Breaking down California’s balcony inspection law

By Emma Peterson.

California’s SB 721 mandates inspections for wood components and waterproofing elements of balconies. Here are the basics to help you make sure you are compliant with it!

With every part of a building, regular inspections are key to keeping occupants safe and ensuring the structures last as long as possible. Many states have standards that help guide the frequency and types of inspections done, such as California’s Senate Bill (SB) 721. These types of bills set requirements that ensure buildings and balconies have quality waterproofing materials and structural integrity to keep them safe for occupants and those in the surrounding environment.

California’s SB 721 came out of the aftermath of a deadly balcony collapse in Berkeley, California. On June 16, 2015, a balcony at the Library Gardens apartment complex collapsed, killing six people and injuring an additional seven. When the California Contractors State Licensing Board investigated the tragedy, they found that the collapse could be traced back to dry rot damage in the balcony due to poor material quality and a lack of proper maintenance.  

In the short term, over $12,000,000 was awarded to the victims of the collapse against the property manager and landlord. As for the long-term result, SB 721 was signed into law in 2018. This law applies to multi-family housing that has decks, balconies and other elevated structures on the outside of the units. In an article for Twining Consulting, Dr. Xiaomeng (George) Ge, a senior condition evaluation engineer explained, “SB 721 inspections are intended to prevent accidents caused by structural failures ensure the safety of residents [along with addressing] structural integrity, flashings and waterproofing.”

The law outlines that these inspections should be performed every six (6) years by a qualified inspector. It defines this as someone who is either a licensed architect; a licensed civil or structural engineer; a building contractor with five or more years of experience and a license classification from the Contractors' State License Board; or a certified building inspector or building official.  

During these inspections, SB 721 directs professionals to specifically look for possible risk of moisture intrusion. Dr. Ge explained, “Moisture intrusion is the most critical reason for dry rot and structural failure. Under SB 721, the inspector will evaluate the adequacy, condition and performance of load-bearing components and their associated waterproofing systems.” This is why it’s important to use high-quality and time-tested products like Pli-Dek's. Their coatings are specifically designed for “high traffic pedestrian balconies, roof decks, walkways and stairs where waterproofing and durability are essential,” and meet high quality and testing standards (such as Class “A” Fire Ratings, BML Listing #8110-2327:0500 and ICC ESR-2097 certifications). Right now is a great opportunity to learn more about this bill, as California’s governor approved Bill AB 2579 which has extended the deadline for the initial balcony inspection in California to January 1, 2026.  

You can read the rest of Dr. Ge’s article online and you can check out Pli-Dek's Coffee Shops directory to learn more about why contractors have been trusting this brand to for decades.