Remote Inspections: AB 1738
- 6 days ago
- 1 min read
What if you could do your required inspections over FaceTime without having to wait a week or more for an inspector to come out in person?
California bill AB 1738, proposed by Assemblymember Juan Carrillo, would require cities and counties to offer homeowners the option to request remote inspections for certain permitted work in one- and two-family homes. The proposed implementation date would be July 1, 2027, to enable the setup of various processes. Importantly, this is not removing required inspections, but rather substituting remote inspection (via live video like FaceTime, Zoom, etc.) vs. in-person visits.
The bill applies to the State Housing Law framework and would let local agencies provide remote inspections for all or part of an inspection tied to a building permit for specified work. It also allows cities and counties to create an on-site audit process, but also temporarily block misuse if a homeowner intentionally misrepresents the work.
The San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR) is an official co-sponsor, along with Permit Power (focused on clear energy equipment installation). Supporters say the bill could reduce delays, lower costs, and speed up projects like water heaters, solar, and ADUs while still preserving safety standards. They also describe it as a way to free up inspector capacity and help housing and clean-energy projects move faster.
This bill has been approved by the Committee on Housing and Community Development. The Committee on Local Government is reviewing it now and is expected to pass to the next stage soon - we’ll keep you posted!
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