City Residential Reports
City Residential Reports
Updated March 12, 2012
To help you, as an owner and possible future Seller, or as a real estate professional, here is a list of cities in California which have adopted ordinances that require a “pre-sale” property report. This means that before an escrow can close and property transferred, the City has to disclose to the Buyer what is on the City records as to the status of the property, its permits, violations, and compliance with its building code ordinances.
Many require an on-site inspection by their inspector, others just do an internal check, but all require fees to be paid.
Selling real estate in this day and age can be massively confusing. It is our aim to make it easier for you with non-biased, easy to understand information. We will be constantly updating and revising the list as we gather further information. If you have comments or anything to add, please let us know!
| City | Name of report (click for weblink to site or forms, if any) | Contact phone # | Cost | In Brief and Notes/Comments |
| Azusa | Real Property Records Report | 626-812-5235 | $52 – $165 | All properties, including vacant land, but not on first sale. Buyer to acknowledge report, 6 month time limit. Prices subject to change every summer (updated March 8, 2012). |
| Belvedere (Marin County) | Residential Building Record Report | 415-435-3838 | $300 | Inspector goes out to the property. Report cannot be waived. Good for 60 days. Buyer acknowledges report. |
| Beverly Hills | Smoke Detector & Water Conservation Plumbing Fixtures Affidavit | 310-285-1141 | Buyer & Seller sign form. No inspection. Only deals with smoke detector and water conservation. | |
| Burbank | Retrofit Upon Sale Certificate of Compliance | 818-238-3700 | Water Conservation only. No inspection. Buyer & Seller sign on Certificate of Compliance. | |
| Carpinteria (Santa Barbara County) | Inspection-on-Sale Report Application | 805-684-5405 ext. 451 | $245 – $400 | Inspector goes out to the property. Buyer must acknowledge report. Cannot be waived. Good for 6 months. |
| Carson | Residential Property Report | 310-952-1766 | $150 and up | On site inspection required. Good for 6 months. Buyer must acknowledge. FAQ link: http://ci.carson.ca.us/content/department/dev_service/rprfaqs.asp |
| Chico (Butte County) | Energy Retrofit Inspection | 530-879-6700 | Cost varies per each private inspector. Only mandatory on buildlings prior to 1991. Buyer doesn’t need to acknowledge. Inspectors are certified by the city. Commercial buildings don’t require it. | |
| Compton | Pre-Sale Inspection | 310-605-5509 | $60 – $140 | Inspection required. Residential Only. Call for application form. Buyer acknowledgement of Residential Building Report needed. |
| Corte Madera (Marin County) | Application for Report of Residential Building Record | 415-927-5062 | $130 | Inspector doesn’t go out to the property. Cannot waive. Buyer doesn’t need to acknowledge. Commercial buildings don’t require it. It is good for 6 months. |
| Cudahy | Pre-Inspection report | 323-773-5143 | $255 up to 5 units | Inspection required. Pick up form at Building and Safety, pay and obtain appointment. Residential, commercial and vacant land. |
| Culver City | Report for residential Building Records | 310-253-5800 | $96-$128 | No inspection. Need on residential & commercial properties, no vacant land. Call for application. Takes 10 business days. Buyer needs to acknowledge. |
| Daly City (San Mateo County) | Residential Requirements Report Request | 650-991-8061 | $45 | Fax report. The report is computer generated. Buyer has to acknowledge the report and inspection and cannot be waived. The report is good for 6 months. |
| Del Rey Oaks (Monterey County) | Residential Property Report | 831-394-8511 | $100 | See website for Information. Physical inspection required. Property owner must acknowledge report. Report cannot be waived. Commercial buildings have a separate report. |
| El Monte | Property Inspection Report | 626-580-2050 | $195.50-$252.50+ | Inspection required. Residential and commercial properties. Call for application form. Buyer acknowledgement needed. Form Link |
| El Segundo | NONE now, pursuant to Building Dept. | 310-524-2380 | NONE | |
| Gardena | Property Information Report | 310-217-9530 | $226.25 | Inspection required only of exterior. Report to be delivered 15 days prior to closing. Residential and commercial. Condos are exempt. Buyer can sign a Waiver. Buyer must acknowledge either the report or the Waiver. |
| Hawaiian Gardens | Pre Sale Inspection | 562-420-2641 | $265 | Inspection required. Residential and commercial properties. New construction exempt. Deliver 21 days before closing, Buyer to acknowledge. |
| Hermosa Beach | Report for Residential Building Records | 310-318-0235 | $135 | Residential only. Takes 2 weeks to process. Exterior inspection only. Good for 6 months. |
| Huntington Park | Residential Pre-Sale Inspection Program | 323-584-6271 | Inspection required. Single family 1-4 units and vacant land required. No commercial or over 4 units. Good for 6 months. | |
| Inglewood | Pre-Sale Report | 310-412-5294 | $150 + $10/unit | Inspection required. All properties, including commercial and vacant land. Buyer needs to acknowledge. Good for 6 months. Call Building and Safety and they will mail the form. Not on website |
| Laguna Beach (Orange County) | Real Property Report | 949-497-0714 | $350 | No inspection. All properties, including commercial and vacant land. Go down to Building Dept and pick up application and pay. Realtor needs to have his City Business License to show. Takes 7 days. |
| Livermore (Alameda County) | Report of Residential Building Record | 925-960-4410 | $60 | No physical inspection. Buyer must acknowledge it. Cannot waive. Good for 6 months. Commercial buildings don’t require it. |
| Los Angeles City | Residential Property Report – 9A | 213-485-2216 | $77.20 per parcel | No inspection. Need on residential and vacant land. No commercial properties or first sale of new residential building. Need application form with original signatures by Seller (and Buyer if Buyer is doing work). Good for 6 months. |
| Los Angeles City – Dept of Water and Power | Certificate of Compliance | 213-284-6130 | $15 -$75 and up | Licensed plumber to certify low flow toilets and showerheads and sign Certificate of Compliance. Seller and Buyer also to sign. Form link |
| Lynwood | Pre-Sale Real Property Report | 310-603-0220 ext. 289 | $224.40 | Inspection of exterior only. Residential only. Call for application form. Real Estate Agent needs to have business license for Lynwood to apply. |
| Manhattan Beach | Residential Building Reports | 310-802-5505 | $121.50 | No inspection. Residential only. Application under Forms “Residential Building Report” on website. Water Conservation Retrofit required – Form link |
| Marina (Monterey County) | Residential Property Report | 831-884-1214 | $50 | See website for Information. Physical inspection required. Buyer acknowledges report. Report cannot be waived. Good for 3 months. Commercial buildings do not need. |
| Maywood | Pre-Sale Home Inspection | 323-562-5727 | $110 | Inspection required. Application is multiple carbon copy. Call them to mail. Buyer needs to acknowledge report and this report cannot be waived. No expiration date, good until sale of property again. Whoever is applying for report needs to have a Business License with City. |
| Monterey (Monterey County) | Residential Property Report | 831-646-3890 | Report Faxed. Exterior inspection only. Buyer acknowledges report. Report cannot be waived. Good for 6 months. No requirement for condominiums, but apartments do require. | |
| Monterey Park | Property Report | 626-307-1300 | $126 to $256 and up | Inspection required. Residential and commercial. Work must be done or Buyer has option to assume responsibility. Valid for 6 months. Owner must apply with copy of Deed. If Agent applying, needs a Power of Attorney from owner for this specific action. |
| Newport Beach | Report of Residential Building Records | 949-644-3288 | $156 – 182 and up | Residential only. Inspection not required, but if declined, will be noted on report for Buyer to acknowledge. Takes 30 days to complete after application submitted. Corrections to be done within 30 days or Buyer can assume responsibility. Good for one year. |
| Orange (Orange County) | NONE ANYMORE | |||
| Oxnard (Ventura County) | Report of Building Records | 805-385-7840 | $37.80 | Inspection not required. Residential and commercial. Buyer to acknowlege. Takes 7 days to process. Good for 6 months. Call Patricia or Ruby for fax or e-mail of application. |
| Palos Verdes Estates | Real Property Records Report | 310-378-0383 | $113 | Inspection not needed. Takes 5 working days. Good for 6 months. Homeowner applies. If third party applies, needs a City Business License in order to apply. |
| Pasadena | Occupancy Inspection Program | 626-744-4633 | $132.66 – $265.33 | Inspection required and cannot be waived. Single family, duplex, condos. Seller can assign responsibility for corrective work to Buyer which will require their acknowledgement. Buyer has 6 months to comply. Certificate is valid for 1 year. Must go in to apply. |
| Piedmont (Alameda County) | Housing Records Search | 510-420-3050 | $50 | No physical inspection. Report cannot be waived. Buyer doesn’t need to acknowledge it. Commercial buildings require the same report. |
| Port Hueneme (Ventura County) | Residential & Commercial Building Records | 805-986-6500 | $43-$107 | Has option of report only or report and inspection. Required for residential and commercial. Buyer can waive with signature on waiver and sent to Building and Safety. Can obtain a supplement to original report that was obtained 6 months prior. No application online. Call for application. |
| Rancho Palos Verdes | NONE ANYMORE | |||
| Redondo Beach | Report of Residential Building | 310-318-0636 | $40 | Residential only. No inspection unless their records show violations exist. Buyer to acknowledge. Good for 6 months. |
| Rolling Hills Estates | Pre-Sale Inspection Report | 310-377-1577 | $200-$300 | Residential only. Buyer can choose a record search only or with an on-site inspection. Buyer to complete application. Takes 7 business days. Must have to close. |
| Ross (Marin County) | Residential Report | 415-453-1453 ext.106 | $325 + $100 each add. unit | Physical inspection required. Business license is required for businesses, which costs $100. Buyer must acknowledge report. Cannot be waived. Also required for commercial buildings. Good for 12 months. Go to Building Dept to get application. |
| Salinas (Monterey County) | Residential Property Report | 831-758-7241 | $59.28 | Report Faxed. No physical inspection required. Buyer acknowledges report. Report cannot be waived. Good for 90 days. |
| San Diego (San Diego County) | NONE ANYMORE | |||
| San Francisco | Report of Residential Building Record (3R) | 415-558-6080 | $160 | Residential only. City does not inspect, but needs to get a licensed contractor to do so. Valid for one year. Buyer does not need to sign off. Each building needs its own application. |
| San Francisco | Residential Energy & Water Conservation | 415-558-6220 | Residential only. Energy Conservation required only once in lifetime of home and will be noted on the 3R report. The water conservation is required each time of transfer. Go to website to find City approved inspectors. Inspector normally charges flat fee for all inspections and filing fees. | |
| San Francisco | Stationary Tank Permits | 415-558-3300 (Fire Dept) | $330 + $344/year | Residential only. Check if property contains stationary tank, if there is a cap on sidewalk or a generator for above ground or portables. Buyer must apply. There is a one time cost of $330 and a yearly tax license of $344, paid through Tax Collector. Fire Dept will inspect tanks yearly. |
| San Marino | Residential Compliance Certificate | 626-300-0700 | $140.00 | Residential only. Inspection fee separate. Apply in person, they will provide list of individuals or firms allowed to do inspection. Report cannot be waived. Buyer not required to acknowledge report. All violations must be corrected within 6 months. Takes 10 business days. Good 2 years or when sold. |
| San Pablo (Contra Costa County) | Residential Health and Safety Inspection | 510-215-3030 | $125 (condo), $175 (SFR), $25+ per/unit | Physical Inspection required. Report cannot be waived. Good for 6 months. Commercial buildings not required. Buyer does not need to acknowledge. |
| Sand City (Monterey County) | Residential Property Report | 831-646-3891 | $115 | Report Faxed. Physical inspection required on exterior only. Buyer acknowledges report. Report cannot be waived. Good for 6 months. No requirement for condominiums, but apartments do require. |
| Santa Monica | Report of Residential Building Records | 310-458-8355 | $234.46 | Inspections not required. Computer generated report. Can fill it out online. Cannot be waived. Buyer must acknowledge. Good for 6 months. Look for application form under “Forms – Public Records – Public Records Request”. |
| Sausalito (Marin County) | Residential Building Record Report | 415-289-4136 | $113 | No physical inspection. Report cannot be waived. Buyer doesn’t need to acknowledge. Needs a sewer video it doesn’t have one within last 3 years. Go to Building Dept to get application. |
| Seaside (Monterey County) | Real Property Disclosure Report | 831-899-6736 | $129 | Report emailed. Exterior inspection only. Must have every time the property transfers. Cannot be waived. |
| South Gate | Pre-Sale Inspection | 323-563-9500 | $61 | Inspection required. Residential only or residential in mixed use units. Code violations to be corrected within a year by Seller or Buyer. Buyer to acknowledge. Report is good for one year. |
| Signal Hill | Residence Inspection program | 562-989-7348 | $170-565 | Only for 4 units and up residential properties. Valid for 6 months. Buyer does not need to acknowledge. Must go to City to obtain application, 10:30-11:30 Monday-Friday. |
| Torrance | Smoke Detector Cert of Compliance | Building and Safety Dept. 310-618-5898 | No property inspection or report required. However, does need a Smoke Detector Compliance done by Contractor. | |
| Thousand Oaks (Ventura County) | Report of Residential Building Records | 805-449-2500 | $65- $245 | Inspections required only if there are open permits, cost is then $245. No inspection cost is $65. Good for 6 months. Takes up to 10 working days to get. |
| Ventura (Ventura County) | Report of Building Records | 805-385-7780 | $29.00 | No property inspection. Only review permits on file. Buyer to acknowledge. |
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Here is the newest link to the applicaiton for Hermosa Beach too
http://www.hermosabch.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=547
Carson has a pre sale inspection as well….
http://ci.carson.ca.us//content/department/dev_service/res_property_report_ord.asp
azusa city inspection prices have gone up…. here is the link for the updated one….
http://www.ci.azusa.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1741
Our thanks to Wendy for the City of Azusa update information! We always appreciate your help!
There is no Ventura city inspection on here? They do require one now.
Thank you, DiAnn, for letting us know that the City of Ventura has a residential report requirement effective Sept. 1, 2011. Their new requirement has been added to our list.
As mentioned, this list is fluid and subject to change as more (or less) cities come up with this ordinance.
We appreciate our readers keeping us in the loop!
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