Miami has been on a path to provide more eco-friendly housing options for several years now. With condos and apartments being a large part of the housing market, two main ways to approach this have been encouraging the installation of solar panels and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Miami condos.
2017: MIAMI ORDINANCE REQUIRES INSTALLATION OF SOLAR TECHNOLOGY IN NEW CONSTRUCTION
solar panel installation
Miami has made great steps in the solar energy space. In June of 2017, the South Miami City Commission passed an ordinance to require developers and operators to install solar technology in new apartment construction and in existing apartment buildings. This also applies to expansion projects if the building is expanded by 75- percent or greater.
Housing providers can place solar panels on the roof, garages, patio covers or gazebos in the community to fulfill the requirements. This mandate was adopted as part of an agreement between Miami-Dade County and the City Energy Project (CEP) to reduce greenhouse gases countywide.
2018: FLORIDA AMENDMENT PROTECTS CONDO’S ABILITY TO INSTALL EV CHARGING STATIONS
The availability of electric vehicle charging stations is also poised to grow in Florida. Section 718.113(8), Florida Statutes went into effect in July of 2018, effectively making it easier for condo owners to install EV charging stations in their building’s designated parking area. The provision states that with limitations, a declaration of a condominium or the board of administration of a condominium may not prohibit a unit owner from installing an EV charging station within the boundaries of the unit owner’s limited common element parking area.
As the use of electric vehicles increases, EV charging stations are an amenity that is increasingly desired and will soon become expected. This amendment helps encourage condo association boards to go green and adopt the technology.
2019: EV ROADMAP FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA
The energy-conscious Floridian will be happy to know that the network of EV charging stations in Florida will be expanding. In May 2019, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Energy began working on a Florida Electric Vehicle Roadmap for the state of Florida.