Senate bill 721 is making its way through Sacramento following a tragic accident in Berkeley in June 2015. Six people were killed and 7 injured when a balcony ripped off the side of an apartment complex.
The bill, authored by state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, and coauthored by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, aims to increase to once every six years, inspections of any “exterior elevated elements and associated waterproofing elements, as defined, including decks and balconies, for buildings with 3 or more multifamily dwelling units by a licensed architect, licensed civil or structural engineer, or an individual certified as a building inspector or building official, as specified. The bill would require the inspections, including any necessary testing, to be completed by January 1, 2024, with certain exceptions, and would require subsequent inspections every 6 years, except as specified.br>
What does this mean for you?
- Your budget may need to be adjusted to account for hiring qualified engineers and/or architects to perform the inspections.
- Budgets may also need adjusting based on any necessary repairs or maintenance, as they’ll need to be completed in a certain amount of time.
- You’ll need to educate your residents about these inspections and any issues, should they arise.
As always, having legal counsel advise on issues like this is paramount, as is staying abreast of legislation and laws that directly or indirectly affect your community.
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