PA Could Begin Requiring Recurring High-Rise Condo Inspections

HARRISBURG, PA — In the wake of the deadly condominium collapse in Surfside, FL, state lawmakers soon will consider a measure requiring recurring inspections of high-rise residential buildings in Pennsylvania.

State Sen. Wayne Fontana of Allegheny County plans to introduce legislation that, in addition to firming up inspection requirement, also would detail a timeline on when necessary repairs and maintenance must occur. Owners of the high-rise buildings also would have to file a statement regarding how assessments for inspection, maintenance, repair or replacement costs would be levied against unit owners.

"I feel that now is an appropriate time to think about the conditions of high-rise condo buildings in the commonwealth and how decisions are made on maintenance, reserve funds and the hiring of experts to do essential fixes," Fontana wrote in a recent memo to colleagues.

The last remaining person missing from the June 24 Champlain Towers South collapse was identified on Monday. A large portion of the 12-story building crumbled as many of its residents were sleeping; 98 people were killed.

A cause for the collapse has not been pinpointed. But as Fontana noted in his memo, the condo was inspected in 2018 and received "a troubling report" detailing needed repairs.

"The same firm returned two years later to conduct a far more extensive inspection which was then sent to condo board members in October 2020 with little action in fixing the deficiencies," he noted.

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