Corte Madera Report of Residential Building Record
Town of Corte Madera · City report · Before close
Triggered by: Sale of residential property
On sale the owner must disclose any improvements or repairs made and whether permits and inspections were obtained. For residential properties the Town provides a copy of the permit history for the home to both buyer and seller.
Certificate
Report of Residential Building Record (permit history)
Issued by
Town of Corte Madera Building Division — 300 Tamalpais Drive, (415) 927-5062, buildingpermit@tcmmail.org
Cost
Confirm with the Building Division — an industry chart quotes $130
Turnaround
No physical inspection; confirm turnaround with the Town
Corte Madera requires a BESO energy audit before a home can be sold
NOT SUPPORTED. No time-of-sale energy audit ordinance was found for this town. Its energy ordinance is a reach code triggered by CONSTRUCTION, not by sale: Corte Madera's applies to "additions and alterations of 750 square feet of floor area" (being reduced to 500), and Tiburon's to "additions and alterations equal to or exceed 500 square feet of floor area in single family homes". Neither staff report contains the words sale, transfer, escrow or listing as a trigger. BESO is the City of BERKELEY's ordinance (Berkeley Municipal Code 19.81) and applies in Berkeley only. An independent industry roster of every California energy benchmarking and audit ordinance lists San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Jose and San Diego — and none of these three towns. Corte Madera does have a genuine residential resale report requirement — see that record. The energy claim is the false part.
California statewide, every property
Water heater bracing, anchoring or strapping
State of California · Retrofit · Before close
Triggered by: Sale of any real property containing a water heater
The seller must certify to the prospective purchaser that the water heater is braced, anchored or strapped to resist falling or horizontal displacement from earthquake motion.
Certificate
Seller certification (commonly satisfied on the C.A.R. Water Heater and Smoke Detector Statement of Compliance, form WHSD)
Issued by
Seller certifies; no agency sign-off required
Cost
No government fee; bracing kit and labor typically $30-$300
Triggered by: Every single-family dwelling which is sold
The dwelling must have an operable smoke alarm, approved and listed by the State Fire Marshal, installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Seller certifies compliance.
Triggered by: Standing obligation on single-family homes built on or before January 1, 1994, plus disclosure on sale or transfer
All non-compliant plumbing fixtures had to be replaced with water-conserving fixtures by January 1, 2017 — this deadline applies whether or not the property is being sold or altered. On sale or transfer, the seller must disclose to the buyer the requirement and whether the property complies.
Certificate
Written disclosure to the buyer; some jurisdictions use a Certificate of Compliance form
Issued by
Seller discloses; no state agency sign-off
Cost
No state fee; fixture replacement typically $50-$600
State of California / local fire authority · Defensible space · Can defer past close
Triggered by: Sale of a property located in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
The seller must provide the buyer with documentation that the property is in compliance with defensible space requirements under Public Resources Code § 4291. If the seller does not have that documentation, the seller and buyer must enter into a written agreement under which the BUYER obtains compliance documentation within one year of close of escrow.
Certificate
Defensible space compliance documentation / inspection report from the local fire authority
Issued by
Local fire department or CAL FIRE
Cost
Varies by fire authority. Santa Rosa Fire Department charges $183 for a requested inspection.
Turnaround
Varies; request inspections early — fire departments are not obligated to inspect