Florida condominium board term limits may affect directors who have served continuously since July 1, 2018, beginning July 1, 2026. Condo associations should review director eligibility, election procedures, and statutory exceptions before annual meetings to avoid confusion, disputes, or last-minute board transition issues.
Key Takeaways:
For many Florida condominium associations, a long-discussed governance issue is about to become very real.
Beginning July 1, 2026, some condominium board members who have served continuously since July 1, 2018 may reach Florida’s eight-year statutory term limit for the first time, creating new questions for associations preparing for elections and board transitions. Under Florida law, condominium board term limits generally prevent directors from serving more than eight consecutive years unless certain exceptions apply.
For communities with longtime board leadership, now is the time to review what the law requires and avoid last-minute confusion.
One important distinction: Florida’s statutory term limit applies to condominium associations, not homeowners’ associations.
That distinction matters, particularly in communities where residents assume the same rules apply across the board. Condo boards should review election procedures and director eligibility carefully as annual meetings approach.
Florida law does not automatically force every longtime director off the board.
A director who has reached the eight-year limit may still continue serving if one of two statutory exceptions applies: the director receives an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all votes cast in the election, or there are not enough eligible candidates to fill the available vacancies.
Those exceptions can be important in communities where volunteer participation is limited or institutional knowledge is difficult to replace.
Associations should not wait until election notices go out to start asking questions.
Boards and managers should confirm how long current directors have served, review governing documents alongside statutory requirements, and determine whether any director may be approaching the term limit threshold. This is especially important in communities where the same directors have served for many years and succession planning has not been part of the conversation.
For some associations, board turnover may be healthy and expected. For others, term limits may create operational challenges, particularly in communities where volunteer interest is already low.
That does not mean associations should panic. It does mean boards should plan ahead.
Election disputes, candidate eligibility questions, and confusion over term limit exceptions can create avoidable tension if boards wait until the last minute to address them.
Florida condominium associations are entering a new phase of board governance, and some communities may feel the impact of that shift this summer.
Board term limits do not mean experienced directors automatically disappear, but they do mean associations should understand the rules, review eligibility carefully, and prepare for elections with clarity.
As with many community association issues, a proactive review now can help avoid unnecessary disputes later.
Learn More About Condo Board Governance and Elections
Campbell Property Management regularly hosts educational webinars focused on condominium governance, board elections, director responsibilities, and Florida community association compliance. Please visit CampbellEvents.org to explore upcoming educational opportunities for Florida condo boards.
Peter S. Sachs is a Founding Partner of Sachs Sax Caplan. Mr. Sachs is Board Certified in Condominium and Planned Development Law by the Florida Bar and through the years has handled a multitude of matters related to community associations (condominiums, cooperatives, homeowners, master and country clubs). He is one of the pioneers in the development of community association law and has earned a reputation as a staunch consumer rights advocate.