CIV. CODE § 5551
SB 326 Inspection Requirements
Sb 326 inspection requirements — here is what to know before you talk to a contractor.
SB 326, codified at California Civil Code § 5551, obligates common interest developments — HOAs and condominium associations — to have their exterior elevated elements inspected by a licensed structural engineer or architect. The inspection is a statutory duty of the association, not a discretionary maintenance item, and the resulting report becomes part of the association's records. We are a free intake utility; we route your association's details to a licensed California PE or architect firm qualified to perform the inspection.
Who It Applies To
Common interest developments — HOAs and condominium associations — with buildings containing three or more multifamily dwelling units.
Who Must Perform It
A California licensed Structural Engineer (PE) or Architect. A general contractor cannot issue a compliant SB 326 report.
What the Report Covers
Load-bearing components and associated waterproofing of balconies, decks, stairways, and walkways, plus the inspector's findings on remaining useful life.
SB 326 Inspection Requirements for HOAs and Condo Associations
SB 326 inspection requirements apply to condominium associations governed by the Davis-Stirling Act and cover every qualifying exterior elevated element on the property — not a representative sample — inspected by a California-licensed structural engineer or architect. The report has to document each element's condition and remaining useful life, and associations are required to maintain it as part of official records, which is what starts the clock on the next required cycle.
How SB 326 Inspection Requirements Differ From SB 721
SB 326 inspection requirements apply specifically to HOA and condominium properties, while the parallel SB 721 statute covers multifamily rental buildings of three or more units — the physical inspection scope is nearly identical under both, but the governing association or ownership structure determines which set of SB 326 inspection requirements or SB 721 rules actually applies to a given property.
Typical Inspection Cost Range
SB 326 initial inspections in the San Diego area commonly run $900–$3,000 per building for the inspection engagement, depending on unit count, elevated-element quantity, access and staging, and destructive testing scope. Remediation work is quoted separately. Use our cost estimator →
Related Reading
Read more on the independence requirement at SB 326 independent balcony inspections for HOAs, or see why keeping inspection and repair separate protects reserve funds at avoiding inspection/repair conflicts of interest. Not sure SB 326 is the right statute for your building? Compare it against SB 721. Planning to sell? See the resale disclosure requirement.
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