Requesting an official inspection
Requesting an inspection is usually straightforward: you contact the local government office responsible for housing conditions and ask them to inspect your unit for violations.
Depending on your city or county, this is often a code-enforcement, building, or health department. You can typically reach them by phone or online to file a complaint describing the problems — such as leaks, mold, pests, no heat, or unsafe conditions. Be specific about what is wrong and where. Many jurisdictions will then schedule an inspection.
It helps to have already reported the problems to your landlord in writing first, so you can show you gave them a chance to fix it, though you can generally still request an inspection regardless. Keep a record of when you contacted the agency and any complaint or reference number, and keep a copy of any resulting report.
Importantly, the law protects you from landlord retaliation for contacting inspectors about conditions. If you want to document problems through an official inspection and are unsure how it works or worried about landlord backlash, a free, confidential review can help you understand the process and your protections.
This is general information about California tenant rights, not legal advice. Every situation is different.