Why 40- & 50-Year Building Recertifications Must Be Paid Before Results Are Released
Florida’s 40-Year and 50-Year Building Recertification Programs are not optional inspections — they are mandatory life-safety compliance reports required by local governments under Florida law.
When a professional engineer, architect, or licensed building inspector performs a milestone or recertification inspection, they are acting as an agent of the local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) — not merely as a private consultant for the owner.
This distinction is exactly why payment is required before inspection results are released.
These Inspections Are Not “Private Reports”
A 40- or 50-year recertification is fundamentally different from:
• A pre-purchase inspection
• A private engineering opinion
• A contractor estimate
Recertifications are statutory compliance inspections required by:
• Florida Statute §553
• Florida Statute §718
• Miami-Dade & Broward County building codes
• Municipal ordinances
Once the inspection is performed, the inspector is legally obligated to report findings to the city or county — whether the building passes or fails.
The owner does not control that process.
Why Payment Must Be Made Before Results Are Released
Professional inspectors and engineers are licensed, regulated, and personally liable.
Once an inspection occurs, the professional is legally responsible for:
• Accuracy of findings
• Reporting dangerous conditions
• Submitting official documentation to the city
If payment were delayed until after results were revealed, it would create:
• Pressure to alter findings
• Ethical conflicts
• Risk of retaliation
• Exposure to fraud allegations
Florida law and professional ethics prohibit contingent-based reporting — meaning you cannot pay based on whether you like the result.
The work is performed, and payment is due.
Just like:
• A medical lab test
• A structural forensic report
• A government inspection
You pay for the professional service, not the outcome.
Who Actually Receives the Report?
Once complete, recertification reports are delivered to:
The Local Building Department (AHJ) — not just the owner.
Examples:
• City of Miami Building Department
• Miami Beach Building Department
• Broward County
• Hollywood Building Department
• Fort Lauderdale Building Department
These agencies use the report to determine:
• Whether the building is safe for occupancy
• Whether repairs are required
• Whether violations or fines must be issued
• Whether the building can remain occupied
Why Owners Cannot “Hold” or “Approve” the Report
Florida law does not allow owners to suppress safety findings.
If dangerous or deficient conditions are discovered, the professional is legally obligated to:
-
Document them
-
Certify them
-
Submit them to the AHJ
Even if the owner refuses to pay or asks for changes.
Failure to do so would expose the inspector and engineer to:
• License revocation
• Criminal penalties
• Civil liability
• Felony fraud charges
Why We Require Payment Before Release
At Miami40YearRecertifications.com, we follow strict compliance procedures:
✔ Inspections are performed
✔ Data is collected
✔ Reports are prepared
✔ Payment is verified
✔ Reports are issued to the client
✔ Reports are transmitted to the city
This ensures:
• Independence
• Legal compliance
• Ethical protection
• Public safety
What Happens If Payment Is Refused?
If payment is withheld after the inspection has been performed:
The professional is still legally required to submit the report to the city.
This means the building department will receive the findings regardless — including:
• Structural deficiencies
• Electrical hazards
• Unsafe balconies
• Corrosion
• Roof failures
• Fire hazards
Non-payment does not erase the legal duty to report.
The Bottom Line
A 40- or 50-year recertification is not a private favor — it is a government-mandated safety compliance process.
You are paying for:
• Licensed professionals
• Engineering liability
• Legal reporting
• City-accepted documentation
• Life-safety protection
Not for whether the building “passes.”
Order Your Recertification the Right Way
If your building is due, or overdue, don’t risk:
• Fines
• Code enforcement
• Unsafe structures
• Emergency evacuations
Visit 👉 www.Miami40YearRecertifications.com
Florida’s most experienced recertification inspection network.
We protect your building, your tenants, and your legal compliance. 🏢✅