Selling a house in Los Angeles, CA: what the city requires
Los Angeles County, California · Last checked November 2026
Los Angeles sellers must give the buyer a Residential Property Report (the "9A") before the sale or close of escrow. No signed waiver can replace it.
What Los Angeles requires
Residential Property Report (9A), LAMC 96.300
- Who does it
- Seller applies to LADBS.
- Cost
- $70.85 per report.
- Deadline
- Before the sales agreement is signed or before close of escrow.
- A previously issued report can be reused, but a copy must still go to the buyer.
- The city also has a separate water conservation device requirement at sale.
Who to call
Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety
(213) 473-3231
Official page
Housing in Los Angeles
- Median year homes were built
- 1965
- Median home value
- $921,200
- Owner-occupied homes
- 518,423 of 1,439,097 (36%)
- Total housing units
- 1,554,332
Homes here are typically from 1965 or later, so inspections tend to focus on safety items like smoke and CO alarms, GFCI outlets and handrails.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Los Angeles city, California.
Need this done in Los Angeles?
Get quotes from a local local permit expediter, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.
How the city presale report process works
Some California cities require a presale records report before escrow closes. It tells the buyer what the city has on file: legal use, permits, open violations, and sometimes items found on an inspection.
- Order the report from the city as soon as you list. Processing can take days to weeks.
- Read it for unpermitted work or open violations. These are the items that slow a sale.
- Give the report to the buyer before the deadline in the city ordinance, usually before close of escrow.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| City report fee | $0 to $1,050, depending on the city |
Read the full city presale report guide
More Los Angeles home rules: Sidewalk repair · Tree removal permits
If the house fails
You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.
Frequently asked questions
What does Los Angeles require before I sell my house?
Los Angeles sellers must give the buyer a Residential Property Report (the "9A") before the sale or close of escrow. No signed waiver can replace it.
How much does the residential property report (9a), lamc 96.300 cost in Los Angeles?
$70.85 per report. Typical related costs: city report fee $0 to $1,050, depending on the city.
What if my house fails?
You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.
Who pays, the buyer or the seller?
The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.
How old are the homes in Los Angeles?
The median home in Los Angeles was built in 1965, and the median home value is $921,200, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Los Angeles & Orange County
- Beverly Hills Required at sale
- Burbank Required at sale
- Culver City Required at sale
- Gardena Required at sale
- Hermosa Beach Required at sale
- Inglewood Required at sale
- Laguna Beach Required at sale
- Long Beach Required at sale
- Manhattan Beach Required at sale
- Pasadena Required at sale
- Redondo Beach Required at sale
- Santa Monica Required at sale
Cite, link or embed this page
Agents, title companies and journalists are welcome to link to this page:
Or embed a small summary box on your website or listing page:
Sources
- Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, Residential Property Report (9A)
- WFG National Title, Presale Inspection Reports 2026 (cities that require a building report)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25035, B25077, B25003, B25001)
Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.