Termite Inspection Report: What to Include + Template

A termite inspection report records who inspected which structure and when, what was inspected and what could not be reached, the evidence of termites or damage found and exactly where, the conditions that invite termites, a diagram, and your recommendations. Some states prescribe the form and its contents for wood-destroying organism (WDO) reports, so check your state's rule before you use any template. Below is a fill-in template that covers the common sections, and how to write each one so another inspector could find your findings again.

This post is about the report you write after inspecting a structure for termites. The visit-by-visit service report is a different document, covered in our pest control service report template. The full set of paperwork a pest company keeps is in pest control forms.

Termite report, WDO form or service report?

Four documents get mixed up, and they have different jobs:

Document	What it is for	Who sets the format
Termite inspection report	Your findings on a structure: evidence, damage, conditions, recommendations	You, unless your state prescribes it
State WDO or WDI form	A report on a state-approved form, often for real estate transactions	Your state's pest control regulator
Service report	What was done on a treatment visit	You, within your state's record rules
Chemical application record	What was applied, where, by whom	Your state's record rule

Some states require a specific form for some or all wood-destroying organism reports. California is a clear example: its Structural Pest Control Act requires a written inspection report conforming to Business and Professions Code §8516 and a form approved by the Structural Pest Control Board. If your state has a form like that, the template below is a field-notes tool and a checklist, not a substitute. Confirm with your state agency which form applies to your inspections.

What does a termite inspection report contain?

Good reports on any form share the same core parts. California's §8516 is one of the most detailed lists in state law, so it makes a useful benchmark. Under §8516(b), a California report sets out:

1. The start date of the inspection and the name of the licensed field representative or operator who made it.
2. The name and address of the person or firm ordering the report.
3. The name and address of the property owner and any party in interest.
4. The address or location of the property.
5. A general description of the building or premises inspected.
6. A foundation diagram or sketch of the structures inspected, with the approximate location of any infested or infected areas, and the parts of the structure where conditions would ordinarily subject them to attack.
7. Information on the substructure, foundation walls and footings, porches, patios and steps, air vents, abutments, attic spaces and roof framing, and the conditions likely to lead to infestation, such as earth-wood contact, excessive cellulose debris, faulty grade levels, excessive moisture, evidence of roof leaks and insufficient ventilation.
8. A bold statement on whether the exterior surface of the roof was inspected.
9. Any areas that were inaccessible or not inspected, with a recommendation for further inspection where practicable.
10. Recommendations for corrective measures.
11. Information on the pesticides to be used.

Even outside California, that list is a sound structure for any termite report you write.

Free termite inspection report template

Copy this into your own document or form builder. Fill in every line; write "none found" or "not inspected" rather than leaving a blank.

1. Inspection details

Field	Entry
Report number
Inspection date and start time
Inspector name
Inspector license or certification number and category
Company name, address, license number
Report type (original, supplemental, reinspection)
Original report date (reinspections only)

2. Parties and property

Field	Entry
Ordered by (name, address, phone)
Property owner (name, address)
Other parties in interest (buyer, agent, lender)
Property address
Structures inspected (house, garage, deck, shed)
General description (stories, construction, foundation types)

3. Areas inspected

Area	Inspected?	Access limits
Exterior foundation and slab edge
Crawl space or basement
Substructure: sills, joists, piers, subfloor
Porches, patios, steps, decks
Garage
Interior: baseboards, door and window frames
Attic and roof framing
Exterior roof surface
Other structures

4. Findings by area

Area and exact location	Evidence type	Live or old	Damage	Photo number

Evidence type codes: SW = swarmers or discarded wings, MT = mud tubes, HW = hollow or damaged wood found by probing, FR = frass or pellets, LT = live termites, OT = other.

5. Conducive conditions

Condition	Found?	Location	Recommendation
Earth-to-wood contact
Cellulose debris (wood scraps, firewood)
Faulty grade or poor drainage
Excessive moisture or plumbing leaks
Roof or gutter leaks
Blocked or insufficient ventilation
Plants or mulch against the structure

6. Inaccessible areas

Area	Why not inspected	Recommended action

7. Diagram notes

• Outline of each structure with approximate dimensions
• Foundation type for each section (slab, crawl space, basement)
• North arrow and the street side marked
• Each finding marked with its code and photo number
• Conducive conditions marked
• Inaccessible areas shaded

8. Recommendations

Finding or condition	Recommended corrective measure	Pesticide or method proposed

9. Statement and signature

Field	Entry
Statement required by your state, if any
Inspector signature and date
Date the report was delivered, and to whom

How do you write findings that hold up?

The test for a finding is simple: could another inspector walk to the same spot and see the same thing? "Termite activity in crawl" fails. "Mud tubes on the second pier from the north wall of the crawl space, active, photo 4" passes.

A sequence that keeps findings consistent:

1. Walk the exterior first, the same direction every time.
2. Then the substructure, then the interior and attic.
3. Record each finding when you see it, with the area, the exact spot, the evidence type and a photo number.
4. Probe exposed wood for hollow spots. The EPA's termite guide describes probing exposed wood with a flathead screwdriver or similar tool as one way to find termites.
5. Identify swarmers carefully. EPA notes that ant swarms are sometimes mistaken for termites: ants have front wings longer than the hind wings and bent antennae, while termite wings are roughly equal in length and antennae are straight.
6. Separate evidence from damage. Old damage without live termites is still a finding, but say which it is.

Our pest control inspection checklist covers the general pest walk-through; this report is the termite-specific document that follows it.

Which conducive conditions should you record?

Conditions are what turn a "no activity found" report into a useful one. California's §8516 names earth-wood contact, excessive cellulose debris, faulty grade levels, excessive moisture, evidence of roof leaks and insufficient ventilation. EPA's prevention guidance adds a few to check: grading, drainage, gutters and downspouts; cracks in the foundation and around utility penetrations; blocked vents; shrubs against exposed wood; and firewood or wood debris next to the house.

Give each condition a location and a plain recommendation a homeowner can act on.

How do you handle areas you could not inspect?

Say so, every time. Silence about a crawl space nobody entered implies it was inspected. Under §8516, a California report indicates any inaccessible or uninspected areas with a recommendation for further inspection where practicable, and if those areas are opened later, a supplemental report covers them. Even where your state does not require that, list each area, why you could not inspect it (stored items, no access panel, unsafe clearance) and what you recommend.