SB 721 names exactly who is allowed to perform California balcony inspections for apartment buildings, and the list is shorter than most owners expect. Hiring someone outside the list means the report does not satisfy the statute, no matter how thorough it looks.
The qualified list under SB 721
Health and Safety Code section 17973 allows the inspection to be performed by:
- A licensed architect
- A licensed civil or structural engineer
- A building contractor holding an A, B, or C-5 license with at least five years of experience constructing multistory wood-frame buildings
- A certified building inspector or building official recognized by the state
San Diego Home Inspection, Inc. qualifies through Joseph Romeo’s CSLB B general contractor license #1113143 with the required multistory wood-frame experience.
What about SB 326 condo inspections?
Condominium associations fall under a different statute, Civil Code section 5551, and its list is narrower: a licensed structural engineer or architect must perform the HOA inspection. If your property is a condo association rather than a rental apartment building, confirm your inspector’s license type matches that requirement. Our SB 721 vs SB 326 guide covers the differences in detail.
A home inspector certification is not enough by itself
General home inspector certifications, including InterNACHI CPI, do not appear on the SB 721 list on their own. An inspector needs one of the licenses above. This trips up owners who hire a residential inspector for a three-unit building and later learn the report cannot be filed for compliance.
The repair conflict rule
The statute separates inspecting from repairing. If a contractor performs your SB 721 inspection, that contractor may bid the repairs, but the owner is not obligated to use them, and the report must stand on its own as an independent assessment. Ask any prospective inspector how they handle repair recommendations. A report that exists to sell a repair contract serves the contractor, not the building.
What a compliant inspection includes
The qualified professional must assess a statistically significant sample of each exterior elevated element type, evaluate the load-bearing components and waterproofing, and deliver a stamped report stating whether the elements are safe, need repair, or pose an immediate threat. For concealed wood framing that means access holes and borescope evaluation, not a walk-by. Our SB 721 inspection page shows the field process, including the load testing and moisture work.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Which license on the SB 721 list do you hold, and what is the number?
- How many multistory wood-frame buildings have you inspected under this statute?
- How do you sample and test concealed framing?
- Do you provide the report in a form my city’s enforcement agency accepts?
- What happens if you find an immediate hazard?
We answer all five on every job across San Diego County, from Oceanside to El Cajon. Call (619) 752-4399 or schedule online to verify your building’s status.
