Termite Inspection Reports Explained: Section 1 and Section 2 for Pasadena and Los Angeles Homeowners

A termite report lands in your inbox. It has codes, boxes and labeled sections. You want to know one thing: how bad is it?

This guide explains each part of the California report in plain words. It covers Section 1, Section 2 and further inspection items. It also shows what to do with each one.

Every licensed inspector in California gives you a written termite report on a form the state sets. The same form applies to a termite inspection in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Highland Park and Burbank. Once you know how to read it, you know what to fix first.

What the report covers

California law sets the report rules in Business and Professions Code section 8516. The Structural Pest Control Board prescribes the form.

The inspector reports on all accessible areas of the structure. The report names the property, the inspector and the start date. It includes a diagram and lists recommendations for corrective measures.

Each finding carries an item code and a section label. The label shows which group the item belongs to.

Section 1: active termites and damage

Section 1 lists visible evidence of active infestation or infection. It also lists conditions tied to either one.

Inspectors look for live termites, termite pellets, exit holes in wood, mud tubes and damaged framing. Each sign goes in Section 1.

Wood decay fungus, often called dry rot, belongs here too. Decay is an infection already in the wood.

Section 1 items need action. The report recommends a fix for each one, such as spot treatment, fumigation or wood repair.

Section 2: conditions likely to lead to termites

Section 2 lists conditions likely to lead to infestation or infection. The inspector found no visible sign of termites or decay at these spots.

Common examples include wood touching soil, plumbing leaks, poor drainage and wood scraps left under the house.

These conditions raise your risk. A fix costs less than treating a colony later.

Many buyers and sellers treat Section 2 work as a choice. The purchase contract and the lender decide whether it is required.

Further inspection: areas the inspector did not reach

Further inspection items cover areas the inspector had no access to during the original visit. A locked crawl space door, a sealed attic hatch or stored items often block the way.

The inspector records the blocked area and recommends a return visit. After the visit, the inspector writes a supplemental report on those areas.

Clear the access before the follow-up. A blocked area leaves a gap in your report.

What to do with each section

Report section	What it means	Your next step
Section 1	The inspector saw active termites, damage or decay.	Ask for treatment and repair quotes. Ask for the exact spots.
Section 2	The inspector found conditions likely to lead to termites, with no termites in sight.	Fix leaks, drainage and wood touching soil. Decide with your agent or lender.
Further inspection	The inspector did not reach some areas.	Clear access and book the follow-up. Ask for a supplemental report.

What the law requires from the company

California sets clear duties for the company behind your report:

The company gives the report to the person who ordered it and to the owner or the owner’s agent.
The company delivers the report within 10 business days from the start of the inspection.
The company gives you the report before it starts any work.
After the work, the company gives the owner a completion notice within 10 business days. The notice states the cost of finished work and the estimated cost of unfinished work.
The company keeps inspection reports for three years.
After four months, a new check counts as an original inspection, not a re-inspection.

Business and Professions Code section 8518 covers the completion notice.

Why this matters in Pasadena and Los Angeles

Pasadena has landmark districts such as Bungalow Heaven, with bungalows from the early 1900s. Older wood-frame homes give termites more places to hide.

Los Angeles has a mild climate, so termites stay active through much of the year. A report from a home in Highland Park, Burbank or Pasadena follows the same form and the same rules.

Homeowners insurance does not cover termite damage. You pay for treatment and repair yourself. A clear report shows you the size of this bill before you pay it.

Questions to ask your inspector

Which items fall under Section 1, and where are they?
Which termite type did you find, and how did you confirm it?
Which Section 2 items do you suggest fixing first?
Which areas did you not reach, and what do you need to open them?
Will you send photos and a diagram with the report?

The bottom line

The California termite report follows one pattern. Section 1 shows what exists now. Section 2 shows what might go wrong later. Further inspection shows what the inspector has not seen yet.

Read the sections in this order. Fix Section 1 first, then weigh Section 2, and then open the blocked areas. You will know exactly what your home needs.