RENT Magazine Q3'25

ADVERTORIAL

HOW AI-POWERED INSPECTIONS ARE HELPING CALIFORNIA LANDLORDS COMPLY WITH BALCONY LAWS WHAT IS THE BALCONY LAW IN CALIFORNIA? California’s SB721 (for apartment buildings) and SB326 (for condominium HOAs) both sprang from the 2015 Berkeley balcony collapse. Together they require every multifamily owner to inspect exterior elevated elements (EEEs) such as balconies, decks, catwalks, and stair landings, but the two laws differ in scope, deadlines, and inspection cycles.

Law

Applies To

First Deadline

Re-inspection Cycle

SB-721

Every 6 years

Apartment buildings with ≥ 3 units

January 1, 2025

SB-326

Condominium HOAs (≥ 3 units)

January 1, 2025

Every 9 years

(Source: California Business & Professions Code 7195 & 5551.)

For small owners—especially “mom-and-pop” operators with a handful of doors—the price tag can feel crushing. That’s where AI-driven inspection technology enters the picture.

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