Can You Get a Facade Inspection Waiver in San Francisco? What Building Owners Should Know
Yes. San Francisco allows owners to request a waiver of the initial comprehensive facade inspection if they completed a qualifying inspection and the required maintenance, restoration, or replacement within the 10 years before the initial report due date. The Department of Building Inspection (DBI) must review and accept the supporting documentation.
If you have already paid for facade inspection and restoration work, it makes sense to check whether those records can support a waiver. Start with the earlier inspection report, the scope of completed work, and the dates. A repair invoice or building permit alone does not establish eligibility.
The key question is whether the previous project satisfies the initial inspection requirements. This guide explains what to check before applying, how to address incomplete records, and what happens after you submit a request.
Who Qualifies for an Initial Facade Inspection Waiver in San Francisco?
Your building may qualify if the previous comprehensive inspection and necessary completed work meet the timing, coverage, and documentation requirements in San Francisco’s Administrative Bulletin AB-110.
Before preparing a request, check these three points:
The work falls within the required period. The qualifying inspection and necessary work were completed within the 10 years preceding your building’s initial report deadline.
The required areas are covered. Previous records and any additional inspections together must address the required comprehensive scope.
The submission is complete. DBI needs a report meeting AB-110 requirements and documentation of completed repairs, such as reports, plans, specifications, and building permits.
AB-110 also allows DBI to consider special requests case by case, including previously submitted reports, studies, or work completed in earlier phases. These provisions allow consideration; they do not promise approval.
If you have not established whether your building is subject to the program, begin with our facade inspection requirements in San Francisco guide.
How Does the 10-Year Lookback Work?
The lookback runs backward from your building’s initial comprehensive inspection report due date. It is not measured from today or from the date you apply for a waiver.
For example, if the initial report deadline is Dec 31, 2027, review the inspection and necessary work completed during the preceding 10-year period. A project within that window may support a request, provided its scope and documentation also meet the requirements.
Check completion dates carefully. A contract date shows when the parties agreed to the work, and a permit identifies authorized work. Neither, by itself, shows when the inspection and required work were completed.
The practical starting point is to place the initial deadline, inspection date, and work completion dates side by side. This helps your qualified professional identify whether the records support the timing requirement before preparing the submission.
Which Records Support Your Initial Facade Inspection Waiver?
A waiver request needs the materials required for a comprehensive inspection report, plus evidence of the scope of completed repairs. Organize the records so the reviewer can connect the inspection findings with the work that followed.
| Record to Gather | Question It Helps Answer |
|---|---|
| Previous comprehensive inspection report | What was inspected, what was found, and what work was recommended? |
| Documentation of completed repairs | Which identified conditions were addressed? |
| Project plans and specifications | Which elevations, areas, and elements were included in the work? |
| Associated building permits | What project scope was authorized? |
| Inspection and completion records | Were the qualifying inspection and necessary work completed within the applicable period? |
Have your qualified professional review the package for missing information. A report may describe the initial findings clearly but leave uncertainty about whether the recommended work was completed.
The submission must also include the applicable comprehensive report compliance affidavit signed by the owner and qualified professional. For a fuller explanation of report components, see our facade inspection report guide.
What If Previous Work Covered Only Part of the Facade?
Previous work on one elevation does not automatically support a waiver for the entire building. AB-110 requires comprehensive inspection of the remaining facades, areas, or elements so the final report addresses the required scope.
Consider a project that inspected and restored the street-facing elevation but did not evaluate the rear or side elevations. The completed project records may support the request, while the remaining areas still need inspection.
Ask your qualified professional to identify:
Areas clearly covered by the earlier inspection and completed work.
Areas excluded from that project.
Areas where the available records do not establish what was inspected or completed.
This comparison helps define the additional inspection needed for a complete submission. It also prevents a limited repair project from being presented as evidence of a building-wide evaluation.
How Do You Submit a Facade Inspection Waiver Request?
The owner or authorized representative submits the request and supporting report to DBI for review. Submission begins the review process; it does not establish approval.
1. Complete the Supporting Package
Have the qualified professional check the inspection coverage, completed-work documentation, required report materials, and signed affidavit. Make clear that the submission requests consideration of an initial comprehensive inspection waiver.
2. Send the Documents to DBI
AB-110 lists submission by email at dbi.facade@sfgov.org, by mail, or in person through DBI’s Technical Services Division. Keep a copy of the package and your submission correspondence.
3. Address Any Review Comments
DBI may accept the report as submitted or ask for revisions and additional information. Respond with your qualified professional so the City can evaluate a complete, consistent record.
AB-110 gives DBI 60 days to review a facade report and issue acceptance or comments. That does not mean every waiver request will receive final approval within 60 days.
4. Complete the Fee and Acceptance Process
After completing its report review, DBI issues an invoice for the applicable review and administrative time. Once the report is accepted and fees are paid, request an acceptance letter and retain it with the building’s compliance records.
Do not treat an email acknowledging receipt as confirmation that the waiver has been granted.
Is a Supplemental Inspection Exemption the Same as an Initial Waiver?
No. An initial comprehensive inspection waiver relies on qualifying previous inspection and completed work. A supplemental glazing exemption has separate conditions and documentation requirements.
Confirm which requirement you are addressing before preparing the submission. Qualifying for one does not automatically satisfy the other. Our high-rise facade inspection guide explains the conditions for the supplemental glazing exemption.
What Responsibilities Remain After a Waiver Is Accepted?
An initial waiver does not permanently remove a building from the facade inspection program. Keep the accepted documents and track the applicable future inspection dates.
The City can also require an inspection when a building may present a health or safety hazard. A previous waiver does not remove the obligation to respond to significant damage or unsafe conditions.
Planning Any Additional Inspection Work
If your records leave parts of the facade unaddressed, Great Escape Service & Inspections provides building facade inspections in San Francisco.
Share the previous reports, completed-work records, and any DBI comments when discussing your property. This gives the inspection team useful context for the areas that may still need evaluation. DBI remains responsible for deciding whether to accept the waiver request.
Conclusion
A facade inspection waiver in San Francisco starts with evidence: a qualifying previous inspection, necessary completed work, and records that meet the City’s requirements.
Check the dates against your initial report deadline, identify any areas missing from the earlier project, and have a qualified professional review the submission. Keep DBI’s acceptance documentation once the process is complete, along with the records needed for future inspections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Repainting a Building Qualify It for a Facade Inspection Waiver?
No. Repainting alone does not establish eligibility. Painting may be part of a larger documented project, but you still need evidence of a qualifying comprehensive inspection and completion of the necessary work to request the waiver.
Can I Use an Inspection Report From a Previous Owner?
A previous owner’s report may support the request if it documents qualifying inspection and work within the applicable period. Have your qualified professional check its coverage and supporting completion records before relying on it.
Does a Building Permit Prove That the Required Work Was Completed?
No. A permit documents the authorized scope, but it does not prove that all required work was completed. Include the relevant completion records and inspection documentation with the waiver request.
Can My Contractor Approve the Waiver?
No. DBI decides whether to accept a waiver request. Your contractor may provide records of completed work, but a qualified California-licensed architect or engineer must oversee the required inspection and reporting.
What Should I Do If the Original Inspection Report Is Missing?
Contact the previous owner, property manager, or professional who handled the project. You can also ask DBI about previously submitted records. If the documentation remains incomplete, have a qualified professional determine what information or inspection is still needed.
Does Applying for a Waiver Extend My Inspection Deadline?
Do not assume that it does. A waiver request asks DBI to consider qualifying previous inspections and work; it is not a deadline extension. Confirm any deadline question directly with DBI while the request is under review.
