Selling1:03 video
Selling? Start the paperwork early
Selling in San Francisco or Marin? Some paperwork has to be ordered before you close, and it can take a while.
In writing
In San Francisco, the 3R report (Report of Residential Building Record) has to reach your buyer before the sale closes. The city says it takes 7 to 10 business days, and it costs $379 per residential building ($388.48 if paid online by card). Order it online, in person or by mail from DBI Records Management, 49 South Van Ness, Suite 400. The city’s energy and water conservation inspections and measures also apply at sale; in escrow, the buyer can take them on by agreeing to install them within 180 days of transfer of title.
In Marin, the sewer lateral rules depend on your district, and exemptions apply, such as a recent replacement. Ross Valley Sanitary District (Larkspur, Ross, San Anselmo, Fairfax, Kentfield, Greenbrae, Sleepy Hollow) calls for a video inspection on a sale, and whoever agrees to bring the lateral into compliance has 90 days after close; its page lists no fee. The City of Mill Valley calls for an inspection when a property is sold, with a $439.24 inspection fee. Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District calls for a compliance certificate when title transfers, with a $150 lateral inspection. Sanitary District No. 5 (Belvedere, and Tiburon east of Gilmartin Dr.) calls for an inspection when buying or selling, with a $235 residential permit.
In a high or very high fire hazard severity zone, the seller gives the buyer defensible space documentation, or seller and buyer sign an agreement for the buyer to get it. Check an address or APN at apps.marincounty.gov/FireLookup. Inspection fees vary by fire agency; San Rafael’s is $271.
Requirements vary by city, sanitary district and fire zone, and this is general information only. Start early, and check your town’s rules.
The transcript
Word for word, as narrated in the video.
Selling in San Francisco or Marin? Some paperwork has to be ordered before you close, and it can take a while.
In San Francisco, the city’s building record report, the 3R, has to reach your buyer before the sale closes. The city says it takes 7 to 10 business days, and it costs $379. The city’s energy and water conservation requirements also apply at sale, though in escrow they can shift to the buyer.
In Marin, it depends on your sanitary district. Ross Valley, Mill Valley, Sausalito and Sanitary District No. 5 all tie a sewer lateral inspection or certificate to a sale.
And in a high or very high fire hazard zone, you give the buyer defensible space documentation, or you both sign an agreement for the buyer to get it. Marin’s fire lookup tells you by address. Start early, and check your town’s rules.
Sources
Where each date and figure comes from.
- SF.gov, Request a 3R report
- SF DBI fee table 1A-L, effective July 12, 2026
- SF Housing Code Secs. 351 and 1211
- SF Building Code Ch. 12A
- Ross Valley Sanitary District, compliance
- Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District, sewer lateral compliance certificates
- Sanitary District No. 5 of Marin County, permits and sewer lateral inspections
- City of Mill Valley, sewer lateral ordinance
- California Civil Code 1102.19
- Marin County, AB-38 inspections
- City of San Rafael, AB-38 inspections
- Marin County fire hazard lookup
Images in the video
Fillmore Street toward the Bay: Pavel Špindler, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ring Mountain Preserve and Mt. Tamalpais: E bailey, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
