Fort Lauderdale, FL HOA Rules: Architectural Review (2026)

F.S. 720.3035 Architectural control covenants; parcel owner improvements; rights and privileges. — (1)(a) The authority of an association or any architectural, construction improvement, or other such similar committee of an association to review and approve plans and specifications for the location, size, type, or appearance of any structure or other improvement on a parcel, or to enforce standards for the external appearance of any structure or improvement located on a parcel, shall be permitted only to the extent that the authority is specifically stated or reasonably inferred as to such location, size, type, or appearance in the declaration of covenants or other published guidelines and standards authorized by the declaration of covenants. An association or any architectural, construction improvement, or similar committee of an association must reasonably and equitably apply and enforce on all parcel owners the architectural and construction improvement standards authorized by the declaration of covenants or other published guidelines and standards authorized by the declaration of covenants. (b) An association or any architectural, construction improvement, or other such similar committee of an association may not enforce or adopt a covenant, rule, or guideline that: 1. Limits or places requirements on the interior of a structure that is not visible from the parcel's frontage or an adjacent parcel, an adjacent common area, or a community golf course. 2. Requires the review and approval of plans and specifications for a central air-conditioning, refrigeration, heating, or ventilating system by the association or any architectural, construction improvement, or other such similar committee of an association, if such system is not visible from the parcel's frontage, an adjacent parcel, an adjacent common area, or a community golf course and is substantially similar to a system that is approved or recommended by the association or a committee thereof. (6)(a) To protect the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the state and to ensure uniformity and consistency in the hurricane protection installed by parcel owners, this subsection applies to all homeowners' associations in the state, regardless of when the community was created. The board or any architectural, construction improvement, or other such similar committee of an association must adopt hurricane protection specifications for each structure or other improvement on a parcel governed by the association.