As we enter the last quarter of 2024, we want to again remind our New Jersey community association clients to review whether their buildings require structural inspections pursuant to the new Structural Integrity Law...more
In this Insight, Olivia Turner considers the key features of the ABCA form for the Appointment of a Building Control Approver that clients should be aware of. Part of the transformation of the building safety regime...more
On January 8, 2024, Governor Murphy signed into law Senate Bill S2760 (and its companion legislation, Assembly Bill A4384), which is informally known as the “Structural Integrity Bill.” The New Jersey Chapter of the Community...more
Continuing duty to advise or warn? How do you know? Whether, or not, a consultant has a continuing duty to advise or warn can be a challenging question to resolve....more
House Bill 14 (by Harris (R), House District 8, Palestine, Anderson County, Texas) - Effective September 1, 2023 - THIRD-PARTY REVIEW OF PLATS, PLANS, PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS - HB 14 adds a new Chapter 247 to the...more
Are you a New Jersey property owner or developer being ignored by an overwhelmed municipal building code inspector? Well, New Jersey has just passed a law that will provide you – and local officials – with some relief....more
In response to the tragic balcony collapse that killed seven students in Berkeley in 2015, Governor Jerry Brown approved Senate Bill No. 721 on September 17, 2018. The bill, commonly referred to as the “Balcony Inspection...more
Advanced Structural Drying (ASD) is the effective, efficient drying of water-damaged buildings and dwellings, using comprehensive knowledge and tools. The process includes the collection of appropriate data for utilization...more
In a decision that further clarifies Massachusetts law with regard to employee classification, the Massachusetts Appeals Court recently held that home inspectors working on behalf of an inspectional services company were...more
In early June, we reported on the key land use-related ballot propositions San Francisco voters faced during the June 7, 2022 special election. Now that the dust has settled after the election, voters came very close to...more
Heightened statutory inspection and maintenance requirements in high-rise condominium buildings emphasize the critical importance of similar inspection and maintenance regimens for similarly situated properties....more
When performing inspections of buildings or structures after a catastrophic event, such as a hurricane, several types of damage conditions may be encountered. The unpredictability of storms can present many challenges when...more
San Francisco voters will again confront a formidable ballot during the special election on June 7, 2022, with an array of ballot propositions to consider. Key land use-related measures are as follows...more
Due to delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other factors, many municipalities across Long Island are experiencing significant backlogs of processing building permit applications. ...more
In Appeal of Watts Constructors, LLC, the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals (the “Board”) held that a contractor was not excused from following contract plans and specifications despite the observation by government...more
CYBERSECURITY - OFAC Issues Advisory on Sanctions for Facilitating Ransomware Payments - On October 1, 2020, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an advisory “to...more
Singapore analytics and acoustic solutions company H3 Zoom.AI’s founder, Shaun Koo, began using drones for building inspection and facilities management after realizing that the city’s highly urban landscape was “overdue for...more
As counties and municipalities react to the outbreak of COVID-19, the typical development process is disrupted. Some jurisdictions have chosen only to suspend building inspections of the interior of occupied residential...more
The abrupt halt to day-to-day operations over the last two weeks is forcing a series of unwelcome decisions on Massachusetts real estate developers. While many activities are sharply curtailed, including construction in...more
On March 9, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-52, which declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak. The order allows for the tolling of certain permits and in some instances up to an...more
On December 19, 2019, the Rhode Island Contractors Registration and Licensing Board’s (“CRLB”) revised regulations for contractors and new regulations home inspectors, well drillers/pump installers/water-filtration...more
The Supreme Court, Suffolk County recently upheld a determination of the Southampton Town Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) perhaps ending a lengthy and controversial review of the development of a day camp on residentially...more
Schneider Electric recently issued a consumer warning that it mistakenly shipped to its customers USB drives that were infected with malware. Schneider Electric stated in its alert that “Schneider Electric has determined that...more
Many years ago, a local homebuilder told me he wouldn't build in the Portland City limits anymore, because the permitting and inspections took so long and were so expensive that it ate into his profits, not to mention his...more