reintroduced in future sessions. It is critical that state legislatures and CAI legislative action committees continue to build consensus, educate stakeholders, and advocate for change.
To support boards, managers, professionals, and policymakers, CAI committed extensive resources to condominium safety. At www.condosafety.com, you will find:
- CAI’s award-winning Condominium Safety Public Policy Report.
- A model statute on structural integrity, reserve studies, and funding.
- State-by-state summaries of laws and pending legislation
- Communication templates, sample inspection schedules, and reserve planning tools
- Best practices developed by engineers, reserve specialists, attorneys, board members, and policy experts
These tools were built by hundreds of volunteers donating thousands of hours to ensure all communities have a roadmap to resilience and safety.
Today and every day, we renew our promise to never be complacent, never forget, and never stop fighting for the safety of the communities we serve.
CAI remains dedicated to its mission of providing education, resources, and support to improve condominium safety.
