Business compliance can be a tricky thing. There can come times when you need to bring in outside professionals to help your business stay in compliance with local, state, and federal laws.
Take, for example, SB 721 in California. This regulation requires the owners of apartment complexes to have their balconies, decks, exterior staircases, and elevated walkways (also known as exterior elevated elements), inspected every six years. However, a cursory inspection done by your apartment’s handyman won’t cut it. The inspections must be performed by someone whom the State of California considers “qualified.”
Who Qualifies as an SB 721 Inspector?
According to the official language of SB 721, “The inspection shall be performed by a licensed architect; licensed civil or structural engineer; a building contractor holding any or all of the ‘A,’ ‘B,’ or ‘C-5’ license classifications issued by the Contractors’ State License Board, with a minimum of five years’ experience, as a holder of the aforementioned classifications or licenses, in constructing multistory wood frame buildings; or an individual certified as a building inspector or building official from a recognized state, national, or international association, as determined by the local jurisdiction. These individuals shall not be employed by the local jurisdiction while performing these inspections.”
If this was all you needed to know, it might not be too difficult to find someone to perform apartment balcony inspections in California and any needed repairs, but there are other qualifications that aren’t necessarily stated in the law’s language. For example, if your apartment building was constructed prior to 1978, whoever does the repairs will need to be Lead-Safe Certified by the EPA. In addition, the person who performs the inspection cannot be the same person who will take care of the repairs to your apartment building’s exterior elevated elements.
How to Find a Qualified SB 721 Inspector for Your Apartment Complex
Since people are still learning about this new law, many professionals who are qualified to be SB 721 inspectors are not yet familiar with all that the law entails. So, simply calling up your favorite general contractor isn’t necessarily the answer. For one, SB 721 requires that whoever inspects an apartment building’s exterior elevated elements write up a report with their findings, which the building owner then needs to keep on file. Most general contractors will not want to do this. Nor will most general contractors want to take the time to do the research on what’s required of them to complete the inspections.
You’ll need to look for someone who has invested in learning the details of the law and is willing to take time out from their regular work to perform the inspection. These people are few and far between, and will likely be extremely busy as the January 1, 2025 deadline for the first inspection approaches. If you don’t want to miss the deadline, it makes sense to start searching for a qualified SB 721 inspector now so you can get your inspection scheduled as soon as possible.
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