Your insurance company just told you it's sending an inspector to your apartment building. An apartment building insurance inspection is a risk review ordered by your insurer. It often starts with a look at the outside and may include the roof, common areas and a unit. The results can lead to repairs, a premium change or a coverage decision. It's separate from Dallas city inspections, although the same problems matter to both.
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What an Apartment Insurance Inspection Is
An insurance inspection is a review of your property, ordered by your insurer or carried out by an inspection company for it. The insurer uses it to check what you told it on your application and to spot hazards. Insurers handle it differently. Some look only from the street. Some walk the inside. Some use aerial images. Some ask you to send photos or video. Ask your agent or insurer which type applies to your building.
Apartment buildings add shared structure, shared systems and many households under one roof. That's why age, construction, fire protection, electrical and heating systems, maintenance and claims history may all come up.
Insurance Inspection vs. City and State Inspections
These are three different reviews with different goals:
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Insurance inspection. Your insurer orders it to check your application and assess risk against its underwriting standards. The result can be a premium change, required repairs or a coverage decision.
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City inspection. The City of Dallas checks compliance with its fire, building and housing codes. The result is a score, citations or required corrections.
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State inspection. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation sets the elevator rules. The owner must keep inspections and certificates current.
Passing one doesn't mean you'll pass another. A building can satisfy the city and still draw an insurer's recommendation on an aging roof.
What Insurance Inspectors Typically Look For
This is a typical list, not a promise of what your insurer will review. No single improvement guarantees lower premiums or approval.
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Roof. Age, leaks, patched or missing materials and hail damage. Prepare: keep roof records and repair known leaks.
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Fire protection. Smoke alarms, the fire alarm system, sprinklers, extinguishers, fire doors, and clear exits and stairways. Prepare: keep service reports, and don't block sprinkler heads or prop open fire doors.
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Electrical. Panels, exposed wiring, overloaded circuits and unqualified modifications. Prepare: have a licensed electrician review older buildings.
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Plumbing. Leaks, corrosion and water-heater condition. Prepare: keep a maintenance log and fix active leaks.
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Heating and air conditioning. Service records, and combustible items stored near equipment. Prepare: keep service contracts and keep mechanical rooms clear.
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Housekeeping and hazards. Trip hazards, handrails, lighting, clutter and storage. Prepare: walk the property with a checklist.
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Elevators. A current Certificate of Compliance. Prepare: display it and keep the inspection report.
Texas and Dallas Items to Check
Elevators: Annual Inspection and a Posted Certificate
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation says the owner of an elevator or related equipment must obtain an inspection every 12 months. The owner submits the inspection report and fees to the department to get a Certificate of Compliance, and displays that certificate in a publicly visible area of the building. The owner is also responsible for having cited violations corrected, or under contract to be corrected, within 30 days of the inspection, or for getting a waiver or delay.
The department can also order an owner to disconnect power to or lock out equipment if it finds imminent danger or if an annual inspection hasn't been done in more than two years. Keep these records where you can find them. An insurer may ask to see them.
The City of Dallas Multi-Tenant Inspection Program
Dallas runs its own program for apartments. Its Code Compliance pages say:
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It applies to properties with three or more dwelling units on a lot that are five years old or older, plus lodging and boarding houses, group residential facilities and extended-stay hotels and motels.
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Owners must register the property at least 30 days before the prior registration expires. Since October 1, 2025, the annual fee is $13 per dwelling unit, based on all units on site regardless of occupancy.
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Multi-tenant properties must be inspected at least once every three years.
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Required documents must be displayed to the public, including the Certificate of Occupancy and the Multi-Tenant Certificate of Registration. Missing one at a graded inspection is an administrative failure, and the City's page lists an invoice of $86 per unit on the property.
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A property that scores 90 or higher on an initial graded inspection and fixes every violation can qualify for the City's Self-Certification Program.
The violations Dallas can enforce include smoke alarms, exposed wiring, inoperable heating and air conditioning, hot water below 110 degrees Fahrenheit, water leaks, unsound stairs, rails or balconies, trip hazards, inadequate security lighting, broken windows and doors, and pool safety. The City says its code doesn't give it authority over mold or inoperable elevators, so elevator problems go through the state. Many of these items overlap with an insurer's checklist, so one clean-up serves both.
Dallas Codes
The City lists the 2021 International Fire Code with Dallas amendments as Chapter 16 of the Dallas City Code, effective February 10, 2023, and the 2021 International Building Code as Chapter 53. The electrical code is Chapter 56, based on the 2020 National Electrical Code with Dallas amendments. Sprinkler and other requirements depend on your building's use and the codes the City has adopted. Confirm them with the City or Dallas Fire-Rescue.
Hail and Flooding
North Texas weather is hard on roofs. The Insurance Information Institute reports 902 hail events in Texas in 2025, the most of any state. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Storm Events Database lists 16 hail events in Dallas County in 2025, 28 in 2024 and 51 in 2023, when 11 had hail two inches or larger. It also lists 44 flash flood events in Dallas County in 2025. For an apartment owner, roof age, condition and repair records are the first records to organize. Ask your agent how your property policy treats wind and hail, including any separate deductible.
Your Inspection Checklist
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Walk the building several weeks ahead. Fix roof leaks, trip hazards, lighting, handrails and broken doors or windows.
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Test and document life-safety systems. Smoke alarms, the fire alarm panel, sprinklers, extinguishers, fire doors and emergency lighting.
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Gather your records. Maintenance logs, sprinkler and alarm inspection reports, the elevator Certificate of Compliance, roof records, permits for upgrades, your City registration and Certificate of Occupancy, and your loss history.
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Confirm access. Be ready to provide entry to a unit and the roof.
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Tell residents about the visit and what to expect.
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Send documented upgrades to your agent before renewal, such as a new roof or an electrical, plumbing, sprinkler or alarm upgrade, so the insurer can consider them.
Common Mistakes
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Treating the city inspection and the insurer's inspection as the same thing. Each has its own standards and consequences.
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Fixing the problem but not keeping the record. An insurer can't credit work it can't see.
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Letting storage creep into exits and mechanical rooms.
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Skipping a repair after a recommendation. Insurers may set deadlines.
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Not telling your agent about upgrades. Documented improvements may influence how an insurer sees your building, though no credit is guaranteed.
What Happens After the Inspection
The insurer reviews the results. Depending on what it finds, it may adjust your premium, ask for repairs by a date, or decline to renew. Ask for any recommendations and deadlines in writing, and tell your agent when repairs are done.
Texas law sets some limits. The Texas Department of Insurance says licensed insurers writing commercial general liability policies may cancel after the first 60 days only for specific reasons. One is an increase in hazard within your control that would produce a rate increase. Insurers must also give at least 60 days' notice of nonrenewal and tell you the reason in writing. Property policy terms vary, so read yours. Our guide to Texas House Bill 2067 explains the newer written-reason rules. For what to do before renewal, see strategies to reduce apartment building insurance cost.
How Thumann Agency Helps Apartment Owners
We've worked with Dallas property owners since 1996. Your dedicated advisor reviews your building against what insurers look for, flags fixes and sends documented upgrades to your insurer before renewal. As an independent broker with access to more than 80 carriers, we compare options based on your building's age, roof, systems and loss history. See our apartment building insurance page and apartment building insurance guide. After an inspection, review your general liability and commercial umbrella limits too, since residents and visitors are your main liability exposure.
Been with the Thumann Agency for years, always have had great experiences. This year Holly has taken over my account and made some solid recommendations that have helped protect my interest more comprehensively.
Jeff Grenier, Owner, Grenier Properties | Google | ★★★★★
Talk to Us about your building and renewal date, or Get a Quote.
Frequently Asked Questions About Apartment Insurance Inspections
How much notice will I get before an inspector visits?
It varies by insurance company. Some inspections are drive-by reviews of the outside that don't need an appointment, while interior visits are usually scheduled. Ask your agent what to expect for your policy, and watch your mail and email for notices. If a date doesn't work, ask to reschedule rather than ignoring it.
Who should attend the inspection?
Send someone who knows the building: the owner, a property manager or a maintenance lead. They can open locked areas, answer questions about repairs and show service records. Have a staff member who can give access to the roof and a unit. Keep notes on anything the inspector mentions so you can follow up with your agent.
Will my premium go down after I make repairs?
Not necessarily, and no one can promise it. Repairs can help an insurer view your building more favorably, and documented work matters more than undocumented work. Pricing also depends on your building, claims history and the insurance market. Send proof of upgrades to your agent before renewal so it's part of the review.
What if I disagree with something the inspector found?
Ask for the finding in writing, then send your agent any records that answer it, such as a maintenance log, permit or repair invoice. Your agent can raise it with the insurer. If the issue is real, fixing it and documenting the fix is usually the faster path. You can also compare other insurance companies.
Does the inspection affect liability insurance as well as property insurance?
It can. An insurer looks at hazards that could hurt residents and visitors, such as trip hazards, lighting and handrails, as well as the condition of the building itself. Property and liability are separate coverages, and an insurance company may use findings in either one. Ask your agent which policies the inspection affects.
Need Help Getting Ready for an Inspection?
Tell us about your building's age, roof, systems and loss history. We'll compare insurers that write apartment buildings and help you prepare. Get a Quote or Call Us at (972) 991-9100.
Last Reviewed: October 2026
Author: Lauren Thumann Director of Marketing.
Sources: City of Dallas Code Compliance: Multi-Tenant Owners and Managers, City of Dallas: Current City Code, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Elevator Safety and Licensing Frequently Asked Questions, Texas Department of Insurance: Commercial General Liability Insurance, Insurance Information Institute: Facts and Statistics, Hail, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Storm Events Database
Disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or insurance advice, or a full description of any policy. Coverage terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions vary by carrier and by state, including Texas. Not all coverages or discounts are available in all states. Reviews and ratings are from verified customers and reflect their own opinions and experiences. For details about your specific needs, please contact Thumann Agency directly. Thumann Agency is licensed and operates under Texas Department of Insurance regulations. City and state inspection requirements and fees can change, so confirm them with the City of Dallas and the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.