San Francisco 3R Report: Questions Answered

The city of San Francisco requires a 3R Report to be included in the disclosure package of any residential property listed on the market.

Property sellers may be worried about tracking down and filing so much paperwork to get their home or building sold.

Luckily, the city of San Francisco has made the process of obtaining a 3R Report simple and easy.

This guide will break down everything you need to know about the 3R Report, its importance, and how to obtain one for your property.

What is a 3R Report?

“3R Report” is short for Report of Residential Building Record Report. It contains information on the building’s permit history – mainly the building’s construction date, zoning district, occupancy use, number of residential structures on the lot, building permits, history, and how it is classified by the Department of Building Inspection (DBI).

The report excludes the building’s plumbing and electrical permits. In San Francisco, according to the DBI, a standard 3R Report contains the following information about a residential building:

Address of the building including condominium or unit number, if any
Block and Lot
Present authorized occupancy or use
If the property contains any residential hotel guest rooms
Zoning district
Building code occupancy classification
The expiration date for non-conforming use
Building construction date
Original occupancy or use
Building permit application history and status of the building permit
Franchise tax board lien
Abatement case on the property
Number of residential structures on the lot
If energy inspection has been done and proof of compliance has been issued

San Francisco is very particular about property modifications, and most updates require a permit to get the job done. To put this into perspective, San Francisco requires and processes five times as many construction permits as New York City.

Because of these permit requirements, swapping out your front door with an updated version, replacing a window, or touching up your roof may be more challenging than you thought. However, keeping accurate records of these changes so that home buyers and sellers know what updates have been made can streamline future updates and modifications.

It is also important to keep accurate records for yourself. If there are missing records on your property, it is up to the home buyer or seller to get a qualified permit researcher to investigate those mishaps. Obtaining a 3R Report is so important to buyers and sellers that the whole exchange process will be postponed or denied without one.

On the DBI website, it is clearly stated that a 3R Report is needed before the sale or exchange of any residential building, except for the first sale or exchange of a newly constructed residential building within one year of the date of the Certificate of Final Completion.

How Do You Get A 3R Report In San Francisco?

Fortunately, the application process is pretty straightforward. You can submit your request online, by mail, or in person. For his listings, Mike pulls the report for you.

To submit your online request, head over to the DBI website, sfdbi.org/applying3R, or call the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection offices at (415) 558-6080. If you choose to send in your application via mail, download and complete this form. You can even visit their office in person. They are located at 49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 400.

It is best to submit your request online so that it is received immediately, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, if you decide to call or show up in person, the office is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Be sure to sign in no later than 3:30 p.m. to make sure you will be helped the same day.

How Long Does It Take To Receive A 3R Report?

It is imperative to request your report as soon as you decide to sell your home. It can take longer than two weeks to receive your 3R Report, as the DBI only processes six applications a day.

The DBI does not accept or process rush orders. Instead, requests are processed on the date and order that they are received, so the quicker you submit the request, the faster you should receive your report.

Other Important Information

Here is the information that is required on every application:

Block, lot/assessor’s parcel number, and the address of the residential building, including unit number, if any. If you do not know this information, you can find it online using San Francisco’s Property Map.
Legal owner’s name, address, and phone number
Applicant’s name and phone number
Address to mail report/phone number to call for pick-up
Applicant’s signature

The Department of Building Inspection website states that a separate application and payment is required for each residential building on a given lot, each condominium unit, and each co-op unit. Therefore, each request form should only contain one building address. Each report costs $148.

There is a small processing fee if the application is submitted online. If you choose to mail in your application, you will need to send in your payment via check or money order. The bank account holder’s name must be printed on the check, and payments are only accepted via checks for in-person visits. Lastly, refunds or cancellations are not accepted once the request and payment have been received.

Conclusion

Buying and selling real estate in San Francisco can be a breeze if you know what paperwork is required and where to find it. Make your home buying experience even more effortless by letting Mike Plotkowski help you through it.

He will carefully ensure that all of your documents, permits, and disclosure package are in order and ready to be handed off to the next homeowner. So if you’re in the market to buy or sell real estate in the San Francisco area, look no further than Mike Plotkowski, the Bay Area’s best luxury realtor.