After Sunday’s tragic porch collapse on Chicago’s North Side, DeKalb officials want residents to be aware of their porches.

DeKalb annually sends inspectors to rooming, fraternity and sorority houses to make sure the buildings meet the requirements stated in section 24.01 of DeKalb’s municipal codes.

However, apartments and townhouses only are inspected once – after being constructed.

Section 24.01 of the building code states that DeKalb shall “regulate the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repairs, moving, removal, demolition, conversion, remodeling occupancy, equipment, use, height and area of all buildings within the city limits.”

The codes are set by the International Code Council’s National Building Code Association.

One city official warned students about gathering on porches at parties.

“Decks aren’t made to hold 30 to 100 people [despite precautions],” said Paul Rasmussen, community development director for the city of DeKalb.