Deck Inspection California | SB-721 & SB-326 | DrBalcony - DrBalcony
Deck Inspection California | SB-721 & SB-326 | DrBalcony
⚠ SB-721 Deck Inspection Deadlines Have Passed — Fines Are Active Statewide. Call (805) 312-8513 for a free quote today.
SB-721 & SB-326 Certified · All of California

Deck Inspection
California

Licensed structural engineers conducting certified SB-721 and SB-326 deck inspections across California. Wood deck inspection, EEE inspection, and E3 inspection — PE-stamped reports in 48 hours, all 58 counties.

✉ info@drbalcony.com 📍 All 58 California Counties 🕐 Mon–Fri 7am–6pm PT
✓ SB-721 Certified ✓ SB-326 Certified ⚡ 48-Hour Reports 🔬 EEE / E3 Inspection 🏛️ PE-Stamped Every Report 🚫 Zero Repair Conflicts
↓ See what’s included below

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Response within 2 business hours. No commitment.

How many residential units does this property have?
Are there any balconies, decks, or walkways (elevated exterior elements)?
Does this building have more than one story?
Property Address
✅

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Why California Property Owners Choose DrBalcony for Deck Inspections

Under SB-721 and SB-326, deck inspections are a mandatory component of the full EEE / E3 inspection. DrBalcony is a licensed civil engineering firm — not a home inspection company — with in-house licensed structural engineers who PE-stamp every deck inspection report directly. No contractors. No outsourced stamp. Our patented minimally invasive borescope method accesses hidden framing through a single small hole — eliminating thousands in unnecessary exploratory demo costs.

DrBalcony by the numbers
5,000+
CA EEE Inspections
58
Counties Covered
48hr
Report Delivery
2
U.S. Patents
Deck Inspection Services — California

California Deck Inspection — What SB-721 and SB-326 Require

1

SB-721 Deck Inspection (Apartment Buildings)

Required for all California multifamily rental buildings with 3+ units. Decks more than 6 feet above grade supported by wood structural components — minimum 15% sample per element type. PE-stamped report delivered in 48 hours.

Deadline: January 1, 2026 (passed) · Re-inspection every 6 years · Fines up to $500/day

2

SB-326 Deck Inspection (HOAs & Condominiums)

Mandatory for California condo associations with deck structures in common areas. Only a licensed structural engineer, architect, or civil engineer may perform SB-326 deck inspections — contractors are excluded by law. 95% statistical confidence sampling required.

Deadline: January 1, 2025 (passed) · Re-inspection every 9 years · PE stamp required

3

Wood Deck Structural Assessment

Full structural evaluation of deck framing, ledger connections, joist systems, post footings, and load-bearing hardware. Identifies water intrusion, wood rot, fungal decay, and corroded connectors — the hidden failures that cause deck collapses.

All deck types · Full EEE / E3 documentation · Geo-tagged photos

4

Deck Waterproofing Inspection

Waterproofing membrane, flashing, drainage slope, and ledger-to-building connections are the most commonly failed deck elements. DrBalcony documents all deficiencies with geo-tagged photos and remaining useful life estimates.

Membrane · Flashing · Drainage · Most common failure point

5

Patented Borescope Inspection — No Demo Required

DrBalcony’s U.S.-patented minimally invasive borescope method accesses hidden framing through a single small bore hole — capturing internal photographic evidence without membrane demolition. Saves property owners thousands in unnecessary exploratory costs.

US Patents 11,906,506 B1 & 12,033,314 B2 · No membrane removal · Sealed after inspection

California law — inspector qualifications

Who Can Legally Sign Your Deck Inspection California Balcony Inspection Report?

SB-721 and SB-326 create different credential tiers. Understanding which applies to your Deck Inspection California building type determines whether your inspection is legally compliant.

Deck Inspection California | SB-721 & SB-326 | DrBalcony SB-326 requires PE or architect. SB-721 also permits contractors. DrBalcony PE qualifies for both. SB-326 — Condominiums & HOAs ✓ Licensed Structural Engineer (PE) ✓ Licensed Civil Engineer (PE) ✓ Licensed Architect ✗ Contractors NOT permitted by law SB-721 — Apartment Buildings ✓ Licensed Structural Engineer (PE) ✓ Licensed Civil Engineer (PE) ✓ Licensed Architect ✓ B/C-5 Contractor (5+ yrs multistory) ✓ Certified Building Inspector (ICC) DrBalcony — Licensed Civil Engineering Firm In-house PE stamps SB-721 AND SB-326 — both statutes, no referral needed
U.S. Patents 11,906,506 B1 & 12,033,314 B2

The Patented Minimally Invasive Inspection Method

Standard inspectors who cannot see hidden framing recommend expensive destructive openings. Our patented borescope system captures the same evidence through a single small hole — no membrane demolition, no unnecessary cost.

Deck Inspection California | SB-721 & SB-326 | DrBalcony Step 1 Locate joists Scan exterior. Find positions. No demo yet. Step 2 Single bore hole One small hole. No membrane cut needed. Step 3 Insert borescope Camera inside. Rot & moisture directly visible. Step 4 Seal & document Hole patched. Photos become legal evidence. Step 5 PE-stamped report In-house PE reviews & stamps. Delivered 48–72 hrs. Standard destructive approach: Membrane removal + scaffolding + patching = $1,000s per element in avoidable cost DrBalcony patented method: One small hole. Sealed. No unnecessary costs.
🔬
US 11,906,506 B1
US 12,033,314 B2
Federally Patented — DrBalcony

Our patents cover a system that locates framing joists from outside the structure, drills a single small-bore hole per framing cavity, passes a borescope camera inside to photograph structural wood condition, and seals the patch. No membrane demolition. No deck removal. No unnecessary exploratory damage. Targeted findings drive targeted repairs — Deck Inspection California property owners pay only for what is actually deteriorated.

⚠️ HOA & Condo Boards: Contractors Cannot Sign SB-326 Deck Inspection Reports

California Civil Code §5551 (SB-326) requires only a licensed structural engineer, civil engineer, or architect to sign a condominium or HOA deck inspection report. A general contractor — regardless of experience — cannot legally stamp an SB-326 report. Before contracting any vendor for an HOA deck inspection, request the signing engineer’s California PE license number and verify it at dca.ca.gov. DrBalcony’s in-house licensed PE signs every SB-326 deck report directly.

Why DrBalcony

What Every Deck Inspection California DrBalcony Inspection Delivers

⚖️

Civil Engineering Firm

Licensed California civil engineering firm. Reports stamped under the Professional Engineers Act — a materially different legal standard than a contractor signature.

🔬

U.S. Patented Method

Two U.S. patents. Single bore hole per cavity. Internal framing photography. Patch sealed. No membrane demolition. Targeted findings = targeted repairs only.

🏛️

PE Signs Every Report

Every SB-721 and SB-326 report stamped by an in-house licensed civil or structural engineer. Not a contractor. Not an outside referral. In-house, every time.

🚫

Zero Repairs — Ever

No repair staff. No contractor relationships. Zero financial stake in inspection findings. Our engineers have never performed a repair on a property they inspected.

⚡

48–72 Hour Delivery

AI-assisted field analysis plus dedicated PE review. Full stamped compliance report in 48–72 hours — without sacrificing the engineering credential.

🗺️

All 58 CA Counties

LA, OC, San Diego, Bay Area, Sacramento, Riverside, Ventura, Central Valley. One firm, one PE standard, one portal for your entire California portfolio.

How It Works

Your Deck Inspection California Balcony Inspection — Start to Finish

A professional, engineer-managed inspection process that gets your Deck Inspection California property fully compliant as efficiently as possible.

01

Free Quote

Submit details above or call (805) 312-8513. Response within 2 business hours with a no-obligation quote for your Deck Inspection California property.

02

Scheduling

We coordinate with your on-site contact. Deck Inspection California balcony inspections typically scheduled within 5 business days.

03

On-Site EEE / E3 Inspection

A licensed structural engineer inspects all exterior elevated elements per SB-721 or SB-326 with geo-tagged photo documentation.

04

48-Hour Report

PE-stamped balcony inspection report delivered within 48 hours — findings, photos, hazard classifications, and repair recommendations.

05

Compliance Certificate

If repairs are required, we provide specifications and re-inspect. Final SB-721 or SB-326 compliance certificate issued once your property is cleared.

Client Reviews — Deck Inspection California

What Our Clients Say About Deck Inspection California

★★★★★
“Our Pasadena apartment building had multiple wood decks needing SB-721 inspection. DrBalcony’s engineer found two hidden ledger issues we had no idea about. PE-stamped deck inspection report ready in 48 hours.”
— Property Owner, Pasadena, CA
★★★★★
“Our Santa Barbara HOA needed SB-326 deck inspection on a tight timeline. DrBalcony’s in-house PE handled the entire EEE inspection and stamped the report directly. No outside referral — exactly what SB-326 requires.”
— HOA Board President, Santa Barbara, CA
★★★★★
“Managing 14 properties across the Bay Area, DrBalcony is the only firm I call for SB-721 deck and balcony EEE inspections. Reliable, fast, PE-stamped reports accepted everywhere.”
— Property Manager, Bay Area, CA
FAQ

Deck Inspection California — Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Deck Inspection California, SB-721, SB-326, EEE inspection, E3 inspection, and California compliance requirements.

Yes. SB-721 requires all California multifamily rental buildings with 3+ units to have all exterior elevated elements — including decks more than 6 feet above grade supported by wood structural components — inspected by a licensed professional. The first inspection deadline was January 1, 2026, with re-inspections every 6 years. Non-compliance results in fines up to $500 per day.
A California deck inspection under SB-721 and SB-326 covers structural framing, ledger connections, decking surface, waterproofing membrane, flashing, drainage systems, guardrails, handrails, and all load-bearing hardware. Inspectors use visual assessment and probing to identify wood rot, water intrusion, corroded connectors, fungal decay, and structural inadequacy.
Under SB-721 (apartments), deck inspections may be performed by a licensed structural engineer, civil engineer, architect, or a licensed contractor with specific EEE experience. Under SB-326 (HOAs/condos), only a licensed structural engineer, civil engineer, or architect qualifies — contractors are excluded by California law.
A deck inspection focuses specifically on deck structures. An EEE inspection (Exterior Elevated Element inspection) — also called E3 inspection — is the full-scope inspection covering all elevated exterior structures: balconies, decks, walkways, stairways, landings, and guardrails. Under SB-721 and SB-326, the full EEE / E3 inspection is required — deck inspections are included within that scope.
Deck inspection costs in California vary based on building size, number of decks, and complexity. DrBalcony provides free, no-obligation quotes within 2 business hours. Call (805) 312-8513 or complete the form on this page for a property-specific estimate.
If hazardous conditions are found, the inspector must notify the local enforcement agency within 15 days and the property owner within 45 days. The property owner has 120 days to complete repairs. Imminently hazardous conditions require immediate access restriction. DrBalcony provides repair specifications and re-inspection to close out the finding.

“A deck inspection is not just a compliance checkbox — it is the only way to know whether a structure that carries human weight is still safe. DrBalcony’s patented method finds what visual inspection cannot.”

Call Us
(805) 312-8513
Mon–Fri 7am–6pm PT
Email
info@drbalcony.com
Response within 2 business hours
Office
2500 Red Hill Ave, Ste 200
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Hours
Monday – Friday
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM PT
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PE-stamped SB-721 and SB-326 deck inspection reports delivered in 48 hours. Serving all 58 California counties. Free quote today.

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DrBalcony · Licensed Civil Engineering Firm · 5,000+ California EEE Inspections · All 58 Counties