Are HOA Reserve Studies Required in Florida?
Florida’s legislative landscape regarding reserve studies has shifted quite a bit in recent years, leaving many community association board members confused about their obligations.
While recent reforms have tightened oversight for condominium associations, homeowners associations (HOAs) governed by Chapter 720 operate under different HOA rules.
Knowing this distinction is about more than just regulatory compliance. When you have all the right information about HOA reserve studies, you’ll be better prepared to protect your HOA’s financial health andavoidg the pitfalls of underfunded reserves.
Condo or HOA?
Florida draws a hard line between two kinds of community associations, and the reserve study rules are completely different on each side of it.
- Condominiums fall under Chapter 718, and – for buildings three stories or taller – now face a mandatory structural reserve study.
- Homeowners associations fall under Chapter 720, and have no equivalent statewide structural reserve study mandate at all.
That distinction surprises a lot of HOA board members who assume the post-Surfside reforms swept in every type of community association. They didn’t. The structural reserve requirement is a condominium law, not an HOA law.
Is a Reserve Study Mandatory for a Florida HOA?
Not in the way it is for a qualifying condominium. A Florida HOA board can still vote annually to waive or reduce its reserve contributions in its regular budget, the same discretion it’s had for years under Chapter 720.
Condo associations under Chapter 718 lost that discretion for one specific category. Per Board Deadline’s breakdown of Florida’s reserve law, qualifying condos must complete a Structural Integrity Reserve Study (SIRS) covering eight components:
- Roof
- Load-bearing walls and other primary structural members
- Fireproofing and fire protection systems
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Waterproofing and exterior painting
- Windows and exterior doors
- Any other item with a deferred maintenance expense over $25,000 that threatens the building’s safety if left unaddressed.
Once a SIRS is on file, the board can no longer vote to waive or underfund reserves for those specific components – full funding is mandatory.
What’s the Actual Deadline, and Has It Already Passed?
Per the Florida Senate’s official summary of HB 913, the original SIRS deadline was December 31, 2024.
The legislature extended it by one year to December 31, 2025, which means – as of today – that deadline has already passed. A qualifying condo association without a completed SIRS on file is now out of compliance, not just running late.
HB 913 also added a narrow relief valve: an association that completed a milestone inspection within the prior two years may vote, by majority, to temporarily pause or reduce reserve contributions for up to two consecutive annual budgets, for budgets adopted on or before December 31, 2028.
Even then, a SIRS has to be completed before contributions resume at full funding.
How Often Does an HOA in Florida Need to Update Its Reserve Study?
Because Chapter 720 doesn’t mandate a SIRS-equivalent for HOAs, there’s no statutory update cycle to point to. The frequency an HOA board should follow is a financial-planning question, not a compliance deadline.
Most reserve professionals recommend a full update every three to five years, with a lighter review in the years between – close to the cadence Chapter 718 condos are now required to follow for their structural components.
A reserve fund calculator is a reasonable way to sanity-check whether current contributions are still on pace between full updates.
Has Florida Made Any New Reserve Law Changes in 2026?
No significant new legislation has moved the structural reserve framework since HB 913 passed in 2025. The current rules – the 2024 SIRS mandate, its 2025 deadline extension, and the narrow contribution-pause option through 2028 – remain the operative law for Florida condos. HOAs governed by Chapter 720 still fall outside that framework entirely.
Boards shouldn’t assume that gap is permanent, though. Florida has amended this framework twice in two years, and the political pressure driving those changes – high-profile structural failures and their fallout for owners – hasn’t gone away.
Stay Ahead of Reserve Requirements with HOA Start
Whether your community falls under Chapter 718’s SIRS mandate or Chapter 720’s more flexible rules, the underlying challenge is the same: keeping reserve numbers current and visible so the board isn’t caught off guard by a deadline or a shortfall.
Start your free trial and keep your Florida association’s reserve planning ahead of the next legislative change instead of reacting to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are reserve studies required for HOAs in Florida?
- Not under Chapter 720 – HOA boards can still vote annually to waive or reduce reserves.
- The mandatory structural reserve study (SIRS) applies to condos under Chapter 718, not HOAs.
- Many Florida HOAs still choose a periodic study as good financial practice.
What is a SIRS, and does it apply to my community?
- A Structural Integrity Reserve Study, required for condos three stories or taller.
- It covers eight specific structural components, including roofs, plumbing, and electrical.
- It does not apply to homeowners associations governed by Chapter 720.
Has the Florida SIRS deadline already passed?
- Yes – the original December 31, 2024 deadline was extended to December 31, 2025.
- That extended deadline has now passed as of this year.
- A limited contribution-pause option exists for associations meeting specific conditions.
Can a Florida HOA still waive its reserve funding?
- Yes, under Chapter 720, with an annual membership or board vote.
- This differs from Chapter 718 condos, which can’t waive SIRS-covered components once a study is on file.
- Waiving reserves repeatedly raises the risk of a future special assessment.
Disclaimer: This article explains general Florida reserve study requirements and isn’t legal advice. Statutes and deadlines can change – confirm your association’s specific obligations under Chapters 718 and 720 with a Florida community association attorney.
