Balcony inspection in San Diego: SB 721 and SB 326
In San Diego, apartment buildings with three or more units follow SB 721, with an inspection every 6 years. Condos and HOAs with three or more units follow SB 326, every 9 years. Both cover wood balconies, decks, stairs and walkways more than six feet above the ground. I live and work in both Marin and San Diego, and I inspect every building myself, as a California licensed Professional Engineer.
Which law applies to your building
| Your building | Law | How often | Who must act |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartments, 3 or more units | SB 721 | Every 6 years | Building owner |
| Condos and HOAs, 3 or more units | SB 326 | Every 9 years | HOA board |
The first SB 326 deadline was January 1, 2025. The first SB 721 deadline was January 1, 2026. If yours has not been done, it is late. Send me the address and I tell you where you stand, free.
What you get
- I inspect your building myself. No technician.
- A report stamped by a California Professional Engineer.
- A plain answer: pass, or exactly what must be fixed to pass, and why.
- A call from me right away if I find something unsafe.
- A free deadline watch, so the next cycle does not sneak up on you.
What clients say
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!
San Diego questions
Which balcony laws apply in San Diego?
The state laws. Apartments with three or more units follow SB 721 every 6 years. Condos and HOAs with three or more units follow SB 326 every 9 years. San Francisco's Section 604 does not apply in San Diego.
Do you really come to San Diego?
Yes. I live and work in both Marin and San Diego, and I do every inspection myself.
Which areas do you cover?
San Diego County. Not sure if your city is in range? Call me and ask.
