What does a Florida condo association file with DBPR?
The Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes (part of DBPR) oversees condominium associations. Its jurisdiction is complete while a condominium is under developer control; after turnover to the owners, the Division's authority covers an enumerated list of subjects — including financial and records procedures, elections and recalls, records access, meeting procedure, milestone-inspection and SIRS completion, and board-education requirements (§ 718.501(1)).
Every association was required to create a DBPR online account by October 1, 2025, and to provide the information the Division requests — the Division may require it no more than once a year (with at least 45 days' notice), except that it may require contact-information updates within 30 days of any change. In practice DBPR collects the annual information on its forms through the online portal.
An association operating more than two units also pays an annual fee of $4 per residential unit. If the fee is not paid by March 1, a 10% penalty applies and — importantly — the association loses standing to bring or defend a lawsuit until the amount due plus the penalty is paid. (The statute itself sets no due date — DBPR's invoicing targets January 1; only the March 1 penalty line is in the text.)
What § 718.501 says, section by section
| Subsection | Plain-English translation | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| (1) | The Division has complete jurisdiction over associations under developer/bulk-owner control; after turnover, jurisdiction is limited to an enumerated list ((1)(a)1–12): financial/records procedural issues, elections/recalls/e-voting, records access, meeting procedure, conflict disclosure, director/officer removal, SIRS/milestone procedural completion and required repairs, owner written inquiries, fidelity bonding, and board education. | § 718.501(1) |
| (1)(e) | Penalties: the Division's administrative penalty may accrue per day of continuing violation, up to $5,000 per offense (with a 10-day voluntary-compliance safe harbor and a willful-and-knowing predicate for individual officers/directors) — and it may separately seek a circuit-court civil penalty of $500–$5,000 per violation ((1)(e)8). | § 718.501(1)(e) |
| (2) | Annual fee: $4 per residential unit, paid by associations operating more than two units. If not paid by March 1: 10% penalty + loss of standing to maintain/defend court actions until the amount due plus penalty is paid. (No due date appears in the text — Jan 1 is DBPR invoicing practice.) | § 718.501(2)(a) |
| (2)(c) | Directors certify completion of the written-certification/education requirements on the Division's form. | § 718.501(2)(c) |
| (3) | Each association must create/maintain a Division online account (by Oct 1, 2025) and provide requested information electronically — the Division may require it no more than once per year, must give ≥ 45 days' notice of any information requirement, and may require contact-information ((3)(a)) updates within 30 days of a change. (3)(b)–(c) list building and assessment information; (3)(d): SIRS copy to the Division within 5 business days of request. | § 718.501(3) |