Are you ready for the new Balcony Inspection Law? Do not be a laggard and procrastinate.
January 1, 2025, seems far-flung in the future but now is the time to act. Multifamily property owners must inspect the decks, balconies, stairs, and other load-bearing structures by this date and our strong advice is to not wait till the last minute.
We bring this up now because owners and property managers may find this a complex endeavor. Two, licensed contractors will be overwhelmed with work once the deadline approaches. There simply won’t be enough manpower available to accommodate the need. It’s analogous to long delays when roofing contractors were inundated with jobs after the Bay Area got drenched with rain.
This new law, namely Senate Bill No. 721, was spawned after six Berkeley students plunged to their deaths and seven others were injured after a balcony collapsed.
Let’s review some commonly asked questions.
There will be a host of procedural requirements and additional obligations if the inspector identifies damage, but we won’t get lost in the weeds in this venue. We simply want you to be aware of the law and get into the mindset of preparing for this eventuality.