Fulfill safety requirements for your building’s decks

Inspections for decks and similar structures

According to SF Housing Code Section 604, outside wood and metal structures on attached to apartment buildings and hotels must be inspected every five years. These areas include decks, balconies, landings, exit corridors, stairs, guardrails, handrails, and fire escapes.

Multi-unit residential buildings

The following are subject to this requirement:

Apartment buildings or condominiums with three or more dwelling units
Hotels with six or more guest rooms

What to do

1. Hire a licensed professional to do the inspection

You can hire any of the following:

General contractor
Structural pest control licensee
Professional architect
Engineer

They will check that outside structures are in good condition and free from dry rot, fungus, deterioration, decay, or improper alteration.

2. Have the licensed professional fill out and sign the Compliance Affidavit

Compliance Affidavit for Section 604 of the SF Housing Code

3. Send us the affidavit

Housing Inspection Services

dbi.hissection604@sfgov.org

You can also mail us the affidavit.

Department of Building Inspection

DBI - Housing Inspection Services Division
Attn: Section 604 H.C. Affidavit Filing
49 South Van Ness Avenue
4th floor
San Francisco, CA 94103

Special cases

Condominiums

If the deck or exterior structure is in a common or public area of the building, the homeowners’ association should hire the inspector and mail the affidavit.

If the deck or exterior structure is related to a specific unit, then the condo owner should hire the inspector and mail the affidavit.

Get help

Email

Housing Inspection Services

dbi.hissection604@sfgov.org

Phone

Housing Inspection Services

628-652-3700

Last updated September 16, 2022

Department

Department of Building Inspection