CAL.Regulation
California requires qualifying cities and counties to offer remote building inspections for specified residential work
AB 1738 (Chapter 271), approved September 18, added Section 17970.9 to the Health and Safety Code, requiring California cities and counties to offer homeowners and their contractors the option of remote building inspections for specified residential work, including heat-pump installations, reroofs, small photovoltaic systems, and smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors. Larger agencies must comply by January 1, 2028; small agencies that issue remote inspections by July 1, 2028.
Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) → · Governor of California
Key points
- Remote inspections may use live videoconferencing or recorded photos and videos, at the inspector's discretion.California Legislative Information
- Homeowners and contractors with written consent may request remote inspection for all or part of required inspections.California Legislative Information
- Cities under 5,000 residents and counties under 150,000 residents comply by July 1, 2028, if they issue remote inspections.California Legislative Information
- Remote inspections must cost no more and impose no greater delay than in-person inspections.California Legislative Information
- Inspectors may stop a remote inspection and require in-person review if compliance cannot be verified.California Legislative Information
- Willful misrepresentation draws a temporary remote-inspection ban of up to six months, then twelve.California Legislative Information
Sources3 articles across 2 outlets
California Legislative Information
Governor of California