San Francisco · 3R Report
What a San Francisco 3R Report shows—and what it does not
A San Francisco 3R is a Report of Residential Building Record assembled from City records. This guide separates its published contents from physical inspections and other permit histories; it does not classify a building, interpret an issued report, or decide transaction status.
Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready: . Information may have changed since our last review. Verify current requirements and status directly with the responsible agency before relying on it.
Quick official-source answer
What the official sources publish
- Check the building and transaction scope: Start with Housing Code Section 351. Confirm the residential-building definition and the narrow exception for a first sale or exchange within one year after the Certificate of Final Completion. City and County of San Francisco
This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
- Use DBI's online service and linked application: Open the DBI service for operational submission details and review the official form fields. Ask DBI to confirm the form, amount, and process instead of relying on a copied fee or estimate. The form reviewed by Bay Sale Ready describes a separate request and report for each residential condo or co-op unit. San Francisco Department of Building Inspection
- Read the 3R as a City-record report: Read the report as a summary compiled from City records. A 3R is not a physical property inspection; Section 351 also says it contains no plumbing or electrical permit history and makes no representation that the property complies with the law. City and County of San Francisco
This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
Start with the official source
Open DBI's online 3R service for submission details, then confirm the form, amount, and processing information directly with DBI.
Opening a record or portal does not mean that Bay Sale Ready has determined coverage, validity, responsibility, or whether a transaction may close.
Official-source dossier
San Francisco 3R source and record map
This dossier separates the code sections, DBI ordering service, blank application, and agency-issued report. It does not classify a building or transfer, calculate dates or fees, or treat a 3R as an inspection of physical conditions.
Section 351: scope, contents, and report limits
What the linked City and County of San Francisco source says this record represents: Section 351 describes an owner-or-agent request and buyer-delivery process, lists information assembled from City records, and states limits that appear on the report notice.
Keep this source or record separate: This source summary does not decide whether a particular building or transfer falls within the section. A 3R is separate from a physical inspection and from plumbing or electrical permit history.
Questions to verify with the responsible agency
- How does DBI classify the building and transaction under Section 351?
- Which City-record categories does DBI include in the report being requested?
This card names sources, records, and agency questions. Bay Sale Ready does not identify a record, document, status, or next action for any property or transaction.
Verify at the official source: San Francisco Housing Code Section 351DBI 3R application fields
What the linked San Francisco Department of Building Inspection source says this record represents: The DBI form identifies the property, assessor, requester, and unit information collected for a 3R request and gives a separate-request instruction for residential condominium and co-op units.
Keep this source or record separate: A blank or completed application is not the agency-issued report and does not establish that DBI received or processed a request.
Questions to verify with the responsible agency
- Which assessor and unit information does DBI want on the request?
- Which form version and supporting material does DBI currently accept?
This card names sources, records, and agency questions. Bay Sale Ready does not identify a record, document, status, or next action for any property or transaction.
Verify at the official source: Application for Report of Residential Building RecordDBI online ordering service
What the linked San Francisco Department of Building Inspection source says this record represents: The DBI service provides the operational ordering path and describes submission details for a 3R request.
Keep this source or record separate: Fees, processing estimates, and submission instructions can change. Bay Sale Ready does not publish an amount or processing forecast; confirm both in the DBI service before payment.
Questions to verify with the responsible agency
- Which amount and submission method does the DBI service display at the time of ordering?
- Which request or parcel details does DBI say should be confirmed before submission?
This card names sources, records, and agency questions. Bay Sale Ready does not identify a record, document, status, or next action for any property or transaction.
Verify at the official source: DBI 3R online serviceSection 352: issue and expiration dates
What the linked City and County of San Francisco source says this record represents: Section 352 describes a one-year period measured from the agency issue date shown on a 3R.
Keep this source or record separate: The general code period is not a Bay Sale Ready date calculation. Read the dates on the agency-issued report and ask DBI which date controls for the transaction being researched.
Questions to verify with the responsible agency
- What issue date does DBI show on the agency-issued report?
- What date does DBI identify when asked about the report period for the planned transaction?
This card names sources, records, and agency questions. Bay Sale Ready does not identify a record, document, status, or next action for any property or transaction.
Verify at the official source: San Francisco Housing Code Section 352General order of questions
- Check the building and transaction scope
Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked City and County of San Francisco source: Start with Housing Code Section 351. Confirm the residential-building definition and the narrow exception for a first sale or exchange within one year after the Certificate of Final Completion.
Verify at official source: San Francisco Housing Code Section 351 - Use DBI's online service and linked application
Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked San Francisco Department of Building Inspection source: Open the DBI service for operational submission details and review the official form fields. Ask DBI to confirm the form, amount, and process instead of relying on a copied fee or estimate. The form reviewed by Bay Sale Ready describes a separate request and report for each residential condo or co-op unit.
Verify at official source: DBI 3R online service - Read the 3R as a City-record report
Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked City and County of San Francisco source: Read the report as a summary compiled from City records. A 3R is not a physical property inspection; Section 351 also says it contains no plumbing or electrical permit history and makes no representation that the property complies with the law.
Verify at official source: San Francisco Housing Code Section 351
Important limits to keep in view
Source-linked caution from City and County of San Francisco: Do not shorten the stated exception to 'new construction is exempt'; its first-sale and one-year conditions matter.
Verify at the official source: San Francisco Housing Code Section 351Source-linked caution from City and County of San Francisco: A 3R reports information ascertainable from City records and does not establish the physical condition or legality of every feature.
Verify at the official source: San Francisco Housing Code Section 351Source-linked caution from City and County of San Francisco: This pilot does not cover RECO, water-conservation, tenant, COPA, flood, hotel, tax, title, or every other San Francisco transaction issue.
Verify at the official source: San Francisco Housing Code Section 351
Official instructions and records
These links come from the same reviewed source register used by the guide. The dataset was last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready on July 25, 2026; each card shows its own review date.
Show all 5 reviewed official sources
San Francisco Housing Code Section 351
Official code library; no publication date shown · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026
Verify at the official sourceThis agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
San Francisco Housing Code Section 352
Official code library; no publication date shown · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026
Verify at the official sourceThis agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
Application for Report of Residential Building Record
DBI form; no publication date shown · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026
Verify at the official sourceThis agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
Current Application for Report of Residential Building Record
City-hosted form published January 2025 · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 25, 2026
Verify at the official sourceDBI 3R online service
Agency online service · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026
Verify at the official sourceFrequently asked questions
Questions to verify, not legal conclusions
Do I need a 3R Report to sell a house in San Francisco?
Housing Code Section 351 describes a 3R process for covered residential-building sales or exchanges and includes a narrow stated exception. Confirm the building and transaction facts with DBI rather than treating this page as a coverage decision. Verify at the official source: City and County of San Francisco
This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
How do I order a San Francisco 3R Report?
Use DBI's current online service and review the official application fields before submitting a request. Confirm the current form, submission method, and property information directly in the DBI service. Verify at the official source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection
Who orders and gives the San Francisco 3R to the buyer?
Section 351 says the owner or authorized agent obtains the report from DBI and delivers it to the buyer before completion of a covered sale or exchange. Confirm the current delivery process and transaction scope directly with DBI. Verify at the official source: City and County of San Francisco
This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
How long is a San Francisco 3R Report valid?
Section 352 states that a 3R is effective for one year from issuance. Check the actual issue and expiration dates and confirm the current DBI process. Verify at the official source: City and County of San Francisco
This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
Does a San Francisco 3R include a physical inspection or full permit history?
No. Section 351 says the report is compiled from City records and carries a notice that there was no physical examination, it contains no plumbing or electrical permit history, and it does not represent that the property complies with the law. Verify at the official source: City and County of San Francisco
This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .
Do I order a separate 3R for a San Francisco condo or co-op?
DBI's current application says each residential condominium or co-op unit requires a separate request and report. Ask DBI about any additional parcel documentation. Verify at the official source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection
This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed . If blocked, start at the San Francisco DBI homepage .