A pre-sale inspection is a report that some cities require before an escrow can close. The city has to disclose to the Buyer what is on the city records with regard to permits, violations, and compliance with building code ordinances. Each city has different requirements, so we wanted to share with you this useful list.
County | City | Contact Phone | Cost | In Brief and Notes/Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
LOS ANGELES | 626-812-5265 | $255.00 | All properties (including commercial & vacant land) with the exception of the first sale in connection with a subdivision, condos, townhouses and PUDs. Single Family Homes built after 2000 also exempt. Reports may take up to 10 biz days from application, expire in 6 mos and Buyer must acknowledge prior to COE. Agent must obtain a City business license. Questions may be emailed to [email protected] | |
LOS ANGELES | 323-285-1141 x2611 | $200 – $600 | Inspection required. Seller signs form must get signature notarized if not submitting the application in person. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-285-1141 | No Cost | Buyer and Seller sign form. Only deals with smoke detector and water conservation. | |
LOS ANGELES | 818-238-3730 | No Cost | The seller and buyer shall each certify compliance with the Ordinance by signature on the Certificate of Compliance. A signed copy of the Certificate of Compliance shall be included in the transfer documentation. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-605-5509 | $60 – $120+ | Inspection required. Residential only. Call for application form. Buyer acknowledgement of residential Building Report needed. City business license required by applicant. Report valid for 6 months. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-952-1766 | $50 – $300 | *See Application to confirm fees. Call Division of Building and Safety with any questions. | |
LOS ANGELES | 323-773-5143 | $255 up to 5 units | Inspection is required and can only be done in person (to apply, pay and schedule inspection appointment). Required for Residential, commercial and vacant land. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-253-5800 | $96 – $128 | No inspection required. Need Report on residential and commercial properties, not vacant land. Takes five business days. Buyer to acknowledge. Real estate agents=payment requirements. | |
LOS ANGELES | 626-580-2050 | $395.03 – $541.50 | Inspection required. Residential and commercial properties. Buyer acknowledgement required. Report completed w/in 10 city business days after inspection. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-217-9530 | $315 – $415 | Inspection required exterior only. Report to be delivered 15 days prior to closing. Residential and commercial. Condos exempt. Buyer must sign report & return to Bldg & Safety. | |
LOS ANGELES | 562-420-2641 x208 | $174 – $335 | Inspection required. Residential and commercial properties. New construction exempt. Delivery 21 days prior to closing. Buyer to acknowledge. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-318-0235 | $271 | Residential only. Four weeks processing. Exterior inspection only. Six month expiration. | |
LOS ANGELES | 323-584-6271 | $105+ | Inspection required. Single-family 1-4 units and vacant land required. No commercial or over 4 units. Good for 6 months. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-412-5294 | $163-$353 + $11/ unit add’l | Applications are accepted online only w/ credit card payment. City’s processing time states approx 30 days. Exterior inspection required. Buyer’s signed report must be provided to City prior to closing. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310.973.3230 | $205.30 | Inspection required. For residential properties. Turnaround about 5-7 days and Buyer must acknowledge report. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-325-7110 | $162.18 – $324.36 | City requires seller’s agent have a City business license to submit application. Processing can take up to 2 weeks. Required on all residential except conds/townhouse & first sale of subdivided property. | |
LOS ANGELES | 562-570-6328 | $20-$413+ | The Inspection and Resale Report is required for all properties in the Parking Impacted Area that have or should have a traditional garage upon close of escrow. | |
LOS ANGELES | 213-482-6777 | $70.85 mailed, $72.26 online. | 9A report does not require inspection. Required for residential & vacant land. No commercial or first sale of new residential. Application may be docusigned & ordered online. Report valid for 6 mos. | |
LOS ANGELES | 213-367-4211 | $15 – $75+ | A licensed plumber, contractor, retrofitter or agent may sign off as licensee. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-603-0220 x289 | $276+ | Inspection required-exterior only. Real estate agent must have business license for Lynwood to apply. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-802-5505 | $359.15 | No inspection. Residential only. The application under Forms Residential Building Report on website. Water Conservation Retrofit required. Apply online at www.manhattanbeach.gov/css (account set up required prior to ordering). | |
LOS ANGELES | 323-562-5727 | $110 | Inspection required. Multi-copy Application form is mailed. Report cannot be waived and Buyer must acknowledge. No expiration until next sale. Applicant must have City Business License. Processing time is 2-3 weeks. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-378-0383 | $174 | Inspection not needed. Takes five working days. Six month expiration. Homeowner to apply or third party applicant must have City Business License. | |
LOS ANGELES | 626-744-4633 | $27.78 – $150.38 | Self-Certification Program available that does not require inspection if the property qualifies. In the event the property does not qualify inspection required; cannot be waived. Single-family, duplex, condos. Seller can assign correction work to Buyer and both must acknowledge. Buyer to comply within six months. Certificate valid for one year. Must appear in person to re-apply. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-318-0636 | $50 – $180 | Residential only. No inspection unless records show violations. Buyer to acknowledge. Six months expiration. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-377-1577 | $200 – $300 | Residential only. Buyer can choose record search only or on-site inspection. Buyer to complete application. Takes seven business days. Required to close escrow. | |
LOS ANGELES | 818-898-1227 | $240 | Residential only. Inspection fee separate. Apply in person; qualified inspector list provided. Takes ten days. Report cannot be waived. All violations must be corrected within six months. Buyer not required to acknowledge. Two year expiration or when sold. | |
LOS ANGELES | 626-300-0700 | $70 | Residential only. Inspection fee separate. Apply for Residential Compliance Certificate in person; qualified inspector list provided. Takes ten days. Report cannot be waived. All violations must be corrected within six months. Two year expiration or when sold. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-458-8355 | $344.31 | Inspection not required. Computer record online application. Cannot be waived. Buyer to acknowledge. Six month expiration. | |
LOS ANGELES | 562-989-7348 | $170 – $565 | 4-units & up residential only. Six month expiration. Buyer does not need to acknowledge. Apply in person; limited hours. | |
LOS ANGELES | 323-563-9500 | $72 – $434 | Any property owner/seller may apply for a pre-sale housing inspection report six (6) months prior to entering into any agreement of sale for the exchange of any residential building and prior to listing such property for sale. Property owner will be required to present proof of ownership with a valid form of identification, such California Identification (ID) with current property address. Click here for details on the process and requirements. | |
LOS ANGELES | 310-618-5898 Bldg & Safety | None | No inspection or report; Certificate of Compliance by Contractor. | |
ALAMEDA | 925-960-4410 | $90 -$104 | A Report of Residential Building Records is required to be delivered to the buyer prior to the conclusion of a sale or transfer of a residential building. | |
CONTRA COSTA | 510-215-3053 | $512 – $733 + $84 each add’l unit | This Ordinance requires the owner of rental or ‘for sale’ property to remove or mitigate potential threats to health and safety of the occupants or future occupants. Provisions of applicable building codes and ordinances are used to determine health and safety compliance. application may be submitted via email to [email protected] | |
MARIN | 415-435-3838 | $300 | Report Required. Prior to offering for sale or exchange, and prior to entering into any “agreement of sale” or exchange of any residential building or lot, the owner shall obtain from the City a report of the residential building records report showing the regularly authorized use, occupancy, and zoning classification of such property. Said report shall be valid for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months from the date of issue. | |
MARIN | 415-927-5062 | $130 + add’l $190 if fire insp required | Prior to the sale or exchange of any residential building or residential site in the Town, the owner or his authorized agent shall obtain from the Town a Report of Residential Building Record showing the regularly authorized use, occupancy and zoning classifications of such property and all other pertinent information relating thereto. turnaround time for reports is 2 weeks. | |
MARIN | 415-258-4673 | $190 | Resale Inspections are not required on individual condominiums or townhomes unless the entire complex is being sold. Ross Valley Fire Department Fire Inspectors will complete the inspection within 1 week of application submittal. | |
MARIN | 415-289-4128 | $450 | The Report must be delivered to the buyer of the residential building prior to the consummation of the sale or exchange. The City does not conduct a physical building inspection. Allow a minimum of two weeks for preparation of the report. | |
MONTEREY | 831-394-8511 | $250 plus add’l $100 /hr after 1st hr for buildings larger than single family | Inspections require access to the inside of all structures on the property. | |
MONTEREY | 831-884-1278 | None | Prior to the close of escrow or transfer of title for sale or exchange of any residential real property, a residential property inspection report needs to be obtained from the City, and a copy delivered to the buyer. | |
MONTEREY | 831-646-3890 | $148 SFR / $148 + $104 /hour for apt bldg | The inspection is an “exterior” inspection and no one is required to be in attendance. Condos are exempt. Application may be emailed to [email protected] | |
MONTEREY | 831-758-7251 | $71.14 | Prior to entering into an “agreement of sale” or exchange of any residential building, the owner or his authorized representative shall obtain from the city a report of the residential building record showing the regularly authorized use, occupancy, and zoning classification of such property. The report shall be valid for a period not to exceed six months from date of issue. | |
MONTEREY | 831-899-6825 | $159 | None | |
ORANGE COUNTY | 949-497-0714 | $350 | No inspection. Report required for all properties. Apply in person. Takes seven days. Real estate agent must have City Business License. | |
ORANGE COUNTY | 949-644-3200 | $165 – $192+ | Residential only. Inspection not required but owner to acknowledge and noted on records. 30 days to complete inspection after application. Corrections within 30 days or Buyer can assume responsibility. One year expiration. | |
ORANGE COUNTY | Orange | None | None | None |
SANTA BARBARA | 805-684-5405 x451 | $280 – $455+ | On-site inspection. Report cannot be waived. Buyer must acknowledge. Six month expiration. Does not apply to condos in complexes of 4+ units. | |
SAN BERNARDINO | 530-879-6700 | None | None | |
SAN BERNARDINO | San Bernardino | 909-387-8311 | None | None |
SAN FRANCISCO | 628-652-3420 | $148 | A 3R Report is needed prior to the sale or exchange of any residential building; except for the first sale or exchange of a newly constructed residential building within one year of the date of the Certificate of Final Completion. | |
SAN FRANCISCO | 628-652-3700 | None | This is the latest listing of Certified Private Residential Energy and Water Inspectors, as certified by the Department of Building Inspection. These persons are private Inspectors certified by the City and County of San Francisco to perform energy inspections, as required by Chapters 12 and 12A of the San Francisco Housing Code. Identification may be requested, as each Inspector has been given an I.D. with a number and photo. | |
SAN MATEO | 650-991-8061 | $250 | There shall be a final inspection and approval of all buildings and structures when completed and ready for occupancy and use. | |
VENTURA | 805-385-7840 | None | The requirement for a report of building records has been waived per order of the Director of Emergency Services. | |
VENTURA | 805-986-6500 | $119 | Inspection not required. Residential and commercial. Buyer to acknowledge. Takes seven days. Six month expiration. | |
VENTURA | 805-449-2500 | $82 – $308 | Required only if open permits-$308. No inspection-$82. Six month expiration. Takes ten days. | |
VENTURA | 805-654-7587 | $78 | No inspection only review permits on file. Buyer to acknowledge. |