New Laws going into Effect January 2019 for California Home Inspectors, make sure you’re aware and ready!
I received an email from CREIA and became aware of more new laws that California Home Inspectors should be aware of, hadn’t ready anything here so wanted to share. Thanks CREIA!
Irrigation inspections, balcony inspections and CSST inspection items have changed in scope per our laws.
AB 2371 [Carrillo] - Outdoor Landscape Irrigation Inspections
Substantive Provisions - this bill as originally introduced would have required every home inspection to include a detailed and specified irrigation inspection. Through the efforts of CREIA the bill was amended to make the irrigation inspection voluntary rather than mandatory.
Status: The bill has been signed into law and goes into effect January 1, 2019.
SB 998 [Galgiani] - CSST Piping
Substantive Provisions - the bill requires a home inspector who observes any shade of yellow corrugated stainless steel tubing during a home inspection to include a specified notice in the home inspection report. Through the efforts of CREIA a statement regarding the liability of the home inspector was added to the bill.
Status: The bill has been signed into law and goes into effect January 1, 2019.
SB 721 [Hill] - Balcony Inspections
Substantive Provisions - the bill requires an inspection of exterior elevated elements and associated waterproofing elements, including decks and balconies, for buildings with 3 or more multifamily dwelling units by a licensed architect, licensed civil or structural engineer, a building contractor holding specified licenses, or an individual certified as a building inspector or building official.
Status: The bill has been signed into law and goes into effect January 1, 2019.
SB 993 [Hertzberg] - Tax on Services
Substantive Provisions - the bill remains in a form that is of concern to CREIA. It would impose a tax on the receipt of a benefit in this state of a service that is purchased by a qualified business from any retailer, as measured by a percentage of the sales price for the service. This bill would incrementally increase the rate of the tax every calendar year until January 1, 2022, at which time the rate would be 3%.
Status: the bill was not enacted into law
AB 1289 [Arambula] - Real Property Disclosure Requirements
Substantive Provisions - the bill makes many changes to existing Real Estate law. The bill does not impact the home inspection community but is of interest because it impacts the Real Estate Community and how they conduct business.
Status: The bill has been signed into law and goes into effect January 1, 2019.
AB 2485 [Chau] - Code enforcement: Financially Interested Parties.
Substantive Provisions - Existing law provides for code enforcement officers employed by cities and counties who have enforcement authority for health, safety, and welfare requirements. This bill would prohibit a local official, as defined, who inspects a commercial property or business for compliance with a state statute or regulation or local ordinance from being accompanied during the inspection by a person with a potential financial interest in the outcome of the inspection, with some qualifications. The bill contains other provisions as well.
Status: The bill has been signed into law and goes into effect January 1, 2019.
AB 3002 [Grayson] - Disability Access Requirements: Information.
In addition to existing law, this bill additionally requires the local jurisdictions issuing building permits for commercial construction or business licenses to make available a notice containing specified information regarding disability access. The bill would also require a local agency to provide the informational notice to an applicant for a commercial building permit or a business license. There are other provisions contained within the bill.
Status: The bill has been signed into law and goes into effect January 1, 2019.