San Francisco Compliance · CSLB #1060736
SF Section 604 Inspection for San Francisco Apartments, Condos & Hotels
San Francisco Housing Code Section 604 (adopted 2003) requires every apartment building, condominium, and hotel in the city to have all exterior elevated elements — wood and metal, including fire escapes — professionally inspected every five years, at 100%, not a sample. The first deadline, April 1, 2022, has passed. D&B inspects, documents, and prepares your SFDBI affidavit — and repairs anything that fails, in-house.
- CSLB #1060736 Licensed California contractor
- 100% Of wood & metal elements inspected
- Fire escapes Included — unlike SB 721 / 326
- SFDBI Affidavit prepared for filing
01 Why it matters
The deadline has passed — and the fines run daily
Section 604’s first compliance deadline was April 1, 2022. If your San Francisco property hasn’t been inspected and you haven’t filed a compliance affidavit with the SF Department of Building Inspection (SFDBI), you’re already in violation of the Housing Code — and the exposure compounds every day it goes unaddressed.
The consequences add up fast: daily civil fines of $100 to $500 per building assessed by SFDBI; property liens that can block a sale, a refinance, or permit approvals; full personal liability if someone is injured on an uninspected structure; and insurance complications, since carriers may deny claims tied to a non-compliant property.
There’s also a clock you can’t start until you act: your five-year re-inspection cycle doesn’t begin until your first compliant inspection is on file. Waiting only pushes the next deadline further out and adds to your cumulative fine exposure.
The five-year cycle doesn’t start until your first compliant inspection is filed — so every month you wait is a month of fines that buys you nothing.
02 How it compares
Section 604 is separate from — and broader than — SB 721 & SB 326
Many San Francisco owners assume an SB 721 or SB 326 inspection covers them. It doesn’t. Section 604 is a separate local ordinance with broader scope and stricter requirements — and a building in San Francisco can fall under all three at once.
Wood and metal, including fire escapes
The state laws cover only wood-framed elements. Section 604 covers every exterior elevated element in both wood and metal — balconies, decks, stairways, exit corridors, and metal fire escapes.
No height minimum, 100% inspected
SB 721 and SB 326 only apply above six feet and inspect a sample. Section 604 has no height threshold and requires 100% of every element to be inspected.
A five-year cycle
Section 604 repeats every five years — shorter than SB 721 (six) and SB 326 (nine) — so San Francisco buildings often track three separate compliance timelines.
| Aspect | Section 604 San Francisco | SB 721 Multifamily Rentals | SB 326 HOA Condominiums |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | San Francisco only | All of California | All of California |
| Applies to | Apts 3+, Condos 3+, Hotels 6+ | Apartments 3+ units | Condos / HOAs |
| Metal structures | ✓ | — | — |
| Fire escapes | ✓ | — | — |
| Height minimum | None | 6 ft above grade | 6 ft above grade |
| % inspected | 100% | 15% sample | Sample (95% conf.) |
| Cycle | Every 5 years | Every 6 years | Every 9 years |
| Who can inspect | GC, Architect, Engineer, Pest Control | GC, Architect, Engineer | Architect or Engineer only |
| Deadline | Apr 2022 (passed) | Jan 2025 (passed) | Jan 2025 (passed) |
Bottom line: If your building is in San Francisco, you may need to comply with all three laws simultaneously. D&B handles Section 604, SB 721, and SB 326 in a single combined inspection — reducing your cost and minimizing tenant disruption.
Need to cover Section 604, SB 721, and SB 326 in one visit? Get a Combined Inspection Estimate
03 · Service Areas
Where We Work in California
Every city links to a dedicated local page — crews, recent projects and compliance details for that area.
Sacramento Metro
5 cities
East Bay
13 cities
North Bay
7 cities
South Bay & Peninsula
13 cities
Don’t see your city? We likely still cover it — call (916) 848-2728.
04 How a project runs
The D&B Section 604 inspection process
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01
Property review
We assess your building’s specifics — unit or room count, the number and type of elevated structures, access requirements, and whether you also need SB 721 or SB 326 coverage. You receive a detailed quote within one business day.
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02
On-site inspection
Our qualified team inspects 100% of every exterior elevated element, using moisture meters, endoscopic cameras, and infrared imaging where visual inspection alone isn’t enough. Every metal structure and fire escape gets a dedicated corrosion and load-capacity assessment.
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03
Report delivery
You receive a comprehensive written report with photographic documentation, a condition rating for each element, and prioritized repair recommendations where they apply.
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04
Affidavit preparation
We prepare your signed compliance affidavit, formatted for direct submission to SFDBI. It confirms every element was inspected by a qualified professional and that any deficiencies have been repaired or have an established repair timeline.
05 Scope
Who needs a Section 604 inspection — and what we inspect
Section 604 applies to three categories of San Francisco property — apartment buildings (3+ units), condominiums (3+ units), and hotels (6+ guest rooms). Single-family homes, duplexes, and commercial buildings without guest rooms are exempt. Owners file the affidavit with SFDBI; in condominiums the HOA files for common-area structures, while individual owners address any elements attached only to their unit.
- Wood decay & fungal growth — balconies, decks, stairways, and landings (San Francisco’s marine climate accelerates moisture damage)
- Metal corrosion & fire-escape integrity — rust, weld failures, and load capacity on every fire escape, exterior stairway, and metal railing
- Guardrails & handrails — attachment points, height, baluster spacing, and resistance to lateral force
- Waterproofing systems — membrane condition, flashing, drainage slope, and signs of standing water or intrusion
- Structural connections — ledger boards, post-beam joints, joist hangers, and fastener condition
- Unpermitted modifications — DIY repairs and unauthorized alterations that may have weakened the structure over time
Inspected at 100% — every element, not a sample. If repairs are needed, our construction team handles everything in-house, from targeted wood-rot remediation to full deck reconstruction and waterproofing. One company, start to finish.
06 Investment
What a Section 604 inspection costs
Every inspection is quoted after a quick property review — pricing depends on factors specific to your building.
What drives the number
- Total number of residential units or hotel rooms
- The number and variety of exterior elevated structures
- Building height and access complexity (scaffolding or lift requirements)
- Whether you combine Section 604 with an SB 721 or SB 326 inspection
Included in every inspection at no additional charge: the full written report, photographic documentation, and affidavit preparation. Combining inspections typically lowers the per-law cost, since we’re already on-site. Final pricing follows a property review — request a free estimate, no obligation.
In the field
San Francisco buildings under Section 604
The building stock Section 604 applies to — and the conditions inspections routinely find.
07 Project example
A recent San Francisco Section 604 inspection
A 40-unit apartment building in San Francisco needed Section 604 compliance and had never had its two metal fire escapes formally assessed. D&B inspected 100% of the wood balconies and both fire escapes in a single visit — combined with the building’s SB 721 inspection to cut cost and tenant disruption — flagged corrosion at one fire-escape connection, and delivered a full photo report. With the connection repaired in-house, D&B prepared the SFDBI affidavit for the owner to file.
The fire escapes hadn’t been looked at in decades. Doing 604 and SB 721 in one visit meant one disruption to tenants, not two. Property Manager · San Francisco apartment building
08 Case studies
Recent Projects, Documented
Real commercial properties — what the building needed, what we did, and what it delivered.
WaterproofingBalcony & Walkway Waterproofing — Sunset Park Apartments, SacramentoThe concrete had never been coated. Water sat on it, worked through the cracks and ran to the…View case study 
Deck Repair & RestorationElevated Deck Reconstruction & Waterproofing — 24 Balconies, SacramentoOpen board decks sitting directly over enclosed garages. Every gap between the boards was a route for water…View case study 
WaterproofingElevated Walkway Rebuild & Waterproofing — 96-Unit Apartment Community, Citrus HeightsThe walkways weren't leaking from the top. The low-slope roof above them had lost its edge metal and…View case study 09 Client feedback
What San Francisco owners say
We assumed our SB 721 inspection covered us — it didn’t. D&B explained Section 604, inspected the fire escapes and balconies at 100%, and filed the affidavit. One company handled all of it.
Our HOA had never assessed the metal fire escapes on our older building. The report was thorough and photographed, and they prepped the SFDBI affidavit for us.
They inspected every elevated element and exit stairway across the hotel without disrupting guests, and combined it with our state inspection to save on cost.
10 FAQ
Section 604 questions
Do I need Section 604 if I already passed SB 721?
Yes. SB 721 and Section 604 are separate laws with different requirements. SB 721 only covers wood-framed structures over six feet above ground and samples 15% of elements. Section 604 covers all wood and metal structures at any height and requires 100% inspection. You need both.
Does Section 604 apply outside of San Francisco?
No. Section 604 is a local San Francisco Housing Code ordinance that applies only to properties within SF city limits. Properties in other California cities are subject to SB 721 and/or SB 326, but not Section 604.
What does Section 604 cover that SB 721 doesn’t?
Metal fire escapes, metal stairways, metal guardrails, and exit corridors. SB 721 only addresses wood or wood-based structural elements. Section 604 covers all materials — wood and metal — making it significantly broader.
What happens if my building needs repairs after the inspection?
Your report identifies any deficiencies and prioritizes them by urgency. D&B handles repairs in-house — structural reinforcement, wood-rot remediation, waterproofing, railing replacement, and deck reconstruction — then re-inspects and issues an updated affidavit.
How often do I need to repeat the Section 604 inspection?
Every five years from the date of your first compliant inspection — a shorter cycle than SB 721 (six years) and SB 326 (nine years). If your building also requires those state inspections, you’ll track three separate timelines.
Can D&B combine Section 604 with SB 721 and SB 326?
Yes. For San Francisco properties that fall under multiple laws, we offer combined inspection packages — one visit covers all applicable requirements, saving time and reducing the total cost. Call (916) 848-2728 to discuss your building.
Where do I submit the Section 604 affidavit?
By email to dbi.hissection604@sfgov.org, or by mail to the SFDBI Housing Inspection Services Division at 49 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. D&B prepares the affidavit for you — you just submit it.
Is there a height requirement for Section 604?
No. Unlike SB 721 and SB 326, which only cover elements six feet or more above grade, Section 604 has no minimum height threshold. All exterior elevated elements must be inspected regardless of their height above ground.
11 Start here
Get your Section 604 inspection — and your affidavit
Tell us about your San Francisco building and we’ll review the structures, confirm whether you also need SB 721 or SB 326, and give you a free estimate. We inspect 100% of your elevated elements, deliver a documented report, and prepare your SFDBI affidavit — and if anything needs repair, we handle it in-house.
CSLB #1060736 · 9+ years · Insured & Bonded · Serving San Francisco, the Bay Area, Central Valley & Sacramento