CIVIL CODE § 5551
SB 326 Inspection Cost by Building Size — San Diego HOA
San Diego HOA and condo association SB 326 inspection fees are priced per building, not per unit — a single low-rise typically runs $900–$1,800, while a five-building garden complex is quoted closer to five separate per-building fees, usually with a portfolio discount.
Board members budgeting for an SB 326 inspection often start from a single number they saw online, then get a quote that doesn't match it — usually because the association has more than one building. Civil Code § 5551 requires the inspection and reporting to be handled at the building level, so the real driver of an association's total cost is building count first, unit density second, and access difficulty third.
Building Count Drives Total
Each building in the association gets its own sampled inspection and its own line item — a total cost estimate has to start with a building count, not a unit count.
Portfolio Pricing
Firms routinely discount per-building pricing when one association engages them for every building on the same site visit and report cycle.
Access & Testing
Upper-floor walkways, gated garages, and any destructive (probe) testing to confirm hidden framing condition add to the per-building fee.
Typical Cost by Association Size
| Association Size | Buildings | Typical Total Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Single-building HOA | 1 | $900–$1,800 |
| Small townhome/garden complex | 2–4 | $1,800–$3,600 (portfolio rate) |
| Mid-size condo complex | 5–10 | $3,600–$7,500 (portfolio rate) |
| Large master-planned association | 10+ | Custom quote — typically below per-building pricing at volume |
Why Two Similar-Looking Quotes Can Differ by Thousands
Two quotes for the same association can look wildly different because one firm scoped destructive testing on suspect framing and the other didn't, or one bundled every building into a single site mobilization and the other priced each visit separately. Ask each firm to itemize buildings, elements sampled, and testing assumptions before comparing totals — a lower number with a thinner scope is not actually the better deal.
Budgeting for the Next SB 326 Inspection: Reserve Study vs. One-Time Line Item
Some boards fold the recurring nine-year SB 326 inspection cost into the association's reserve study as a known future expense; others budget it as a one-time special item each cycle. Either approach works — what matters is that the board isn't discovering the cost for the first time in the same meeting it's approving the engagement.
Related Reading
Not sure your property falls under SB 326 at all? Compare SB 326 vs. SB 721 obligations. Already have a report with findings? See how remediation is scoped and quoted separately.
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much does an SB 326 inspection cost for a small San Diego HOA?+
A single-building HOA with roughly 10–30 units and one or two elevated-element types typically pays $900–$1,800 for the initial SB 326 inspection engagement, though access difficulty and destructive testing needs can move that range.
Does inspection cost scale per building or per unit for a multi-building HOA?+
Both, but building count usually drives the estimate more than raw unit count, because Civil Code § 5551's sampling and reporting requirements are applied per building. A five-building complex is typically quoted closer to five separate per-building fees, often at a portfolio discount, rather than one blended total.
Is the SB 326 report itself included in the inspection fee?+
Yes — the written report the licensed engineer or architect delivers to the board is part of the inspection engagement. Any remediation or repair work the report identifies is scoped and priced separately by a licensed contractor.