Balconies are a sought-after feature in many California properties, offering a space to enjoy the outdoors and soak up the sunshine. However, with the new laws in place requiring mandatory balcony inspections, ensuring safety and compliance is now more critical than ever.
SB-721 was passed after a tragic balcony collapse in 2015. The balcony collapse occurred at a Berkley apartment building and killed six college students.
During a post-collapse evaluation, experts discovered that the balcony had been inadequately waterproofed, and that the balcony’s load-bearing wooden frame had rotted, compromising its structural integrity.
The inspection also found that the property manager had delayed maintenance, despite clear indications of water damage.
They ruled that the balcony collapse could have been avoided if only the property owner had completed the needed maintenance.
The victims’ families won a multimillion-dollar settlement against the property management company in charge of the apartment building and the owners of the building.
The tragedy and subsequent legal battle sparked a nationwide conversation about who is responsible for residential buildings’ safety and structural integrity.
In addition, a 26-year-old was killed in Folsom, CA in July of 2015, when an external staircase connecting the second and third floors at a tower at an apartment building fell while he and another man were walking down the stairwell. Later investigations indicated dry rot as the leading cause of the collapse.
In response to these tragedies, California lawmakers passed SB-721, which went into effect on January 1, 2019, and is part of several California balcony laws.
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