A fourth-floor balcony at the Lassiter at North Hills apartment complex reportedly gave way sometime in early August, and the city of Raleigh says it only learned about the failure this week. Now all 76 balconies at the complex are undergoing what's being called a comprehensive evaluation, and some residents say they've been locked out of their own balconies while the review plays out.
According to WRAL, the city confirmed it was made aware of the balcony failure this week, despite the collapse itself reportedly happening weeks earlier. The station reports that an engineer working with the property owner is now evaluating every balcony at the complex, and that city permits will be required before any repairs can move forward.
Fire and Building Staff Show Up On Site
Staff from Raleigh's fire and building safety departments visited the complex this week to assess conditions and speak with representatives for the property, the station's report notes. At least two residents corroborated to the outlet that building management has restricted access to certain resident balconies while the evaluation continues.
The evidence gathered so far does not establish what caused the balcony to collapse, whether anyone was hurt, or how long repairs might take. Those are open questions the city and property owner haven't yet answered publicly, per the same account.
What Raleigh Requires Before Repairs Can Begin
Raleigh says permits exist to make sure projects follow local zoning rules along with state and national safety standards, and the city's commercial inspections process covers work done on apartment buildings specifically to confirm that repairs were completed safely and correctly. Separately, the city's Housing Code requires landlords to keep properties in good condition, with housing inspectors checking dwellings against the ordinance's minimum standards.
Residents who suspect a code violation at their own building can reach the city's Code Enforcement Division through an Ask Raleigh request or by calling 919-996-2444, according to the city's code violation reporting page.
A Painful Precedent From Greensboro
Balcony failures aren't unheard of in North Carolina apartment complexes. Back in 2019, a balcony collapse at an apartment complex in Greensboro injured three people, and officials at the time said termite damage likely caused it, with inspections needed to determine when balconies and patios could be used again, according to The News & Observer.
For now, the Lassiter at North Hills case remains an open file. The precise cause of the August collapse, the condition of the complex's other balconies, and a timeline for repairs haven't been made public, leaving residents to wait as the evaluation continues.
