Overview
Miami-Dade County's Community Associations Registry, which requires condominium, cooperative, and homeowners' associations to file financial and governing documents into a public online database, has been in effect since March 2022 and is live today. Buyers can now search a building's registration and key documents before making an offer, rather than requesting them directly from the seller or association. Associations must file or renew by February 1 each year, and a separate 2026 state law now also requires larger associations to post documents on their own website or app.
How Buyers Used to Get These Documents
Before this registry, condo buyers had to request documents directly from the seller or reach out to the association themselves, with no centralized way to access this information before making an offer. Some agents proactively pulled documents ahead of listing, but buyers still typically had to ask for them individually.
What's in the Registry
Associations are required to file:
- Governing documents and amendments (declaration, articles of incorporation, bylaws, rules and regulations)
- Contact information for the property manager, board of directors, and emergency contact
- The most recent financial statements, with any current or approved special assessments specifically outlined
- The most recently adopted annual budget
You can search the registry directly through Miami-Dade County's Community Associations Registry and Resources portal.
How This Affects Condo Lending
Lenders reviewing a Miami condo purchase need to check for special assessments and confirm accurate property management contact information as part of underwriting. Having this information centralized and publicly available makes that review faster and more consistent than the old process of requesting documents case by case.
The Ongoing Filing Requirement
Associations must file or renew their registration by February 1 of each year to stay compliant with the Miami-Dade County Ordinance for Registration of Community Associations, codified under Chapter 17-D of the county code. This isn't a one-time filing — it's an annual obligation, and the county's registry reflects whatever an association most recently filed.
A Related 2026 Update
Separately, House Bill 1021 now requires condo associations with 25 or more units to post required documents directly on their own website or app, effective January 1, 2026 — down from the previous 150-unit threshold. Between the county registry and this newer state requirement, buyers today have significantly more visibility into a building's finances and governance than they did just a few years ago.
