County recording office
Broward Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (opens in Google Maps)
Rounding up the details
Florida owner portal law applies here
HOAs with 100+ parcels follow § 720.303 (Jan 1, 2025). Condos with 25+ units follow § 718.111 (Jan 1, 2026). Password-protected portals, statutory documents, and meeting notice deadlines.
County recording office
Broward Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller
201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 (opens in Google Maps)
Florida HOAs (100+ parcels) and condos (25+ units) must maintain password-protected owner portals with statutory documents and meeting notices posted on time.
Board checklist
Municipal trash schedules, curb placement, and code enforcement pathways.
Waste collection and hurricane debris rules are set by city/county contracts in Fort Lauderdale. Code enforcement handles many property maintenance violations on private property when ordinances apply. HOAs still enforce covenants but should coordinate with county emergency management during storm recovery.
Mediation, courts, and state resources when board actions are challenged.
Florida disputes may go to county court, arbitration if required by covenants, or DBPR Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes for certain condominium disputes. Small claims limits follow Florida Statute §34.01—verify with the Broward County clerk.
Florida HOAs with 100 or more parcels must maintain a password-protected owner portal under Fla. Stat. § 720.303(4)(b) (effective Jan 1, 2025). Condominiums with 25 or more units follow § 718.111(12)(g) (effective Jan 1, 2026), including a 30-day posting rule for required records. See kindhoa.com/compliance/florida and the KindHOA blog guides for Chapter 720 and Chapter 718. Educational, not legal advice.
State-level guidance — confirm current city ordinances with local officials.
Late fee estimator
Enter your typical monthly assessment to see how local caps may apply. KindHOA can automate notices and fee schedules once your board defines the rules.
Estimated legal ceiling
$25.00
Many associations cannot assess late fees until accounts are at least 30 days past due and proper notice has been sent. You entered 15 days past due.
Tell us about your community. We'll show you how KindHOA automates dues, late fees, and resident communication — free for self-managed HOAs.
No per-door fees. No enterprise bloat. Just the tools your neighbors need to run Fort Lauderdale with confidence.
Broward County guide — condo-heavy market: §718.111 website mandate (25+ units), §720.303 HOA portal (100+ parcels), STR rules, and architectural review basics.
The quick answer
Reviewed by the KindHOA Editorial Team · Last reviewed July 25, 2026
Fort Lauderdale is a condo- and HOA-heavy Broward County market, from beachfront and downtown towers to canal-front and master-planned communities inland. Florida's Chapter 718 condominium website rule (25+ units) reaches a large share of associations here, alongside Chapter 720 for HOAs (100+ parcels) and city vacation-rental regulation.
Local rules board members use
City-specific answers for Fort Lauderdale — sourced to municipal code and official city pages. Educational, not legal advice.
Fort Lauderdale's subtropical, hurricane-exposed coastline and extensive canal system make impact-window, shutter, seawall, and flood-mitigation standards central to local covenants. Liens and CC&R amendments record with the Broward County Records Division.
Primary source: Fort Lauderdale municipal code / city ordinances
Summaries below are for board orientation. Verify requirements in the official Fort Lauderdale municipal code (opens in a new tab).
Fort Lauderdale municipal code
Florida Statutes Chapter 720 governs HOA operations, while Fort Lauderdale and Broward County may license vacation rentals and enforce fire/life-safety rules. After Hurricane-related reforms, many counties require registration or inspection. Align enforcement with valid city/county licenses and recorded use restrictions.
HOA governing documents
HOAs enforce recorded use restrictions (minimum lease terms, guest limits, parking) when consistent with applicable city licensure and state law. Covenant enforcement requires notice, cure periods, and uniform application.
Zoning & building code
Florida Building Code and local land development codes set structural and wind-load requirements—especially important in coastal counties serving Fort Lauderdale. HOAs may regulate appearance through covenants if rules are reasonable and uniformly applied.
Permit thresholds
Florida requires building permits for regulated construction under the Florida Building Code enforced locally in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County. Milestone inspections may apply in coastal condominiums. HOA ACC approval is in addition to city/county permits.
HOA architectural control
HOAs review fences and additions through architectural committees under CC&Rs. Municipal compliance alone does not satisfy HOA design or notice requirements.
State / local protections
Florida Statute §163.04 prohibits deed restrictions that prohibit solar equipment, though reasonable location rules may apply. Xeriscaping and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ standards are encouraged; HOAs should not ban drought-tolerant plants that meet municipal water rules.
What HOAs may still regulate
HOAs may adopt reasonable design rules that meet statutory tests (location, color, timeline). Associations cannot impose outright bans where state law voids them.
Florida associations need pre-season communication plans, vendor contacts, and post-storm architectural guidance.
Board checklist
Milestone inspections and reserve studies affect long-term assessments. Document findings and funding plans clearly.
Board checklist
Communities near waterways need clear drainage maintenance duties and FEMA disclosure workflows for resales.
Board checklist
Florida Statutes Chapter 720 governs HOA operations, while Fort Lauderdale and Broward County may license vacation rentals and enforce fire/life-safety rules. After Hurricane-related reforms, many counties require registration or inspection. Align enforcement with valid city/county licenses and recorded use restrictions.
Florida Building Code and local land development codes set structural and wind-load requirements—especially important in coastal counties serving Fort Lauderdale. HOAs may regulate appearance through covenants if rules are reasonable and uniformly applied.
Waste collection and hurricane debris rules are set by city/county contracts in Fort Lauderdale. Code enforcement handles many property maintenance violations on private property when ordinances apply. HOAs still enforce covenants but should coordinate with county emergency management during storm recovery.
Florida requires building permits for regulated construction under the Florida Building Code enforced locally in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County. Milestone inspections may apply in coastal condominiums. HOA ACC approval is in addition to city/county permits.
Florida Statute §163.04 prohibits deed restrictions that prohibit solar equipment, though reasonable location rules may apply. Xeriscaping and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ standards are encouraged; HOAs should not ban drought-tolerant plants that meet municipal water rules.
Florida disputes may go to county court, arbitration if required by covenants, or DBPR Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes for certain condominium disputes. Small claims limits follow Florida Statute §34.01—verify with the Broward County clerk.
Sources
KindHOA is educational software for self-managed boards, not a law firm, and this guide is not legal advice. State statutes, local ordinances, and your community’s recorded CC&Rs control and change over time — confirm liens, amendments, and enforcement with association counsel and the official sources above.
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