Reserve Study Companies in California
Compare vetted reserve study companies that serve HOAs and condominiums across California. Get multiple proposals for your next reserve study without wasting weeks calling providers one by one.
Reserve study companies for California communities
California’s HOAs and condo associations operate under some of the strictest reserve study requirements in the country. Boards must stay on top of long-term funding, comply with the Davis-Stirling Act, and still avoid hitting owners with constant special assessments.
- Through PropFusion, you can connect with reserve study providers that already work with:
- Condominium and townhome associations (from coastal mid-rises to inland garden-style communities)
- Single-family HOAs and master-planned communities
- High-rise and mixed-use associations in major metros
- Age-restricted and active-adult communities
- Resort and vacation ownership communities in coastal and mountain areas
California reserve study requirements in plain language
Under the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, most California common interest developments (CIDs) must perform a professional reserve study with a visual inspection at least every three years, and the board must review and update that study annually as part of the budget process.
Who needs a reserve study?
Nearly all HOAs and condo associations governed by Davis-Stirling must prepare a reserve study if the replacement cost of major components is at least half of the association’s annual budget.
How often is it required?
A full reserve study with a “reasonably competent and diligent” visual inspection of major components is required at least once every three years. In between, boards must review the study annually and adjust the funding plan as needed.
What has to be disclosed?
The Annual Budget Report must include a summary of the current reserve study and the association’s funding plan, using the format defined in Civil Code §§5300, 5565 and related sections.
How detailed is the study?
The law requires identification of all major components with less than 30 years of remaining life, estimated useful life, repair/replacement costs, and a funding plan that shows how the association will meet these obligations.
Types of reserve studies California companies provide
Level 1 – Full reserve study
A complete physical and financial analysis: on-site inspection, component inventory, remaining useful life, and a 20–30 year funding plan.
Level 2 – Update with site visit
A refresh of your existing reserve study with a new inspection, updated costs, and revised funding recommendations.
Level 3 – Update without site visit
A financial update that uses your prior study and updated financial data to adjust funding paths between full site inspections.
Special-purpose studies
Focused reviews for specific components or project clusters—e.g., balcony or exterior inspections, roof replacement programs, mechanical upgrades, or common-area renovations—when boards need targeted insight beyond the standard reserve cycle.
California coverage – from San Diego to Sacramento and beyond
Reserve study companies in our marketplace serve communities across all major California regions. Whether your association is a coastal condo, a suburban HOA, or a vertical high-rise, we match you with providers that actively work in your region and property type.
- Typical areas covered include:
- Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Inland Empire, Ventura, Santa Barbara
- Central & coastal California: San Luis Obispo, Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay, Bakersfield, Fresno, Central Valley communities
- Northern California & Bay Area: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, East Bay, North Bay, Sacramento region and surrounding suburbs
When California boards usually order a reserve study
Boards in California don’t just order studies to “check the box” for Davis-Stirling.
They usually engage reserve study companies when:
The three-year deadline is coming up
The association needs a new study with a site inspection to stay compliant and keep annual disclosures accurate.
Major projects are looming
Roof replacements, balcony or exterior work, asphalt and concrete, elevators, mechanical systems, and amenity upgrades are on the horizon and the board wants a clear funding path instead of surprise special assessments.
Lenders or buyers are asking questions
Reserve levels and funding plans are under scrutiny during financing, refinances, and resale transactions—especially for condos in competitive markets.
The association has grown or changed
Phased developments, new amenities, or changed responsibilities (e.g., balconies or building exteriors taken over by the HOA) require a reset of the component list and funding plan.
There has been a long gap or poor documentation
Prior boards delayed updates, or documentation is incomplete, and the current board wants a clean, defensible baseline.
What a California reserve study company delivers
Most reserve study firms serving California follow both Davis-Stirling and national reserve study standards. In practice, that typically means:
On-site inspection of major components
A “reasonably competent and diligent” visual inspection of roofs, exterior surfaces, balconies/walkways, pavement, common mechanical systems, and shared amenities the association must maintain.
Component inventory & useful life estimates
A detailed list of components with remaining useful life, quantities, and replacement or major repair cost estimates, focused on items with less than 30 years of expected life.
30-year funding plan
Year-by-year projections showing recommended reserve contributions, expected expenditures, and projected balances, so boards can see whether they are on track or heading toward shortfalls.
Scenario comparisons
Many California providers show alternate funding strategies (steady contribution increases, step-ups, or catch-up plans) so boards can choose how aggressively to move toward full funding.
Compliance-ready disclosures
Summary tables and funding disclosures formatted to satisfy California’s Annual Budget Report and Assessment and Reserve Funding Disclosure requirements, so the board can drop them into its budget package.
Online reserve planning workspace
Alongside the PDF report, your reserve study is loaded into an online dashboard where your board can test what-if funding scenarios, see upcoming investment opportunities, and manage capital projects over time.
How PropFusion connects you with California reserve study companies
Share your community details
Tell us about your association’s location, property type, number of units, and any upcoming projects or concerns.
We match you with vetted firms
We route your request to reserve study companies that actively work in your state and fit your size and building type.
Compare proposals side by side
You receive multiple proposals outlining scope, pricing, and timelines so you can compare options without chasing firms yourself.
Hire your preferred provider
You choose the company you want to work with. They perform the study and deliver the report. You keep full ownership of the results and can use them with any budgeting tools or processes you prefer.
Types of reserve studies California companies provide
“Finding a reserve study firm in California used to mean weeks of emails and unanswered calls. With the marketplace, I filled out one brief and had three strong California proposals in a few days. Our board could finally compare scope, price, and timelines side by side and make a confident decision.”
“Three vetted California firms, one simple brief. It saved our board weeks of outreach.”
California HOAs and condos have requested proposals through our marketplace.
Vetted reserve study professionals covering communities across California
“We picked a great local firm and finally feel in control of our long-term repairs.”
“Our mid-rise condo in San Diego needed a fresh reserve study before a major facade project. The marketplace quickly matched us with engineers who know California building requirements. The winning proposal was detailed, fairly priced, and came with a clear funding plan that our owners actually understood.”
Frequently asked questions
Do we have to hire a reserve study company located in California?
You don’t have to pick a firm whose headquarters are in California, but you do need a provider that understands California’s Davis-Stirling requirements, has experience with local building types and costs, and can perform a proper site inspection. Most boards prefer firms that regularly work in California because they’re already set up for state-specific laws and disclosures.
How much do reserve studies typically cost in California?
Costs vary widely. Smaller associations with straightforward components may see proposals in the low thousands for a full study, while large high-rise or multi-phase communities in coastal metros will pay more. The only practical way to know if a quote is high or low is to compare multiple proposals for the same scope. PropFusion is built to collect those proposals for you in one place.
How often should we update our reserve study in California?
At a minimum, California law requires a full reserve study with site inspection every three years, and boards must review and update the funding plan annually. In reality, many associations order a site-visit update more frequently when major projects are coming up or when there have been big cost changes.
What should we look for when comparing California reserve study companies?
Focus on three things:
1. Competence & credentials – experience in California, RS/PRA or similar designations, and strong sample reports;
2. Clarity of the funding plan – can a non-financial board member read the report and understand the next 5–10 years;
3. Responsiveness – will the firm answer questions, attend a board meeting if needed, and support you through the disclosure process.
How does PropFusion help California boards beyond just finding a vendor?
PropFusion gives you a structured way to run a competitive process. You define the scope once, receive multiple proposals from vetted California reserve study companies, and keep a clear paper trail showing how you selected the provider. That can matter when owners question dues increases or regulators and lenders review your governance practices.
Get proposals from reserve study companies in California
If your board is planning big projects, worried about reserves, or simply wants a clear long-term funding plan, this is the time to bring in a professional reserve study company.
