Selling a house in Santa Monica, CA: what the city requires
Los Angeles County, California · Last checked November 2026
Santa Monica requires a Residential Building Report before a sale.
What Santa Monica requires
Residential Building Report
- Who does it
- City of Santa Monica
- Cost
- From $330 per the 2026 title-company list
Who to call
Santa Monica Building & Safety
(310) 458-8355
Official page
Housing in Santa Monica
- Median year homes were built
- 1968
- Median home value
- $1,755,500
- Owner-occupied homes
- 13,190 of 47,297 (28%)
- Total housing units
- 53,274
Homes here are typically from 1968 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 Santa Monica city, California.
Need this done in Santa Monica?
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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
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 Santa Monica require before I sell my house?
Santa Monica requires a Residential Building Report before a sale.
How much does the residential building report cost in Santa Monica?
From $330 per the 2026 title-company list 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 Santa Monica?
The median home in Santa Monica was built in 1968, and the median home value is $1,755,500, 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
- Los Angeles Required at sale
- Manhattan Beach Required at sale
- Pasadena Required at sale
- Redondo Beach Required at sale
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Sources
- 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.