Gulf Coast Deck Collapse Prompts Inspection Program

Prompted by a deck collapse last year that injured a dozen vacationing students on spring break, officials in Gulf Shores, Alabama have proposed inspecting decks, balconies, stairs, handrails and guard rails on the city’s more than 3000 short-term rental properties. It’s estimated that licensing fees on rental properties to pay for the additional inspectors will rise by about $40 per unit per year.