FLORIDA DBPR COMPLIANCE

Florida Balcony Inspections & DBPR HR-7020 Certificates

Hotels, resorts, vacation rentals and apartment communities three or more stories tall must certify every three years that their balconies, stairways, walkways and railings are safe. We inspect every area, document any defects, re-check the repairs, and complete the inspector’s section of your Certificate of Balcony Inspection (DBPR HR-7020).

What Is the DBPR HR-7020 Form?

The DBPR HR-7020 is the Certificate of Balcony Inspection from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), Division of Hotels and Restaurants. It’s how a licensed public lodging establishment shows that its balconies, platforms, stairways and railings have been inspected and are safe, secure and free of defects, as required by Florida Statute 509.2112 and Rule 61C-3.001, F.A.C.

The form records the establishment’s information, the inspection itself (date, number of areas inspected, defects found and when repairs were completed), the inspector’s certification and credentials, and a section for changes of ownership. Both the inspector and the operator sign it.

For this form, a balcony means any landing or porch that is accessible to or used by the public, including platforms, stairways, railings, guardrails, balustrades, parapets and screened enclosures.

WHO IT APPLIES TO

Who Needs a Florida Balcony Inspection?

Any public lodging establishment licensed by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants that is three stories or more in height, including:

If your building is under three stories, or isn’t licensed as public lodging, the HR-7020 doesn’t apply. A residential condominium may fall under Florida’s separate milestone inspection law instead (compared below).

When Is a Balcony Inspection Required?

New Establishments

A newly built or newly licensed establishment needs a current certificate, submitted with the license application or shown to the DBPR inspector at the licensing inspection.

Every Three Years

The certificate is valid for three years from the date the inspection was completed. A new certificate must be filed with the Division and your local building authority every third year.

Change of Ownership

A new owner can file a new inspection, or submit the previous owner’s still-valid certificate along with a new one showing the current operator. That second option doesn’t extend the original three-year expiration.

Filing began January 1, 1991. Failing to file can lead to administrative sanctions under section 509.261, Florida Statutes, including fines and action against the establishment’s license.

What Our Balcony Inspection Covers

Every public balcony, platform, stairway and walkway is examined and photographed. We look at:

How Our Balcony Inspections Work

Request a quote. Tell us the property, the number of stories, and roughly how many balconies, stairways and walkways need inspecting.
We inspect every public area. Each balcony, platform, stairway and railing is examined and photographed.
You get a clear report. Defects are documented with photos and repair recommendations, so your maintenance team or contractor knows exactly what to fix.
We re-inspect the repairs. Once repairs are done, we come back and verify them.
Your certificate is completed. We complete and sign the inspector’s section of the HR-7020 with our credentials, ready for you to sign, file with the Division and your local building department, and keep on file.

QUALIFICATIONS

Who Can Perform a DBPR Balcony Inspection?

Florida law requires the inspection be done by “a person competent to conduct such inspections.” The Division’s rule describes that as someone who, through education and experience, is competent to inspect multi-story buildings. The operator is responsible for verifying the inspector’s qualifications, and the inspector lists those credentials on the certificate.

Our balcony inspections are led by Jay Peters, Certified Master Inspector, and we’re fully insured. Our credentials come with every certificate, so you have them on file for your DBPR inspector. If we find damage that needs an engineer’s evaluation or a permitted structural repair, we’ll tell you plainly.

Balcony Certificate vs. Condo Milestone Inspection

These two Florida requirements often get confused. They cover different buildings and require different professionals.

DBPR HR-7020 Balcony Certificate

Law: F.S. 509.2112 and Rule 61C-3.001
Applies to: licensed public lodging three or more stories tall
Covers: balconies, platforms, stairways and railings
How often: every three years
Performed by: a person competent to inspect multi-story buildings

Condo & Co-op Milestone Inspection

Law: F.S. 553.899
Applies to: condo and co-op buildings three or more habitable stories
Covers: the structural integrity of the whole building
How often: by December 31 of the year the building turns 30 (25 if the local building official requires it for conditions like proximity to salt water), then every 10 years
Performed by: a Florida-licensed architect or engineer

Florida Balcony Inspection FAQs

How often do balconies need to be inspected in Florida?

For public lodging establishments three or more stories tall, every three years. The Certificate of Balcony Inspection is valid for three years from the date the inspection was completed, and a new certificate must be filed every third year.

Who can sign the DBPR HR-7020?

Both the inspector and the establishment’s operator sign it. The inspector must be someone who, through education and experience, is competent to inspect multi-story buildings, and must list the credentials that support that. Florida’s statute and rule don’t limit this to engineers; the operator is responsible for verifying the inspector’s qualifications.

Where do I get the HR-7020 form?

DBPR publishes it here: DBPR HR-7020 Certificate of Balcony Inspection (PDF). When we inspect your property, we complete the inspector’s section for you.

Where is the balcony certificate filed?

Florida Statute 509.2112 requires the certificate be filed with the Division of Hotels and Restaurants and with the local county or municipal agency responsible for building and zoning permits. New establishments submit it with the license application or present it at the licensing inspection.

Does a new owner need a new balcony inspection?

Not necessarily. Under Rule 61C-3.001, a new owner can either have a new inspection done and file a new certificate, or submit the previous owner’s still-valid certificate together with a new certificate listing the current operator. Using the previous certificate doesn’t extend its three-year expiration.

What happens if we don't file a balcony certificate?

The Division of Hotels and Restaurants can impose administrative sanctions under section 509.261, Florida Statutes, which can include fines and suspension or revocation of the establishment’s license.

Do condos and single-family homes need an HR-7020?

Only if they’re licensed as public lodging and three or more stories tall, such as a vacation rental in a mid-rise condo building. Residential condo and co-op buildings three or more habitable stories are covered by Florida’s milestone inspection law instead, which requires a licensed architect or engineer.

How much does a balcony inspection cost?

It depends on how many stories the property has and how many balconies, stairways and walkways need inspecting. Call or text (321) 877-6247 or send us the property details for a quote.

Balcony Inspections Across Central Florida

We inspect hotels, resorts, vacation rentals and apartment communities in Orlando, Kissimmee and the International Drive corridor, up through Daytona Beach, and along the Space Coast in Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Melbourne and Palm Bay. Serving Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Brevard and Polk counties.