Is your building's balcony inspection due? I track it for free.
California requires inspections of wood and steel balconies, decks, stairs and walkways. Give me your address. I watch the city and state deadlines and tell you what is due, and when.
I inspect. I do not build or repair, so I have nothing to sell you but the inspection.
I'm Vincenzo, a licensed engineer. When you call, you get me. When you book, I am the one who walks your building.
Prefer to talk? Call me: 415 407 4640
If your building has three or more units and elevated balconies, decks, stairs or walkways, California law requires a licensed inspection. Apartments follow SB 721 every 6 years. Condos and HOAs follow SB 326 every 9 years. San Francisco buildings also follow Section 604 every 6 years.
How the free watch works
You do nothing until a deadline is close. Then you choose whether I do the inspection.
You send your address
One short form. Takes under a minute.
I watch the deadlines
I check city and state records for your building and email you well before anything is due.
I inspect it on time
When it is due, I walk your building myself. No technician. I write the report and file what the city needs. You pay for the inspection only.
What you receive
- A report stamped by a California Professional Engineer.
- A plain-English answer: pass, or exactly what must be fixed to pass, and why.
- In San Francisco, the Section 604 affidavit prepared and filed with the Department of Building Inspection.
- A call from me right away if I find something unsafe.
- A report ready to hand to a lender, an insurer or a buyer.
What it costs
The deadline watch: free.
The inspection: one minimum per report. The more elevated elements on your building, the lower the price per element.
The price depends on how many elevated elements you have, because each one takes my time on site.
You get the price in writing before I come out.
Found a lower quote? Show me. I will match it.
How the price worksWhich California balcony law applies to you?
It depends on the building. Find yours below. If you are not sure, send me your address and I will tell you.
Balcony inspections near you
I come to the building myself. Pick your area to see the local rules and what to expect.
Around the Bay: San Francisco · Marin and Petaluma · Peninsula and South Bay · East Bay
Counties served: San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara and San Diego. Just outside the map? Call me and ask.
The laws side by side
Checked against the state code in October 2026.
| Law | Applies to | How often | Who must act | Key date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SB 721 | Apartment buildings, 3 or more units | Every 6 years | Building owner | First deadline January 1, 2026, extended by AB 2579 |
| SB 326 | Condos and HOAs, 3 or more attached units | Every 9 years | HOA board | First deadline January 1, 2025 |
| SB 410 | Condo resale | At each sale | Seller. The HOA supplies the report on request. | Effective January 1, 2026 |
| SF Section 604 | Buildings in San Francisco | Every 6 years | Owner or HOA | Shown on your building's city record |
What I watch, wood or steel
Every exterior elevated element on your building: balconies, decks, stairs, landings, walkways and fire escapes.
I track each law that applies to your building in one place, so nothing falls between the city and the state.
What a missed deadline costs
Apartment owners can face daily civil penalties and a lien on the property.
HOA boards can face negligence and fiduciary duty claims.
A condo seller who withholds the report can face penalties. Lenders and insurers also ask for these reports.
Check my building, free
Hi, I'm Vincenzo. I'm the engineer.
I live and work in Marin. I have spent twenty years as an engineer, assessing buildings for the County of Los Angeles, the NASA Ames campus, and Amazon distribution and data centers. I do every inspection myself. I do not send a technician.
California Professional Engineer. CalOES Safety Assessment Program certified. Master in Civil Engineering, La Sapienza University, Rome.
How I work, and what I will not do
I am one engineer, not a company with a call center. These are my rules.
What clients say
Real clients, in their own words, from Google reviews and my website.
We hired Deck Check to comply with SB326 for a 16-unit HOA. Vincenzo came out immediately, he was very professional and gave us a competitive bid in record time. Vincenzo has over 20 years’ experience in Civil Engineering, and he was hired to perform the inspections of all of the decks at the complex. After completing the inspections, he met with the Board of Directors and explained his findings, followed by a detailed written report of each deck and any required action that needed to be taken. We were very happy with the service, his breadth or knowledge and his professionalism. We would recommend him to assist with your HOA project or multi-family, Deck and Exterior Elevated Structure inspections.
It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Vincenzo at Deck Check. He recently handled both the SB 326 and SF Section 604 inspections for my clients for a 5 unit residential building in San Francisco and his level of service was outstanding. Vincenzo was timely, highly accessible, and incredibly patient throughout the entire process. What really set him apart was his ability to walk the clients through the reports and next steps in a manner that allowed everyone to make informed decisions. He was also extremely helpful in connecting us with reputable vendors to handle the necessary work. His calm demeanor and thoughtful approach to addressing difficult issues were invaluable, especially for clients who were actively preparing to sell their property. I highly recommend Vincenzo and Deck Check for anyone needing thorough, reliable structural inspections!
Vincenzo from Deck Check exceeded our expectations for our SB721 inspections. His expertise in Civil Engineering was evident throughout the process. He provided a detailed report and clearly explained his findings. We were very satisfied with the entire experience
Vincenzo is great, gave us upfront pricing and had it done in no time. Very thorough and clean, went over his findings in detail. I would confidently recommend.
The best service!! Vincenzo was incredibly knowledgeable and easy to work with. Excellent feedback and reporting. No BS. Competitive pricing and quick response time. Highly recommend this service!!
Vincenzo was incredibly efficient, easy to work with and walked us through the entire process with great communication. We are happy to have our inspection report in time for the state deadline.
Every time I step out onto my deck, I think of Vincenzo — and only in the best way. He and his team swooped in on a last-minute call when I was staring down some very uncomfortable fines. Thanks to them, my deck is now less of a liability and more of a happy place. 10/10 would panic-call again.
We are small 7 unit HOA, we used Deck Check company for balcony inspection. We're very happy with the whole process. Everything was done on time, thoroughly communicated with us, initial estimate and final cost were the same and report was very detailed. Highly recommended!
I'm both an East Bay Realtor and rental property owner. Working with Vincenzo was great- from start to finish! I needed to get a SB 721 Inspection for a property that had 4 exterior elements ("balconies"). We talked on the phone, I told him about the property and he gave me a price. I met him on the day of the inspection, along with his contractor. Vincenzo had him make very small and strategic test holes. (which were very clean to patch up; they were not big sloppy holes made with a hammer). Vincenzo then conducted the examination and inspection. One area required a 15' ladder, so we needed a 2nd follow up appointment. Upon completion of the both inspections, he had the report written up and we met over zoom to discuss it and he made sure I understood the findings. He was professional from start to finish. I would definitely use him again, and recommend him! Thanks Vincenzo!
Managing more than one building? I watch them all, free.
Every building has its own deadline, and the dates do not line up. I keep them on one list and tell you what is coming, building by building. When one is due, I come and inspect it myself.
One list for every building
Send me your addresses. I build one list with every deadline, for every elevated element, wood or steel.
A reminder before each date
I email you well ahead of each deadline, so a missed date never lands on your desk.
One engineer for the whole portfolio
I do every inspection myself, so you have one person to call and one standard of report.
Only what the law requires
No long repair list. Your owners see the scope the law asks for, nothing added.
- Every building you send me, by address.
- Which law applies to each one: SB 721, SB 326, Section 604, or more than one.
- The next due date for each building.
- When I will email you about it, well before the date.
For realtors and property managers
Know a listing's balcony status before it reaches escrow. Managing several buildings? I track them all on one list and tell you what is due, building by building.
Questions people ask
Is the monitoring really free?
Yes. You pay only if you choose me to do the inspection.
Do I have to hire you for the inspection?
No. The watch is yours either way.
How do I know if my building needs an inspection?
Buildings with three or more units and wood elements more than six feet above the ground fall under these laws. Send me your address and I will confirm.
Who comes to my building?
I do. Vincenzo, the engineer you spoke with on the phone.
Will you tell me to fix things I do not need to fix?
No. I report on the scope the law sets. If something must be repaired to pass, I tell you what and why. Nothing beyond it.
Do you do repairs or installation?
No. I inspect only. I do not build, repair, install or clean decks, so I have nothing to sell you but the inspection.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a reminder service and an engineering inspection. Ask your attorney about your legal duties.
Quick answers
Deck Check at a glance
| Inspector | Vincenzo Melchiorre, PE |
| License | California Professional Engineer |
| Services | SB 721, SB 326, SB 410 reports, SF Section 604 affidavits. Inspection only. |
| Areas served | San Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Diego counties |
| Phone | 415 407 4640 |
| Reply time | Within one business day |
| Pricing | One minimum per report. Lower price per element as the count rises. Quote by email. |
| Coffee with an Engineer | Tuesdays, 9 AM to 2 PM. RSVP. |
Tell me about your building
Describe what you are trying to find out. I read every message myself and reply within one business day.
Prefer to talk? Call or text 415 407 4640, or email vin@deck-check.com.
