Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Building Department of the Town of Ocean Ridge is to safeguard life, health, property and public welfare, while providing expedited quality customer service to the community.

We depend on knowledgeable contractors, engineers, architects and  property owners to execute construction in a safe and efficient manner. Our involvement in the construction process is fundamentally regulatory. Using the Town Ordinances, Building Codes and statutory regulations, we partner with construction stakeholders to expeditiously approve development applications that are consistent with State regulations, Town ordinances and all applicable codes.

SENATE BILL 4D  
BUILDINGS IN OCEAN RIDGE IDENTIFIED AS MEETING THE BILL REQUIREMENTS.

 SB 4D – Building Safety

The Florida Legislature has enacted Florida Senate Bill SB-4D requiring mandatory structural inspections for all condominium associations (condo) and cooperative association (coop) buildings of three stories in height or taller. The new law requires a condo under chapter 718 and a coop under chapter 719 to have a milestone inspection performed for each building that is three stories or more in height by December 31 of the year in which the building reaches 30 years of age, based on the date the certificate of occupancy for the building was issued, and every 10 years thereafter. If the building is located within three (3) miles of a coastline, the condo or coop must have a milestone inspection performed by December 31 of the year in which the building reaches 25 years of age, based on the date the certificate of occupancy for the building was issued, and every 10 years thereafter. The condo or coop must arrange for the milestone inspection to be performed and is responsible for ensuring compliance with the requirements of this section. The condo or coop is responsible for all costs associated with the inspection. SB-4D does not apply to a single-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling with three or fewer habitable stories above ground. If a milestone inspection is required and the building’s certificate of occupancy was issued on or before July 1, 1992, the building’s initial milestone inspection must be performed before December 31, 2024. If the date of issuance for the certificate of occupancy is not available, the date of issuance of the building’s certificate of occupancy shall be the date of occupancy evidenced in any record of the building official of Palm Beach County.

                 A milestone inspection will consist of two phases. Phase one of the milestone inspection, a licensed architect or engineer authorized to practice in this state shall perform a visual examination of habitable and non-habitable areas of a building, including the major structural components and provide a qualitative assessment of the structural conditions of the building. If the architect or engineer finds no signs of substantial structural deterioration to any building components under visual examination, phase two of the inspection is NOT required. An architect or engineer who completes a phase one milestone inspection shall prepare and submit an inspection report pursuant to the below subsections (a) through (f). Phase two of the milestone inspection must be performed if any substantial structural deterioration is identified during phase one. A phase two inspection may involve destructive or nondestructive testing at the inspector’s direction. The inspection may be as extensive or as limited as necessary to fully assess areas of structural distress in order to confirm the building is structurally sound and safe for its intended use and to recommend a program for fully assessing and repairing distressed and damaged portions of the building. When determining testing locations, the inspector must give preference to locations that are the least disruptive and most easily repairable while still being representative of the structure. An inspector who completes a phase two milestone inspection shall prepare and submit an inspection report pursuant to the below subsection (a) through (f).

                Upon completion of a phase one or phase two milestone inspection, the architect or engineer who performed the inspection must submit a sealed copy of the inspection report with a separate summary of, at minimum, the material findings and recommendations in the inspection report to the condo or coop and to the Palm Beach County Building Division. The inspection report must, at a minimum, meet all of the following criteria:

(a) Bear the seal and signature, or the electronic signature, of the licensed engineer or architect who performed the inspection.

(b) Indicate the manner and type of inspection forming the basis for the inspection report.

(c) Identify any substantial structural deterioration, within a reasonable professional probability based on the scope of the inspection, describe the extent of such deterioration, and identify any recommended repairs for such deterioration.

(d) State whether unsafe or dangerous conditions, as those terms are defined in the Florida Building Code, were observed.

(e) Recommend any remedial or preventive repair for any items that are damaged but are not substantial structural deterioration.

(f) Identify and describe any items requiring further inspection.

                The condo or coop must within 180 days after receiving written notice (this letter) from the Palm Beach County Building Division, complete phase one of the milestone inspection. For purposes of this letter, completion of phase one of the milestone inspection means the licensed engineer or architect who performed the phase one inspection submitted the inspection report by e-mail, United States Postal Service, or commercial delivery service to the Palm Beach County Building Division.   The Palm Beach County Building Division may prescribe timelines and penalties with respect to compliance with this this letter. The PBC BCC may adopt an ordinance requiring that a condo or coop schedule or commence repairs for substantial structural deterioration within a specified timeframe after the local enforcement agency receives a phase two inspection report; however, such repairs must be commenced within 365 days after receiving such report. If an association fails to submit proof to the local enforcement agency that repairs have been scheduled or have commenced for substantial structural deterioration identified in a phase two inspection report within the required timeframe, the local enforcement agency must review and determine if the building is unsafe for human occupancy.

                The mission of the Palm Beach County Building Division is to ensure life and property safety within our community in the built environment through efficient and effective administration of the enacted building codes, and by taking a leadership role in code development and education.​​​