Plain English Breakdown
The official summary does not define what constitutes 'specified works,' making it impossible to list eligible projects without guessing.
State Housing Law: Remote Inspections
AB-1738 requires most cities and counties to offer homeowners and contractors the option of remote inspections for certain work on one- or two-family homes by January 1, 2028, or July 1, 2028.
What This Bill Does
- Requires cities, charter cities, counties, and city-counties to offer an option for requesting remote inspections for specified work in one- or two-family dwelling units.
- Sets deadlines of either January 1, 2028, or July 1, 2028, by which local agencies must begin offering this option.
- Allows local agencies to create reasonable rules about how the technology is used during remote inspections.
- Applies existing legal protections for public entities and employees to cover remote inspections.
- Authorizes local agencies to temporarily ban a homeowner or contractor from using remote inspection if they willfully misrepresent the work.
Who It Names or Affects
- Cities, charter cities, counties, and city-counties that enforce building codes.
- Homeowners working on one- or two-family dwelling units.
- Contractors performing specified work under a building permit for these homes.
Terms To Know
- Remote inspection
- An option to inspect construction work using technology instead of an in-person visit, as authorized by this bill.
- Charter city
- A type of city that the bill states must follow these new rules because they address a matter of statewide concern.
- State-mandated local program
- New duties required by state law that cities and counties must carry out, which usually requires reimbursement but not in this case.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not list the specific types of work or inspections covered under 'specified works.'
- The text mentions exceptions ('except as specified') for some cities and counties without listing what those exceptions are.
- It is unclear which local agencies must meet the January 1, 2028 deadline versus the July 1, 2028 deadline.