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Before You Pass Go, Check for the Pasadena Occupancy Inspection

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with RE/MAX Property Concierge

If you are buying Pasadena real estate, there is a good chance the property will be inspected by a city employee. A 6 page form will be completetd entitled “Housing Inspection Report”. Responsibility of the report and its findings can be negotiated through the purchase agreement. In other words who assumes the responsibility, the buyer or seller? The report includes the following:

  1. Building & Structural
  2. Weather Protection
  3. Fire Detection/Protection, Exits & Safety
  4. Natural Light & Ventilation
  5. Heating and Mechanical
  6. Plumbing
  7. Pool Safety, Environmental Health & Sanitation
  8. Use & Parking

The back page of the report speaks to Landmark and Historic Districts and also the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance.

The Intent of the Report

Most of the issues identified as “minor” violation can be easily addressed and corrected. These items require correction but not a reinspection. Other issues which are marked “major” require a reinspection. If you have completetd some remodeling such as converting a garage into an additional living space you will probably be ask to convert it back to its original intent. This would qualify as a “major” violation.

But what is the real purpose of this inspection? Many of my colleagues in the industry see it as a tax, a revenue enhancer for the city. The reasons cited are our neighboring cities such a Monrovia, Arcadia, San Gabriel, and South Pasadena do not require an inspection of this kind. The City of Los Angeles has an inspection but they have taken a different perspective and it is one I think the City of Pasadena should consider.

Pasadena’s Green Initiative, Lets Make it Work

Pasadena’s goal is to become a green and sustainable city. A goal we have written about at up2daterealestate. However, this has been adopted for commercial buildings and residential single family structures continue to fly under the radar. I have never been a proponent of introducing increased government intervention into the real property transaction. But water is a finite resource and it’s time we began taking measures to conserve it. Just last year the City of Pasadena called for strict conservation as a means to deal with our ongoing drought. We need to put some teeth into this report and include low flow toilets and shower heads in the inspection report, mandating that they be upgraded prior to closing escrow. The change in water usage is justification enough for the new provision:

  • low flow toilets - 1.6 gallons per flush compared to 3.5 gallons for standard
  • low flow shower heads - 2.5 gallons/minute compared to 4-5 gallons/minute for standard

As you can imagine, the water savings would be tremendous and I believe the adoption of the new requirements would be accepted throughout the community. Much more so than the proposed energy audit that was just passed by the California State Assembly.

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