ASHI Standards of Practice 2026: what changes on January 1, 2027.

When the 2026 standard applies

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) put a revised Standard of Practice for home inspections to a membership vote that closed on January 8, 2026. ASHI says it was approved with a majority of the membership voting in favor. Its Standard of Practice Changes page, last updated October 27, 2026, lists the approved standard with an implementation date of January 1, 2027.

ASHI's main Standard of Practice page, last updated July 16, 2026, still says that more information about the implementation date will follow and that the standard shown there, effective March 1, 2014, is the current version until then. The approved document's cover note also says the changes are not yet effective and that the final document will be reviewed for grammar and formatting before implementation. So keep working to the 2014 standard for inspections before January 1, 2027, and check which edition your inspection agreement and report refer to around the changeover.

ASHI's outline of the changes says they follow several years of work by its Standards Committee, including a review of the standards of practice in every state, and that the new items largely reflect what home inspection reports around the country already cover.

2014 and 2026 sections side by side

The 2026 standard has 17 numbered sections. Roofing, Plumbing and Electrical each take the next number up because Deck and Balcony becomes section 5, while Interior and Insulation keep 10 and 11. This is a summary of the main differences, not the full text:

ASHI says garages and carports have always been included in its standard; the new section 14 brings together the items specific to a garage or carport, and points back to the other sections, such as Structure, Electrical and Roofing, for everything else in it.

The reporting rule: section 2.4.B

Under section 2.4.B of the 2026 standard, the written report, in a format and medium the inspector chooses:

• describes the installed systems and components the standard specifies that were readily accessible and visible;
• states the condition of those that, in the inspector's professional judgment, are not functioning properly, significantly deficient or unsafe, or are "near, at, or beyond the end of their normal useful lives";
• recommends repair or replacement, or further evaluation by a qualified professional, tradesman or service technician;
• explains the nature of the significantly deficient and unsafe items; and
• lists the specified systems and components that were present but not inspected, and why.

The 2014 wording was systems and components that were not functioning properly, significantly deficient, unsafe, or "near the end of their service lives". ASHI's outline says the report writing criteria have not changed: the new wording is meant to make the scope and limits of a home inspection clearer to the client.

Two terms are now defined in section 17:

• Significantly deficient: a condition that, in the inspector's professional judgment, significantly affects the value, habitability or safety of the dwelling or its occupants, leaving out decorative, stylistic, cosmetic or aesthetic points. Being near, at or beyond the end of its normal useful life does not on its own make an item significantly deficient.
• Normal useful life: a subjective estimate, from observation or average figures for similar items, of how long an item can work as intended before replacement is warranted.

The general exclusions say the inspector is not required to determine the age, life expectancy or remaining useful life of systems and components. The 2014 option to recommend that a deficiency be monitored for future correction is gone from the text; ASHI's rationale says that was on legal advice, and that inspectors may still include it in a report if they wish.

Other changes worth knowing

• Scope: the standard covers residential buildings of one to four dwelling units with their attached or detached garages or carports, but not the common elements and areas of condominiums and cooperative housing.
• Crawl spaces and attics: the inspector need not enter one with less than 30 inches of vertical and 30 inches of horizontal clearance, or an access opening smaller than 18 by 24 inches. The 2014 figures were 24 inches of vertical clearance and an opening of 16 by 24 inches, for crawl spaces only.
• Decks and balconies: the inspector need not enter beneath a deck with the same clearance limits, or inspect the underside of a deck or balcony more than 14 feet above grade, or decide the load capacity of the framing, footings and piers.
• Roofs: the standard now says the inspector is not required to walk on roofs. The method used to inspect the roofing must still be stated in writing.
• Fireplaces and chimneys: the inspector is not required to carry out a chimney inspection such as an NFPA 211 Level I, II or III inspection.
• "In writing": many items are now to be described or stated in writing, such as the location of the main water and fuel shutoff valves.

Tools and specialized equipment

Section 16 is new. It says a home inspector may use reasonable and appropriate tools or equipment that, in their professional judgment, they need to do the inspection properly. It then lists specialized equipment the inspector is not required to use, including amp meters, pressure gauges, moisture meters, combustible gas or carbon monoxide detection equipment, thermal imaging cameras, environmental testing devices, elevation determination devices, ladders reaching surfaces more than one story above the ground, drain or sewer cameras, and drones. ASHI says the section was added for risk management.

State licensing comes first

ASHI's standard is set by a professional society, not by law. Section 2.1 of the 2026 standard says that where it and the law conflict, "the obligations of the law take precedence", and section 15.1.D says the standard does not limit an inspector from meeting state statutes that license home inspectors. ASHI's rationale says this makes clear that members must follow their state's regulations, while leaving them free to go further.

If your state licenses home inspectors, work to its law and rules, including any standards of practice they set, and treat the ASHI standard as an addition, not a replacement. The standard is a minimum: it says it does not stop you adding services, inspecting more systems, or excluding items at the client's request.

If you are buying a home

• Ask your inspector which standard of practice they work to, and which edition. Until January 1, 2027, ASHI's current standard is the 2014 edition.
• The 2026 standard defines a home inspection as a limited, visual, non-invasive examination of readily accessible systems and components. It is not technically exhaustive, and the inspector is not required to determine code compliance, remaining useful life, insurability, or the presence of mold or wood destroying insects.
• From January 1, 2027, a report to the ASHI standard describes the specified systems, including any deck or balcony and the garage or carport, and lists those present but not inspected, with the reason.

Where PropertySurvey Pro fits

With your region set to the United States, PropertySurvey Pro offers a Home Inspection workspace structured with reference to the ASHI and InterNACHI standards of practice. It is not endorsed by either association. Its report note says state licensing rules and standards of practice take precedence where they apply, and Texas inspectors can use the separate TREC workspace instead.

• System by system: roof, exterior, structure, heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, fireplaces, attic, insulation and ventilation, and interior, with items for decks, balconies, porches and railings, exhaust ventilation, and the garage or carport and its door opener. Survey standards in your region.
• Ratings and items not inspected: rate each item IN, RR or MD, mark items NI (not inspected) or NP (not present), and say why in your notes.
• Conditions on the day: record whether the utilities were on, who was present and how you inspected the roof: walked, from a ladder, from the ground or by drone.
• Summary first: the report opens with the inspection details, a summary and a table of defects, then safety concerns, then each system, and has a section for recommended further evaluation. Property inspection software in the USA.
• Dated evidence (Pro): print the date and time each photo was taken or added.

The workspace keeps heating and cooling as separate sections and attic, insulation and ventilation together, so when you move to the 2026 standard, check your notes cover the items it adds, such as deck ledger boards, a radiant barrier or knob and tube wiring.

PropertySurvey Pro records your findings, photos and notes, and produces your report. It is not an ASHI product, it does not decide what your state or the standard requires, and it makes no promise that an inspection or report meets any standard of practice.