Deck Safety FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How much time do I have to comply with this notice?
As an apartment house or hotel owner (including residential condominiums of three (3) or more units) you are required to submit this affidavit every five (5) years. You should make arrangements to have a licensed industry professional inspect your building, complete and submit the Section 604 Affidavit within the next 60 days if you have not provided a previous affidavit.
2. Who can fill out the affidavit?
Affidavit verification must be completed by a licensed industry professional such as a general contractor, architect, civil engineer, structural engineer, or structural pest control inspector. Please see the affidavit for more information.
3. How do I find a licensed professional?
For more information, you can contact the following organizations and visit their website: Board for Professional Engineers at Tel. 866/780-5370; the Contractors State License Board at (800) 321-2752; the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC), at (415) 974-5147; and American Institute of Architects (AIA), at (415) 362-7397.
4. How much does it cost to get a license professional to inspect our property?
The cost to perform this inspection and obtain verification will vary depending on the size of the building, current building conditions, the number of building attachments that need inspection, and the industry professional you select.
5. Does DBI provide financial assistance to conducting this inspection?
DBI does not have a financial assistance program available at this time. It is the property owner’s responsibility to ensure that exterior decks, balconies, stairway systems, and fire escapes are properly maintained, and in good working order. This affidavit process is a tool to assist property owners in developing a proactive maintenance plan that requires surveying and correcting building conditions that can deteriorate over time.
6. What happens after I turn in this affidavit?
The affidavit will be reviewed, and if deemed complete, an entry will be made in DBI’s Section 604 compliant tracking log confirming your compliance with Section 604 for the subject property.Please visit www.sfdbi.org/decksafety to verify that your property is found on the DBI’s SF Housing Section 604 compliant tracking log.
7. Why do I have to submit an affidavit when my building is subject to a routine inspection?
The purpose of this affidavit is to supplement the visual review performed during a routine inspection, and provide a tool to assist property owners in developing a proactive and thorough maintenance plan for building attachments that may require additional investigation/testing by a licensed industry professional.
8. Why am I receiving this Notice if I have already submitted my affidavit within the last five (5) years?
This Notice is a reminder to submit a completed Affidavit every five (5) years. Please visit www.sfdbi.org/decksafety to verify that your property is found on the DBI’s SF Housing Section 604 compliant tracking log. The list of submitted affidavits are arranged alphabetically by street address.
9. Who should I contact if I have any questions?
For questions relating to the processing of this Affidavit, please contact DBI’s Housing Inspection Services Division at (628) 652-3700 or by email at dbi.hissection604@sfgov.org. If you have code related questions, you can contact DBI’s Technical Services Division at (628) 652-3720 or by email at TechQ@sfgov.org. You can also visit our office at 49 South Van Ness Avenue San Francisco, CA 94103.