Sterling Heights, MI Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

304.24 Multifamily balconies. All exterior balconies, decks, and similar appurtenances not at ground level and designed for use by tenants, owners, or guests of a residential unit in a multifamily structure shall be inspected and re-certified by a qualified structural engineer every five (5) years if the multifamily structure is more than ten (10) years old (measured from the date the multifamily structure was first approved for occupancy by the City). The evaluation shall include a complete assessment of the floor joists, flooring materials, and guardrails. For multifamily developments consisting of multiple buildings or more than 20 units with non-ground level balconies, the Building Official may approve a phased inspection process rather than require all of the inspections on the same cycle. Initial inspection reports required by this subsection shall be submitted to the Building Official by September 1, 2020, unless the multifamily development is less than ten (10) years old at that time, in which case the initial inspection reports for that development shall be due by September 1st of the year in which the development reaches its tenth (10th) year of existence. Any repairs required as a result of the engineer's inspection report must be completed through the permitting process established by the Building Department and in accordance with the timeframe set by the Building Official, depending on the severity of the deficiency. For balconies