City reports required before selling a South Bay home

A pre-sale city report is a document the seller orders from the city's building department. It summarizes what the city has on file for the property, such as permits, the authorized use, and the zoning. The buyer receives it during the sale.

It is not a home inspection and it does not certify the property's condition. Its practical value is that it can reveal work done without a permit, or a recorded use that differs from how the property is being marketed, before the buyer's lender or inspector finds it.

Redondo Beach states that a residential building report is required for the sale of all residential properties in the city under Municipal Code 9.10.03. The standard fee is $413, with the report emailed 7 to 10 business days after payment. An accelerated report costs an additional $620 and takes 2 to 3 business days.

Redondo Beach also charges a city transfer tax, so a Redondo Beach net sheet has two city-specific lines that a Torrance or Hermosa Beach sale does not.

Manhattan Beach's municipal code, chapter 9.24, requires a Report of Residential Building Records to be obtained prior to any residential property sale or exchange. Because the requirement attaches before the sale, order the report while preparing to list rather than after accepting an offer.

Ask the City's Community Development Department for the current fee and processing time when you apply.

Hermosa Beach changed its rule. The City Council adopted an ordinance on December 9, 2025 making the Residential Building Report optional from January 1, 2026. For a sale agreement entered into on or after that date, the report is not required unless the property owner requests it.

Older checklists and many websites still describe the Hermosa Beach report as mandatory. A seller can still order one voluntarily, which can be useful when a property has additions or a converted space and the permit history is unclear.

Lawndale requires a Residential Property Report when a residential dwelling is listed on the market and enters escrow, under chapter 8.80 of its municipal code. The application fee is $240 and the City gives a typical turnaround of ten business days.

Lawndale's process includes a physical inspection. A code enforcement officer generally inspects garages, carports, and other assigned parking areas. The City states that there are no retrofit requirements during the sale. Commercial properties are exempt.

San Pedro is part of the City of Los Angeles, so Los Angeles rules apply. Municipal Code section 96.300 requires the seller of residential property to apply for a Report of Residential Property Records and Pending Special Assessment Liens and deliver it to the buyer before entering into a sale agreement or before close of escrow. The fee is $70.85 per report.

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety lists other requirements when selling, including water conservation devices and a seismic or excess-flow gas shut-off valve for buildings with fuel gas piping.

Carson's Community Development page states that its Residential Property Report requirement ended September 20, 2019. Older forms and search results may still mention it.

For Long Beach, Torrance, Gardena, Lomita, and the Palos Verdes cities, ask the city's building or planning counter early whether any report or inspection applies to your sale. If you share the address, I can help confirm which city has jurisdiction and what to order before you list.