A major deadline for most condominiums in Florida is just more than 24 hours away, and it's likely to lead to higher fees for condo owners. A so-called "structural integrity reserve study" is due by New Year's Eve for most condominiums. The legislation is aimed at keeping buildings safer after the Surfside condominium collapse that killed 98 people in 2021. Critics in recent years have said the rules are well-intentioned but have led to higher assessment fees. That's on top of already rising insurance costs and in the Tampa Bay area, more money lost after damages from hurricanes Helene and Milton. Now, new policies requiring associations to have sufficient reserves to cover major repairs and to conduct a survey of reserves every decade are expected to lead to even higher fees. "I just feel like all of the weight is on the unit owners," condo owner Celeste Noren said. "I think the intention was correct. I still think they need to find some ways in which to help the condo associations be able to do this." Noren helped organize a town hall at the beginning of the new year to discuss issues regarding the higher costs condo owners are facing, along with the opportunity to address solutions. Tampa’s chief building official J.C. Hudgison says out of 78 letters sent out to condominium associations, 39 building safety reports have been submitted. As of now, the requirement is to look at the status of the buildings. MORE: https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/regional/florida/florida-condo-fees-increase-2025/67-4a98a2d1-3b0f-4a30-afa1-b3b0d35bf580