Countdown to July 1, 2026: Florida’s Eight-Year Term Limit for Condo Directors
As we find ourselves in the first week of 2026, we are reminded that the Legislature back in 2018 made a little change that will result in many condominium boards will face their first compliance test under Florida’s eight-year term limit for directors.
Florida law imposes term limits on condominium association board members to encourage turnover and prevent prolonged control by the same individuals. Specifically, Section 718.112(2)(d)2., Florida Statutes, provides:
“A board member may not serve more than 8 consecutive years unless approved by an affirmative vote of unit owners representing two-thirds of all votes cast in the election or unless there are not enough eligible candidates to fill the vacancies on the board at the time of the vacancy. Only board service that occurs on or after July 1, 2018, may be used when calculating a board member’s term limit.”
This language creates a framework for term limits while allowing flexibility under certain conditions. Note, that Chapter 720, Florida Statutes, does not contain any provision of similar nature and, therefore, the eight-year term does not apply to directors on boards for homeowners’ associations.
Because the statute specifies that only service on or after July 1, 2018, counts toward the calculation of consecutive years, the first time any director could reach the eight-year threshold is July 1, 2026. Directors who have served continuously since July 1, 2018, will be the first group affected. At that point, these directors may only continue serving if they receive an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all votes cast in the election or if there are not enough eligible candidates to fill the vacancies. If neither condition applies, the director becomes ineligible for reelection.
The statute uses the term “consecutive years,” which generally means uninterrupted service. If a director steps down for any period, it is arguable the clock resets, and prior years do not count toward the eight-year limit. However, the statute does not clarify whether partial years, such as filling an unexpired term, count as full years or break the continuity required for consecutive years.
As July 2026 approaches, condominium boards should review service records dating back to July 2018 to identify directors nearing the limit and plan for elections based on those possibilities. Communicating early with directors who may be affected may help set expectations and limit disputes during the election process.
The eight-year term limit is designed to promote healthy condominium governance and prevent stagnation; however, since the statutory limitation has not yet been tested, there remains uncertainty in how it will be applied and what affect it will have on condominium associations. Because interpretation of “consecutive years” and application of exceptions can be nuanced, it is recommended that condominium associations consult legal counsel to confirm compliance and limit the potential for challenges.