Community Update – June 2026
With Hurricane Season underway, now is the perfect time to ensure your community is prepared. From taking proactive steps before a storm arrives to planning for electric vehicle safety during severe weather events, this issue of CUP offers valuable guidance to help your association navigate hurricane season. You’ll also find articles on board meeting frequency requirements, navigating support-animal housing regulations, and conducting legally compliant video conference meetings. Be sure to check out our featured podcast episode discussing important considerations for community surveillance systems.
The Office of the Condominium Ombudsman serves as an important resource for condominium owners, board members, and associations throughout Florida. From assisting with dispute resolution and owner education to overseeing certain election-related matters, the Ombudsman plays a unique role in the condominium governance process. Michelle H. Kaiser explains everything you need to know about the Ombudsman’s role and authority in “Understanding the Role, Duty, and Powers of Florida’s Condominium Ombudsman.”
As more residents use medical marijuana, condominium associations are increasingly faced with questions about how their smoking restrictions apply. While associations may have authority to regulate smoking in common areas and units, medical marijuana use can introduce additional legal considerations, including potential fair housing obligations. Elizabeth A. Lanham-Patrie explains what associations need to know in “Can a Condominium Association Prohibit Medical Marijuana Smoking in the Same Way It Can Prohibit Cigarette Smoking?”
Brandon McDowell explains four things to know about pre-mediation, including how mediation works as a supervised negotiation, who is eligible to participate, what types of disputes may be mediated, and the key statutory timelines associations must follow. Understand what to expect and how to prepare for the process in this practical video, “4 Things to Know About Pre-Suit Mediation.”
Whether construction of condominium property must be substantially completed to trigger obligations under a condominium declaration is the issue addressed by THIS CASE. Joseph Arena explains how the recording of a declaration and phased amendments affects condominium obligations in “THIS CASE: Winkelman v. Toll.”
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