Every time a condo board turns over, at least one new member asks: "Where do I start?" The statute answers that question directly.
The 90-day certification requirement
Under F.S. 718.112(2)(d), within 90 days of being elected or appointed to the board, each new director must do one of two things:
Option 1: Certify in writing that they have read the association's declaration of condominium, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and current written policies; that they will work to uphold those documents and the law; and that they will faithfully discharge their fiduciary responsibility.
Option 2: Complete an approved education course for condominium board members offered by a state university, college, DBPR-approved provider, or the association's attorney.
The certification or course completion must be recorded in the official minutes. If a director fails to complete the requirement within 90 days, they are suspended from service on the board until they comply.
What the certification covers
Option 1 is straightforward but means actually reading the governing documents. For a building with a 74-page declaration, detailed bylaws, and a separate rules document, this is real work. But it is the work the statute requires.
Option 2 (the education course) covers the basics of condominium law, board member responsibilities, financial oversight, and meeting procedures. DBPR maintains a list of approved course providers.
Why this matters
New board members who have not read the declaration make decisions that conflict with it. The most common example: a new board member proposes a rule change that the declaration already addresses, and the rule they adopt contradicts the recorded declaration. The certification requirement exists to prevent this.
Bottom line
The association should track certification dates for every board member and note them in the minutes. If a seat turns over mid-term (resignation, recall, vacancy), the 90-day clock starts from the date of appointment, not the date of the next annual meeting.
The association should track certification dates for every board member and note them in the minutes. If a seat turns over mid-term (resignation, recall, vacancy), the 90-day clock starts from the date of appointment, not the date of the next annual meeting.
Statute text summarized for reference. For application to your building's specific facts, consult a Florida-licensed condominium attorney.