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San Francisco · 3R fee and request

San Francisco 3R Report cost and request process

DBI's live service page and its January 2025 City-hosted application currently publish different per-report amounts. This guide preserves both official records with their review dates and separates the fee question from building, condominium, and co-op request instructions; it does not quote a total transaction cost, submit a request, or predict processing.

General information onlyNo property outcomeOfficial sources controlSale-triggered topic to verify

Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready: July 25, 2026. 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

  • Compare the live DBI service page with the published form: The live DBI service page reviewed on July 25, 2026 publishes $379 per residential building and $388.48 for an online credit-card payment. The January 2025 City-hosted application separately publishes $286 per report, so confirm the amount in the live ordering path before submitting. San Francisco Department of Building Inspection ↗

    This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 25, 2026.

  • Note the agency-published processing window: The live DBI service page says the agency will issue a 3R in seven to ten business days after payment. Treat that as a published processing window, not a guarantee for a particular request. San Francisco Department of Building Inspection ↗

    This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 25, 2026.

  • Count buildings and units the way DBI instructs: The form says each residential building on a lot requires a separate application, and each residential condominium or co-op unit requires a separate request and report. San Francisco Department of Building Inspection ↗
On this page: official starting point · process · limits · sources · seller questions

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.

Verify at the official source ↗

Opening a record or portal does not mean that Bay Sale Ready has determined coverage, validity, responsibility, or whether a transaction may close.

General order of questions

  1. Compare the live DBI service page with the published form

    Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked San Francisco Department of Building Inspection source: The live DBI service page reviewed on July 25, 2026 publishes $379 per residential building and $388.48 for an online credit-card payment. The January 2025 City-hosted application separately publishes $286 per report, so confirm the amount in the live ordering path before submitting.

    Verify at official source: Request a Report of Residential Building Record ↗
  2. Note the agency-published processing window

    Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked San Francisco Department of Building Inspection source: The live DBI service page says the agency will issue a 3R in seven to ten business days after payment. Treat that as a published processing window, not a guarantee for a particular request.

    Verify at official source: Request a Report of Residential Building Record ↗
  3. Count buildings and units the way DBI instructs

    Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked San Francisco Department of Building Inspection source: The form says each residential building on a lot requires a separate application, and each residential condominium or co-op unit requires a separate request and report.

    Verify at official source: Current Application for Report of Residential Building Record ↗
  4. Prepare the requested property information

    Bay Sale Ready summary of the linked San Francisco Department of Building Inspection source: The application asks for block, lot, address, building count, ownership, requester, and delivery information and notes that additional parcel material may be needed in some condo or co-op requests.

    Verify at official source: Current Application for Report of Residential Building Record ↗

Important limits to keep in view

  • Source-linked caution from San Francisco Department of Building Inspection: Two official DBI sources reviewed on the same date publish different amounts: the live service page lists $379 per residential building, while the January 2025 application lists $286 per report. This page does not resolve that conflict; verify the amount in the live ordering path.

    Verify at the official source: Request a Report of Residential Building Record ↗
  • Source-linked caution from San Francisco Department of Building Inspection: A submitted application is not the issued 3R and does not establish that DBI accepted every property or parcel detail.

    Verify at the official source: Current Application for Report of Residential Building Record ↗

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 3 reviewed official sources
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection

Request a Report of Residential Building Record

City service page; no publication date shown · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 25, 2026

Verify at the official source ↗

This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 25, 2026.

San Francisco Department of Building Inspection

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 source ↗
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection

DBI 3R online service

Agency online service · Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready July 18, 2026

Verify at the official source ↗

Frequently asked questions

Questions to verify, not legal conclusions

How much does a San Francisco 3R Report cost?

Official DBI sources reviewed on July 25, 2026 do not match: the live service page publishes $379 per residential building and $388.48 for an online credit-card payment, while the January 2025 application publishes $286 per report. Confirm the amount shown in the live ordering path before submitting. Verify at the official source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection ↗

This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 25, 2026.

How long does a San Francisco 3R Report take?

DBI's live service page says the agency will issue a 3R in seven to ten business days after payment. That is the agency's published window, not a prediction for a particular request. Verify at the official source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection ↗

This agency page may restrict direct access. Last manually reviewed July 25, 2026.

Does each building on a San Francisco lot need its own 3R request?

DBI's application says each residential building on a given lot requires a separate application. Ask DBI how that instruction applies to the parcel being researched. Verify at the official source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection ↗

Does each San Francisco condo need its own 3R?

The current application says each residential condominium or co-op unit requires a separate request and report. It also notes that DBI may request additional parcel information in some cases. Verify at the official source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection ↗

What property information does a San Francisco 3R request need?

The current application asks for the block, lot, property address, number of residential buildings, ownership, requester, and delivery information. It notes that additional parcel material may be needed for some condominium or co-op requests. Verify at the official source: San Francisco Department of Building Inspection ↗

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Bay Sale Ready is a free, independent, noncommercial informational website. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any city, government agency, utility, licensing board, or professional appearing in a linked external resource. It does not provide legal, real estate, engineering, inspection, contracting, or compliance services. Requirements and professional status can change. Confirm current requirements with the responsible agency and verify current professional status before acting.

Published coverage: Oakland, Berkeley, Hayward, San José, and San Francisco. This is selected coverage, not a complete inventory of local requirements.

Last reviewed by Bay Sale Ready: July 25, 2026. Information may have changed since our last review. Verify current requirements and status directly with the responsible agency before relying on it.

Official source changed or link broken? Email the page URL and source URL to hello@baysaleready.com. Do not include property or transaction details.