SB 326 Inspection Checklist for HOA Boards

An SB 326 inspection checklist starts well before the inspector arrives, because the biggest source of delay on a compliance timeline is usually the HOA board scrambling to gather documents and access after the inspection is already scheduled.

Documents to Gather Before Scheduling

Pull the association's original construction plans if they exist, along with any prior balcony repair or waterproofing records — an inspector working from as-built drawings can move faster than one starting from a blank map of the property. Compile a current unit count and a list of every exterior elevated element on the property (balconies, decks, stairways, walkways) since SB 326 requires every qualifying element to be inspected, not a representative sample, and an incomplete inventory at the outset is the most common cause of a report needing a costly follow-up visit.

Access Coordination the SB 326 Inspection Checklist Cannot Skip

Every unit with a qualifying balcony needs owner or tenant access coordinated in advance, and a board that waits until inspection week to send that notice routinely loses days rescheduling around residents who were not given fair notice. Building in a two-week access-notice window, with a clear point of contact for residents to reschedule their unit's visit, is the single change that most reliably keeps an SB 326 inspection on its original calendar date instead of sliding into a second visit.

What the Inspector Is Actually Checking

A licensed structural engineer or architect performing an SB 326 inspection is looking at the load-bearing components of each elevated element — structural framing, waterproofing membrane condition, and any visible signs of water intrusion or wood rot at connection points — not just the surface finish. Elements found to be in a condition presenting a health and safety risk get flagged for immediate remediation, separate from findings that require repair on a normal timeline; boards should ask the inspector to clearly separate those two categories in the written report so the association is not treating routine wear as an emergency or vice versa.

After the Report: What the Board Needs to File

SB 326 requires the inspection report and any related repair records be maintained as part of the association's official records, and the timeline for the next inspection cycle starts from the report date, so filing it correctly matters for the association's next compliance deadline as much as this one. If the report identifies any elements needing repair, the board is expected to proceed with repairs on a reasonable timeline, and documenting that follow-through is what shows regulators and future buyers the association is actually managing the finding, not just filing it away.

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