Sacramento Balcony Deck Compliance Repairs

SB721 Compliance

California passed Senate Bill No. 721 in 2018, ushering in increased safety standards for exterior elements. Commonly known as the "deck and balcony inspection" bill, it took effect in January 2019 and aims to ensure better protection against potential structural issues that could cause harm over time.

Under this bill, all structures that are elevated over six feet above the ground and made from wood or wood-based elements must be inspected by qualified professionals. These structures can include:

• Porches
• Stairways
• Walkways
• Decks
• Elevated entry structures

Initial inspections must be completed by January 2025, and subsequent inspections should be completed every six years. Failure to complete inspections or repairs can result in civil penalties and fines (i.e. up to $500 for each day of non-compliance).

A Certified Professional, such as a Licensed Structural Engineer or an Architect, must perform the inspection to evaluate load-bearing components and associated waterproofing elements. This will enable informed judgment of both current and expected future performance while estimating projected service life.

SB326 Compliance

In August 2019, the Governor approved Senate Bill No. 326 to safeguard condominium owners from potential building defects and keep residents safe. SB 326 provides a measure for protection against hazardous structures due to construction flaws and came into effect in January 2020.

SB 326 is requiring condo associations to take a proactive approach to ensure their external structures are safe and secure. These organizations will also be required to have exterior elements (i.e. balconies, decks, etc.) that are six feet above the ground visually inspected. The law requires an experienced Licensed Structural Engineer or Architect to perform detailed evaluations followed by comprehensive reports (which should then be incorporated into the association's reserve study for future reference).

Regular inspections are a necessity for successful condo associations; all HOAs should have conducted their exterior element inspection, the initial assessment, by January 1, 2025. Subsequent evaluations will be required every nine years in conjunction with reserve study examinations.

For condo associations established after January 1, 2020, the first inspection should take place within six years of the reception of the Certificate of Occupancy. After that initial benchmark is met, follow-up inspections will be scheduled at regular intervals according to prevailing regulations (approximately once every nine years).