SB-721 was passed into law by the California Legislature on September 17, 2018 which amended Civil Code Section 1954, as a result of a tragic and fatal balcony collapse in Berkeley. It requires regular inspection of all balconies, decks and common walkways at multi-family dwelling units. (Condominiums are excluded since the more stringent SB-326 Law applies to HOA managed units.) The first inspection must be completed by January 1, 2025 and subsequent inspections must be done every six years thereafter.
A third-party inspector is free of any potential conflict of interest and gets you the best and most accurate report. Beware of any contractor advertising to perform both the inspection and the repairs, this could incentivize unneeded repairs.
In compliance with state law, we will inspect 15% of the EEEs at your building and provide a report. Our SB-721 inspection reports inlcude an evaluation of the structure, railings, waterproofing components, flashing and overall expected future life. This report brings the owner in compliance with state law and provides valuable information for planning and budgeting.