Mandatory Building Inspections by NJ-Licensed Professional Engineers
New Jersey Senate Bill S2760/A4384, signed into law on January 8, 2024, requires periodic structural inspections of condominiums and cooperatives with primary load-bearing systems made of concrete, masonry, steel, or hybrid construction — including buildings with podium decks. The law was enacted in response to the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside, Florida, and applies to residential buildings known as "covered buildings" under the statute.
If your condominium or cooperative association manages a covered building in New Jersey, you are required by law to retain a NJ-licensed Professional Engineer to inspect the building's primary load-bearing system and submit a written report to the local construction official.
Buildings newly reaching 15 years old: First inspection due within one year of the 15-year certificate of occupancy anniversary.
Buildings 20+ years old: Re-inspection required every 5 years.
Buildings under 20 years old (after initial inspection): Re-inspection every 10 years.
After observed damage: Inspection required within 60 days of any damage to the primary load-bearing system.
The January 8, 2026 initial deadline has passed. If your association has not completed its first inspection, contact us to begin the compliance process immediately.
The law applies to residential condominium or cooperative buildings with a primary load-bearing system comprised of concrete, masonry, steel, or hybrid structures — including heavy timber and buildings with podium decks. Standard wood-frame construction, such as single-family homes and typical townhouses, is excluded. If you are unsure whether your building qualifies, contact us and we can make that determination.
Our NJ-licensed Professional Engineers perform a thorough visual inspection of the building's primary load-bearing system in accordance with the protocols established by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The inspection evaluates foundations, structural framing, columns, beams, load-bearing walls, floor and roof systems, balconies, and parking structures.
Following the inspection, we deliver a detailed written report that identifies any required maintenance or repairs, provides a timeline for corrective action, and specifies when the next inspection must occur. Copies of the report are submitted to the local construction official as required by law.
In addition to structural inspections, NJ S2760 requires all condominium and cooperative associations to conduct capital reserve studies to ensure adequate funds are available for long-term repairs and replacements of common elements. Reserve studies must be updated at least every five years. Our Licensed Professional Engineers are qualified to perform reserve studies in compliance with CAI National Reserve Study Standards.
PE Inspection LLC is founded by two Licensed Professional Engineers with graduate degrees in structural engineering from Stanford University and Stevens Institute of Technology. Both founders hold active NJ PE licenses and bring forensic engineering experience to every S2760 inspection.
Zoey (S.Y.) Tham, PE — MS Structural Engineering, Stanford University. 10+ years in commercial, residential and forensic engineering. NJ PE Licensed. NJ & NY Home Inspector Licensed.
Jo Zhou, PE — MS Structural Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology. 10+ years evaluating residential and commercial buildings. NJ & NY PE Licensed. FAA Part 107 certified drone pilot — providing aerial inspection of facades, balconies, and elevated structures that ground-level inspection cannot adequately document.
PE Inspection LLC is the only licensed PE inspection firm in Hudson County with an in-house FAA Part 107 certified drone pilot. For multi-story condo buildings in Jersey City and Hoboken, this is a meaningful capability for complete S2760 facade and balcony documentation.
The January 8, 2026 first-inspection deadline has passed. Is it too late to comply?
No — but act immediately. Late compliance is better than non-compliance, and associations that have not completed their first inspection may face municipal enforcement action. Contact us to prioritize your inspection and document good-faith compliance.
Who is legally authorized to perform an NJ S2760 inspection?
Only a New Jersey-licensed Professional Engineer or licensed architect is authorized to conduct the inspection and sign the required report. A general home inspector cannot fulfill this requirement. Both founders of PE Inspection LLC hold active NJ PE licenses.
What is the difference between the 5-year and 10-year inspection cycles?
Buildings 20 years old or older at the time of their most recent inspection are subject to re-inspection every 5 years. Buildings under 20 years old follow a 10-year re-inspection cycle after the initial inspection.
Does your drone inspection replace a physical on-site inspection?
No. Drone inspection supplements the ground-level visual inspection — it does not replace it. The drone provides aerial photographic documentation of roofs, upper facades, and elevated slabs that cannot be safely accessed from the ground. Together, both methods provide the most complete picture of the building's structural condition.
Can you perform the reserve study required under S2760 as well?
Yes. Our licensed PEs are qualified to conduct capital reserve studies in compliance with CAI National Reserve Study Standards. We can coordinate both the structural inspection and reserve study efficiently.
Do you serve buildings in both New Jersey and New York?
Yes. Both founders hold PE licenses in NJ and NY. For buildings near the NJ/NY metro border, we serve both states.
The January 8, 2026 first-inspection deadline has passed. Is it too late to comply?
No — but act immediately. Late compliance is better than non-compliance, and associations that have not completed their first inspection may face municipal enforcement action. Contact us to prioritize your inspection and document good-faith compliance.
Who is legally authorized to perform an NJ S2760 inspection?
Only a New Jersey-licensed Professional Engineer or licensed architect is authorized to conduct the inspection and sign the required report. A general home inspector cannot fulfill this requirement. Both founders of PE Inspection LLC hold active NJ PE licenses.
What is the difference between the 5-year and 10-year inspection cycles?
Buildings 20 years old or older at the time of their most recent inspection are subject to re-inspection every 5 years. Buildings under 20 years old follow a 10-year re-inspection cycle after the initial inspection.
Does your drone inspection replace a physical on-site inspection?
No. Drone inspection supplements the ground-level visual inspection — it does not replace it. The drone provides aerial photographic documentation of roofs, upper facades, and elevated slabs that cannot be safely accessed from the ground. Together, both methods provide the most complete picture of the building's structural condition.
Can you perform the reserve study required under S2760 as well?
Yes. Our licensed PEs are qualified to conduct capital reserve studies in compliance with CAI National Reserve Study Standards. We can coordinate both the structural inspection and reserve study efficiently.
Do you serve buildings in both New Jersey and New York?
Yes. Both founders hold PE licenses in NJ and NY. For buildings near the NJ/NY metro border, we serve both states.
Your S2760 compliance obligation is ongoing. Whether scheduling a first inspection, approaching a re-inspection cycle, or responding to observed damage — call or email to get started.
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