CloseCheck › All Bay Area jurisdictions › Los Gatos

Selling a home in Los Gatos: what you have to clear

No local point-of-sale requirement was found for Los Gatos. The California statewide items still apply.

Check a specific address in Los Gatos →

Checked and NOT required here

Los Gatos requires a sewer lateral inspection at sale

NOT SUPPORTED. No sewer lateral inspection is required. West Valley Sanitation District maintains the lower portion when an approved property-line cleanout is installed.

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

Turnaround

Same day

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 19211 — verified, checked 2026-07-31

Operable smoke alarms

State of California · Retrofit · Before close

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.

Certificate

Seller certification (C.A.R. form WHSD)

Issued by

Seller certifies; no agency sign-off required

Cost

No government fee; alarms typically $15-$60 each

Turnaround

Same day

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 13113.8 — verified, checked 2026-07-31

Carbon monoxide detection device

State of California · Retrofit · Before close

Triggered by: Dwelling unit intended for human occupancy having a fossil-fuel burning heater or appliance, a fireplace, or an attached garage

An approved carbon monoxide device must be installed in the dwelling.

Certificate

Seller certification (commonly bundled with the WHSD statement)

Issued by

Seller certifies; no agency sign-off required

Cost

No government fee; devices typically $20-$70

Turnaround

Same day

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 17926 (SB 183, 2010) — verified, checked 2026-07-31

Water-conserving plumbing fixtures (SB 407)

State of California · Retrofit · Before close

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

Turnaround

Same day for disclosure

Cal. Civil Code §§ 1101.4, 1101.5(e) — verified, checked 2026-07-31

AB 38 defensible space documentation

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

AB 38 (2019, Ch. 391); Public Resources Code § 4291 — verified, checked 2026-07-31