AB 1738: California's Remote Inspection Mandate
Every California city and county must offer virtual building inspections by July 1, 2027. VuSpex is the only purpose-built platform proven in California government — and your agency can be ready now.
What Is AB 1738?
California Assembly Bill 1738, authored by Assemblymember Carrillo, adds Section 17970.9 to the Health and Safety Code and requires every city, county, and charter city in California to offer homeowners and contractors the option of remote virtual inspections for building permit work on 1- and 2-family dwelling units.
The bill's findings are direct: California's housing crisis is compounded by long inspection wait times — often up to two weeks between request and inspection — and remote inspections are a proven tool to cut costs, accelerate timelines, improve inspector safety, and recover faster from disasters.
With AB 1738 advancing through committee in 2026 and a compliance deadline of July 1, 2027, agencies that haven't yet implemented a virtual inspection program need to act now. Procurement, pilot programs, and staff training all take time.
Key Deadlines
- July 1, 2027 — Agencies must offer remote inspections
- July 1, 2027 — First HCD compliance report due
- April 1, 2028 — Annual HCD reporting begins
What AB 1738 Requires
- Remote inspection option for all eligible building permit work
- Onsite audit authority to verify work accuracy
- Ability to temporarily suspend remote inspection privileges for misrepresentation
- Annual compliance reports submitted to HCD
- Applies to all cities including charter cities (statewide concern)
Why VuSpex Is the Right Choice for AB 1738 Compliance
VuSpex isn't a general-purpose video tool adapted for inspections — it was purpose-built for government building inspection workflows from day one. California agencies are already using it today.
Built-In Audit Trail
Every inspection is recorded, timestamped, and stored. AB 1738 authorizes agencies to perform onsite audits — VuSpex gives you the documentation to support them.
HCD Reporting Ready
VuSpex's reporting suite gives administrators instant access to inspection counts, outcomes, and compliance metrics — exactly the data HCD will require annually.
Deep Permitting System Integrations
VuSpex integrates with Accela, Tyler Technologies, CentralSquare, Infor, and more — so remote inspections fit directly into your existing permit workflow with no manual data entry.
No App Download Required
Homeowners and contractors join inspections from any smartphone browser. No app store friction means higher participation rates and no IT burden on inspectors.
Legal & Immunity Documentation
AB 1738 extends existing public entity immunity protections to remote inspections. VuSpex's complete inspection records support your agency's legal standing in any dispute.
Rapid Implementation
With July 2027 approaching, time matters. VuSpex deployments are measured in weeks, not months. Agencies are live and conducting inspections within 30 days of contract execution.
California Agencies Already Ahead of the Curve
The California legislature's own AB 1738 findings name VuSpex Go as a leading platform in use across the state. These agencies aren't waiting for a mandate — they're already delivering faster, safer inspections today.
City of Sacramento
California's capital city implemented VuSpex to modernize its building inspection division, dramatically cutting the gap between permit issuance and inspection completion — helping more Sacramento families complete home improvement projects faster.
Nevada County
Nevada County adopted VuSpex to serve a geographically dispersed population across mountainous terrain where travel times to remote properties can be significant. Virtual inspections now extend the reach of every inspector on staff.
Santa Clara County
Cited directly in AB 1738's legislative findings, Santa Clara County's use of VuSpex Go demonstrates how a major Bay Area agency can run a fully operational remote inspection program integrated with existing permitting systems.
Sonoma County
Also cited in AB 1738's legislative findings, Sonoma County uses VuSpex Go for remote inspections — a capability that proved especially critical during disaster recovery operations following regional wildfires, when inspector access to affected areas was limited.
The Case for Remote Inspections — By the Numbers
~2 weeks
Typical wait time for a building inspection in Palo Alto, per city audit cited by AB 1738
⅓
Of HVAC changeouts had permits in 2019, per CA PUC — unpermitted work AB 1738 aims to reduce
20–40%
Of eligible inspections in LA County conducted remotely once contractors learn the process
ICC, HUD, and NFPA Endorsed
AB 1738's findings note that the International Code Council (ICC), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have all issued remote inspection standards and best practices. VuSpex was designed with these standards in mind, giving California agencies confidence that their remote inspection program will hold up to regulatory scrutiny.
Jurisdictions that choose general-purpose video conferencing tools like Zoom or FaceTime face significant gaps: no integration with permitting systems, no structured inspection records, no audit trail, and no compliance reporting. VuSpex closes all of these gaps in a single platform.
Don't Wait Until 2027 to Start
Procurement cycles, pilot programs, integration setup, and inspector training all take time. Agencies that start now will be fully operational — and delivering value to residents — well before the mandate kicks in.