Inspection only. Free deadline watch for HOAs, owners and property managers

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
California licensed Professional Engineer. San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego area. No obligation.
Got a letter from me? Enter the address printed on it.
Check my building, free
Reply within one business day with what is due.

Or call 415 407 4640. I do not share your details.

Wood deck walkway with white railings at sunset
The short answer

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.

1

You send your address

One short form. Takes under a minute.

2

I watch the deadlines

I check city and state records for your building and email you well before anything is due.

3

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.

Get your price by email

Not sure how many? Leave a rough number. I will count them from your address, free.

How the price works

Which 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.

Apartments, 3+ units

SB 721

Inspection of exterior elevated elements every 6 years. The building owner is responsible.

Health and Safety Code 17973
Read the SB 721 guide
Condos and HOAs, 3+ units

SB 326

Inspection every 9 years. The HOA board is responsible. The report must also go to a buyer when a unit sells.

Civil Code 5551, 4525, 4540
Read the SB 326 guide
San Francisco buildings

Section 604

A new inspection of emergency egress and fire escapes every 6 years, with an affidavit filed with the Department of Building Inspection.

SF Housing Code Section 604
Read the Section 604 guide

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

California counties served by Deck CheckCALIFORNIASAN FRANCISCO BAY AREAContra CostaSonomaSan FranciscoMarinSanta ClaraSan MateoAlamedaSAN DIEGO AREASan Diego CountyCOUNTIES SERVEDSan FranciscoMarinSonomaAlamedaContra CostaSan MateoSanta ClaraSan DiegoJust outside? Call me.

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.

LawApplies toHow oftenWho must actKey date
SB 721Apartment buildings, 3 or more unitsEvery 6 yearsBuilding ownerFirst deadline January 1, 2026, extended by AB 2579
SB 326Condos and HOAs, 3 or more attached unitsEvery 9 yearsHOA boardFirst deadline January 1, 2025
SB 410Condo resaleAt each saleSeller. The HOA supplies the report on request.Effective January 1, 2026
SF Section 604Buildings in San FranciscoEvery 6 yearsOwner or HOAShown on your building's city record
Not sure which row is yours? Check my building, free

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.

Sunlight across a wood deck and railing

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
Vincenzo Melchiorre, PE, laughing
The person you will deal with

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.

I show up myself

The engineer on the phone is the engineer at your building. No technician. No handoff.

I stay inside the scope

I inspect what the law requires and report on exactly that. You get a clear pass, or a clear list of what must be fixed to pass.

No repair upsell

I will not pad your report with extra repairs. Some companies make more from the fixes than from the inspection. I gain nothing from a longer list.

I am on your side

If a deadline is far off, I say so. If you do not need me yet, I say that too.

Call me: 415 407 4640 I pick up. If I cannot, leave a message and I call you back.

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.
Barbara Luhrs, Broker/Owner, Luhrs Property Management, Inc.SB 326 · deck-check.com
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!
J. Ramon EstevezSB 326 and Section 604 · Google review
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
Eric GockelSB 721 · deck-check.com
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.
Mike FGoogle review
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!!
Mark MartiniGoogle review
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.
Katy HigginsGoogle review
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.
Donene VukovichGoogle review
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!
Miki VujkovicGoogle review
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!
Tanja Odzak, RealtorSB 721 · Google review

Read all reviews

For property managers

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.

What your list shows
  • 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.

Or call me: 415 407 4640. Volume pricing for portfolios, quoted by email.

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

What is SB 721? The law that requires apartment owners to inspect balconies and walkways every 6 years.
What is SB 326? The same kind of inspection for condos and HOAs, every 9 years.
Do I need a Section 604 affidavit? If your building is in San Francisco, probably yes, every 6 years.
What happens if I miss a deadline? Daily penalties and liens for owners, liability claims for HOA boards.
How much does an inspection cost? One minimum per report, and a lower price per element as the count goes up. Get your price by email. The watch is free.
What is SB 410? It makes condo sellers hand the buyer the latest SB 326 report.

Deck Check at a glance

InspectorVincenzo Melchiorre, PE
LicenseCalifornia Professional Engineer
ServicesSB 721, SB 326, SB 410 reports, SF Section 604 affidavits. Inspection only.
Areas servedSan Francisco, Marin, Sonoma, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, San Diego counties
Phone415 407 4640
Reply timeWithin one business day
PricingOne minimum per report. Lower price per element as the count rises. Quote by email.
Coffee with an EngineerTuesdays, 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.

Do not find out at escrow.

Give me your address. I watch the deadlines for free.

Check my building, free
Call 415 407 4640 Check my building, free