The bill amends section 95.11 of the Florida Statutes, which pertains to the statute of limitations for actions related to the design, planning, or construction of improvements to real property. It revises the time frame within which such actions must be initiated, establishing that the limitation period begins from the earliest of several specified dates, including the completion of the improvement, abandonment of construction, termination of the contract, or completion of the contract. The bill also introduces definitions for "completion of the improvement" and "completion of the contract," clarifying the conditions under which the statute of limitations applies.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that actions must be commenced within seven years after the earliest date of completion or abandonment, and it allows for counterclaims and related claims to be filed up to one year after the original pleading is served. It specifies that if construction is performed under a valid building permit and a temporary or final certificate of occupancy has been issued, the correction of defects does not extend the time limit for initiating an action. The bill aims to provide clearer guidelines for property-related legal actions and ensure that claims are addressed within a reasonable time frame.

Statutes affected:
H 705 Filed: 95.11