Condo associations in California have a new law to deal with this year. The new law requiring that condo balconies be inspected regularly came into effect when Senate Bill 326, or SB 326 for short, was passed. Even though the law was passed a few years back, it is just now requiring condo associations to take action.
The law states that every condo association in California must have a “statistically significant” number of its community’s balconies and other “exterior elevated elements” inspected by an authorized professional. The inspection needs to be completed by January 1, 2025. Exterior elevated elements (EEE) include things like raised walkways, exterior staircases, and any decks that are raised more than six feet above the ground. Not only must these EEEs be inspected, but a report must also be produced and filed with the local code enforcement agency. If any repairs are required, the condo association is responsible for getting them completed in a timely manner and restricting the use of the exterior elevated element in the meantime (if necessary).
While it might seem easy enough to have these inspections completed well in advance of the deadline, finding someone in Long Beach who is willing to do so can be another story. The inspections can be completed by any licensed Long Beach architect or structural engineer; however, not many architects or structural engineers in the area are willing to take time away from their regular work to do an inspection—especially since writing the follow-up report can take a good amount of time. (The language of the law requires that the report contain some very specific details.)
One Long Beach architect who is offering their services to condo associations in need of balcony inspections that comply with SB 326 is Grisafe Architecture. The team at Grisafe Architecture has taken the time to study and understand the requirements of the new law and is now available to complete inspections in Long Beach and the surrounding areas. They will take care of everything from start to finish—from completing the inspections to filing the report, to recommending reputable general contractors for any needed repairs.
Condo associations should not wait to contact Grisafe Architecture for their condo balcony inspections in Long Beach. As the inspection deadline approaches, the architecture firm will likely be inundated with last-minute requests. If you want your condo balcony inspection completed on time, you would be wise to contact them now to schedule it.
Condo associations that don’t complete the mandatory balcony inspections by January 1, 2025 may be subject to steep penalties, which could include a fine for every day that the condo community is out of compliance with the law!
