SB 721 Approved Inspectors in California: Who Qualifies

California doesn't publish a single official "approved inspector list" for SB 721. Instead, Health & Safety Code §17973 restricts inspections to four professional credential classes. If an inspector doesn't hold one of them, their report doesn't satisfy the law — no matter how thorough it is.

The four qualifying credentials

• Licensed architect (California Architects Board)
• Licensed civil or structural engineer (California Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists)
• Certified building inspector or building official (ICC certification, employed by a jurisdiction or credentialed independently)
• Licensed general contractor (Class B) with a minimum of five years' experience as a holder of that classification

How to verify a credential

Every credential above is publicly searchable. For engineers and architects, use the California DCA license lookup. For contractors, use the CSLB search — verify that Class B is on the license and that it has been active for at least five years. For ICC-certified inspectors, ask for the certificate number and cross-check it on the ICC website.

What the report must include

• Identification of every EEE at the property
• Description of the current physical condition of each element
• The expected future performance and remaining useful life
• Recommendations for any necessary repair or replacement
• Signature and stamp of the qualifying professional

Red flags when hiring

Watch for inspectors who won't share their license number, subcontract the stamping to an off-site engineer they don't name, or bundle "guaranteed pass" language into their quote. SB 721 reports are legal documents. The person who signs them takes on professional liability — and any reputable inspector will make that credential easy to check.