Hollywood closing guide

Hollywood runs from beachfront condos and the Broadwalk to established single-family neighborhoods west of the Intracoastal. Older housing stock makes permit history a frequent closing issue.

Permits and open permits

Open or expired building permits don't usually show up in a standard title search, but they can delay a closing, create problems with insurers and lenders, and leave the next owner dealing with the building department. Search the city's records early:

• City of Hollywood – Building Division
• City of Hollywood – Permits

Florida law lets a property owner close a permit even if someone else pulled it, by hiring the original or a new licensed contractor or acting as owner-builder (§ 553.79, Fla. Stat.(16)). A local building department may not deny a permit to, or fine, an arm's-length purchaser solely because a prior owner's permit was never closed (§ 553.79, Fla. Stat.(17)). More in our open permits guide.

Property appraiser, records and courts (Broward County)

• Ownership, folio/parcel number, assessed value and exemptions: Broward County Property Appraiser
• Deeds, mortgages, liens and other recorded documents: Broward County Records, Taxes & Treasury – Official Records Public Search
• Court records (judgments, foreclosures, probate): Broward County Clerk of Courts

Code-enforcement fines can become a lien on the land once a certified copy of the order is recorded (§ 162.09, Fla. Stat.(3)). That's one reason closings use a municipal lien search in addition to the title search.

Flood zone

Look up the property's flood zone and the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Enter the address, view the FIRMette, and note the zone (for example X, AE or VE) and base flood elevation. If your lender requires flood insurance, get quotes during the inspection period.

Condo and HOA notes

• Older single-family homes may have enclosed garages, additions or replaced windows without final inspections. A municipal permit search is recommended.
• Beachfront and Intracoastal condos raise association estoppel and building-safety questions.
• Hollywood is in Broward County: deed stamps are 70¢ per $100 with no Miami-Dade surtax.
• Estoppel certificates: condo associations (§ 718.116, Fla. Stat.(8)) and HOAs (§ 720.30851, Fla. Stat.) must issue an estoppel within 10 business days of a request. Fees are capped by statute. See our condo and HOA estoppel guides.
• Condo resale documents: the buyer is entitled to the governing documents, financial report and, for contracts after December 31, 2024, information about milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies (§ 718.503, Fla. Stat.(2)).
• Milestone inspections: required for condo and co-op buildings three or more habitable stories tall by December 31 of the year the building turns 30, and every 10 years after (§ 553.899, Fla. Stat.).
• HOA disclosure summary before the contract is signed (§ 720.401, Fla. Stat.).

Doc stamps here

In Broward, deed doc stamps are 70¢ per $100 of consideration. There is no surtax. Estimate yours with the doc stamp calculator.

Inspections and how to check a license

Buyers commonly order one or more of these inspections during the inspection period. Florida licenses most of these professionals, so verify any license before you hire:

We don't recommend, rank or refer any inspector or contractor. Choose your own professional and verify the license yourself with the state.

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