HEALTH & SAF. § 17973
SB 721 Apartment Balcony Inspection Cost — San Diego
Health & Safety Code § 17973 requires San Diego apartment owners with 3+ units to inspect a random 15% sample of exterior elevated elements. Typical cost for the inspection engagement runs $1,200–$3,500, scaling with unit count and how many elements the required sample covers.
Apartment owners in San Diego often ask the wrong first question — "do we need this?" — when the statute answers it for them: any building with three or more dwelling units and exterior elevated elements over six feet off the ground is in scope. The more useful question is cost, and that's driven almost entirely by two variables: how many units the property has, and how many walkways, decks, stairways, and balconies the inspector must include in the mandatory 15% random sample. Owners who bundle several buildings under one management company frequently negotiate a portfolio rate that beats per-property pricing.
The 15% Sample Rule
The inspector must randomly sample at least 15% of each type of exterior elevated element, and expand the sample if defects turn up.
What Drives Cost
Unit count, number of buildings, access difficulty, and whether any destructive (probe) testing is needed to assess concealed framing.
Enforcement Risk
Missed deadlines expose owners to code-enforcement fines and, in unresolved cases, occupancy restrictions on the affected units.
Typical Cost by Property Size
| Property Size Tier | Units Typically Sampled | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Small (3–20 units) | 3–5 elements (15% min. sample) | $1,200–$1,800 |
| Mid-size (21–60 units) | 8–15 elements | $1,800–$2,600 |
| Large (61–150 units) | 15–30 elements, multi-building | $2,600–$3,500 |
| Portfolio (150+ units, multi-property) | Scoped per building, quoted per-portfolio | Custom portfolio rate — typically below per-building pricing |
Related Reading
See the SB 721 compliance overview for the full statutory rundown, or the HOA-side rule at SB 326 independent inspections. Selecting a firm? Read about avoiding inspection/repair conflicts of interest before you sign an engagement letter.