Fla. Stat. § 509.013 § 509.2112
Public lodging establishments three stories or more in height; inspection rules.
Operative Text
The Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is directed to provide rules to require that: (1) Every public lodging establishment that is three stories or more in height in the state file a certificate stating that any and all balconies, platforms, stairways, and railways have been inspected by a person competent to conduct such inspections and are safe, secure, and free of defects. (2) The information required under subsection (1) be filed commencing January 1, 1991, and every 3 years thereafter, with the Division of Hotels and Restaurants and the applicable county or municipal authority responsible for building and zoning permits. (3) If a public lodging establishment that is three or more stories in height fails to file the information required in subsection (1), the Division of Hotels and Restaurants shall impose administrative sanctions pursuant to s. 509.261.
Florida Statute § 509.2112 requires public lodging establishments that are three stories or more in height to periodically certify that their balconies, platforms, stairways, and railings have been inspected by a qualified person and found to be safe and free of defects. This certification must be filed with the Division of Hotels and Restaurants and the relevant local building and zoning authority, starting January 1, 1991, and every three years after that. Establishments that fail to submit the required certification are subject to administrative sanctions under Florida law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multi-story public lodging establishments covered by Fla. Stat. § 509.2112 generally maintain a recurring inspection schedule so that a competent inspector can evaluate all balconies, platforms, stairways, and railings on a three-year cycle. A compliant operator files the resulting safety certificate with both the Division of Hotels and Restaurants and the applicable county or municipal building and zoning authority before each deadline. Missing a filing deadline can trigger administrative sanctions under s. 509.261, so operators typically build the inspection and filing timeline into their routine compliance calendars.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Fla. Stat. § 509.2112 establishes a public safety framework under which guests and residents of taller lodging establishments have a right to expect that structural features like balconies, stairways, and railings have been formally certified as safe on a regular basis. If there are concerns that a property has not complied with this inspection and filing requirement, a complaint can be directed to the Division of Hotels and Restaurants of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, which holds enforcement authority under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations or legal aid services can help individuals understand how this rule may be relevant to their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 29, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation