Apartment complex owners and property managers, as well as managers of condo associations, have a lot on their plates. They are responsible for the general maintenance of their properties, as well as complying with the local laws and regulations that pertain to these types of properties. When new laws are passed, they need to be aware of those too.
A few years ago, the California state legislature signed SB 326 and SB 721 into law. These two laws mandate that owners and managers of apartment and condo complexes with three or more units conduct regular inspections of their complex’s exterior elevated elements. Examples of exterior elevated elements that fall under the law’s purview include balconies, decks, porches, exterior stairways, and elevated walkways.
The first deadline by which the balcony and deck inspections need to be completed is January 1, 2025, and then every six years after that. Inspections must be done by qualified individuals, such as an engineer, an architect, or a licensed contractor with at least five years of experience. The inspector must look at the exterior elevated elements’ load-bearing components as well as their associated waterproofing elements.
Following the inspection, a report must be written up that outlines the inspector’s findings. It should include descriptions of the current conditions of the decks, balconies, and other exterior elevated elements. It should also include any recommendations for repairs and/or maintenance. If any damage is detected, the apartment complex manager or condo association must obtain the proper permits and make timely repairs.
Every condo complex and apartment complex with three or more exterior elevated elements (which is pretty much all of them) is subject to these new laws. And while the January 2025 deadline for the mandatory inspections may seem a long way off at the time of this writing, those in charge of compliance issues at Long Beach condo and apartment complexes would be wise to start the process early. Waiting until the last minute could make it difficult to find a qualified inspector who is able and willing to get the work done by the deadline. Not completing the inspections on time could lead to steep fines by local jurisdictions.
One local company that is helping condo associations and apartment complex managers in Long Beach comply with SB 721 and SB 326 is Diamond Touch Strategies (DTS). They have thoroughly researched the laws’ requirements and can help condo associations and apartment managers in Long Beach meet the deadline. DTS will walk apartment managers and condo associations through the entire process so they don’t have to worry about any of the details. Instead, they can focus on other aspects of their jobs.
