SB 721 Inspection & California Law 

The SB 721 law was enforced as a way to protect individuals from potential harm caused by balconies in buildings with three or more units requiring repairs. It was passed to have mandatory safety inspections on these particular balconies in California every six years. The first safety inspection should take place on January 1st, 2025.

If you need your inspection reports done according to the SB 721 law by a certified structural inspector, Deck Inspection California is the right choice to help assist you in completing the safety inspections. Scroll on to find out more information on SB 721.

The aim of this bill is to make sure that anyone living in houses that fall under certain criteria is ensured to be safe for people living there and isn't in need of any dire repairs that may be dangerous for individuals.

SB 721 was signed in 2018 and took effect in 2019. The SB 271 bill or the "Balcony Inspections Bill" was passed when an accident happened in 2015, where an old and rusty balcony fell, injuring Irish students who had come to California as exchange students.

From then on, required repairs and inspection routines are made mandatory for decks, balconies, and any exterior elevated elements in a residential area.

Furthermore, any building or area exceeding a height of six feet from ground level also requires an inspection, including stairways or walkways relying on wood framing, that extend outside of the main building exterior.

There are certain rules and regulations that are enforced by the SB 721 balcony inspection law. This bill requires specified interactive safety reports that should be given to the property owner within 45 days.

This bill requires that if the building inspector does an investigation and the inspection reveals that the structural integrity is unsafe or hazardous, they can issue safety inspection reports that would be given to the building owners.

To truly inspect the structural integrity of the property, at least 15% of each elevated element needs to be examined.

For emergency repairs, roughly 15 days are given to make the necessary repairs needed. 120 days are given to complete all non-emergency repairs. However, if you're past the inspection dates, or if a building owner refuses and there are no repairs done, the local jurisdiction might issue a building safety lien.

Typically, the safety inspection reports involve a visual inspection of the waterproofing materials, the elevated exterior element, the balcony inspection, and the internal structure of the building.

As a building owner seeking an SB 721 inspection, it's important to know who to hire and what criteria to consider when making your hiring decision.

Inspection reports generally require two inspection cycles to confirm if there are any necessary repairs or not. However, if the report states that there are additional inspections needed, they might make recommendations for it as well.

Opting for a structural engineer or certified building inspector is the best option for obtaining an inspection report. As stipulated by the law, individuals authorized to carry out the subsequent inspections must hold credentials as either a civil or structural engineer, a licensed architect, or a certified building contractor.

Once the local enforcement agencies are made aware of the enforcement costs and the repairs needed, it's imperative that the completed repairs comply with the regulations set by the local building department. Additionally, having a building permit is essential to move forward with these repairs.

If there are serious concerns about the elevated elements in a property of three or more units, the SB 721 balcony inspection bill makes repairs compulsory. This is because these elements might be an immediate threat to anyone on the property, and in the event of an injury, the responsibility falls on the property owners.

Safety risks are a significant concern, and the building owners should immediately take action by arranging the necessary repairs to avoid potential injuries.

It's better to hire an inspector and schedule your inspection dates sooner rather than later to mitigate the risk of creating additional expenses in the event of unforeseen issues.

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At Deck Inspection, our goal is to provide non-invasive inspections that eliminate the need for destructive testing and can aid in recovering enforcement costs.

With years of experience in the construction industry and the county building department, we at Deck Inspectors focus on protecting the structural integrity of your properties by sending highly qualified inspectors to help with the safety inspections.

If you require an SB 721 inspection of your property, contact us today. We are available and ready to guide you through the entire process with ease!