diff --git a/app/routes/inspections.py b/app/routes/inspections.py
index 12b7fd9..75a9581 100644
--- a/app/routes/inspections.py
+++ b/app/routes/inspections.py
@@ -383,6 +383,16 @@ def start():
     if not form.facility_id.choices:
         form.facility_id.choices = [('', '— no facilities —')]
 
+    # Seed area choices for the currently selected facility
+    selected_facility_id = form.facility_id.data if form.is_submitted() else (
+        _session.get('reinspect_facility_id') or (facilities[0].id if facilities else None)
+    )
+    if selected_facility_id:
+        areas = Area.query.filter_by(facility_id=selected_facility_id).order_by(Area.name).all()
+    else:
+        areas = []
+    form.area_id.choices = [(0, '— No specific area —')] + [(a.id, a.name) for a in areas]
+
     if not form.is_submitted():
         if _session.get('reinspect_template_id'):
             form.template_id.data = _session['reinspect_template_id']
@@ -409,10 +419,11 @@ def start():
 
         from flask import session as _session
         parent_id = _session.pop('reinspect_parent_id', None)
+        chosen_area_id = form.area_id.data if form.area_id.data and form.area_id.data != 0 else None
         inspection = Inspection(
             template_id          = template.id,
             facility_id          = form.facility_id.data,
-            area_id              = None,
+            area_id              = chosen_area_id,
             inspector_id         = current_user.id,
             inspection_date      = now_eastern(),
             status               = 'in_progress',
diff --git a/app/templates/inspections/start.html b/app/templates/inspections/start.html
index 61f4901..2dab55c 100644
--- a/app/templates/inspections/start.html
+++ b/app/templates/inspections/start.html
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@
             </div>
           </div>
 
+          <div class="mb-3" id="areaGroup" style="display:none;">
+            {{ form.area_id.label(class="form-label fw-semibold") }}
+            {{ form.area_id(class="form-select", id="areaSelect") }}
+          </div>
+
           <div class="d-grid">
             <button type="submit" class="btn btn-primary btn-lg">
               <i class="bi bi-play-fill"></i> Begin Inspection
@@ -52,14 +57,49 @@
   const facilitySel = document.getElementById('facilitySelect');
   const spinner     = document.getElementById('facilitySpinner');
   const emptyMsg    = document.getElementById('facilityEmpty');
+  const areaGroup   = document.getElementById('areaGroup');
+  const areaSel     = document.getElementById('areaSelect');
 
-  function loadFacilities(projectId, selectedFacilityId) {
+  const FACILITIES_URL = `{{ url_for('inspections.facilities_for_project', project_id=0) }}`.replace('/0', '/');
+  const AREAS_URL      = `{{ url_for('inspections.areas_for_facility', facility_id=0) }}`.replace('/0', '/');
+
+  function loadAreas(facilityId, selectedAreaId) {
+    if (!facilityId) {
+      areaGroup.style.display = 'none';
+      areaSel.innerHTML = '<option value="0">— No specific area —</option>';
+      return;
+    }
+    fetch(AREAS_URL + facilityId)
+      .then(r => r.json())
+      .then(data => {
+        if (data.length === 0) {
+          areaGroup.style.display = 'none';
+          areaSel.innerHTML = '<option value="0">— No specific area —</option>';
+        } else {
+          areaSel.innerHTML = '<option value="0">— No specific area —</option>';
+          data.forEach(a => {
+            const opt = document.createElement('option');
+            opt.value = a.id;
+            opt.textContent = a.name;
+            if (selectedAreaId && a.id === selectedAreaId) opt.selected = true;
+            areaSel.appendChild(opt);
+          });
+          areaGroup.style.display = '';
+        }
+      })
+      .catch(() => {
+        areaGroup.style.display = 'none';
+      });
+  }
+
+  function loadFacilities(projectId, selectedFacilityId, selectedAreaId) {
     if (!projectId) return;
     spinner.classList.remove('d-none');
     emptyMsg.classList.add('d-none');
     facilitySel.disabled = true;
+    areaGroup.style.display = 'none';
 
-    fetch(`{{ url_for('inspections.facilities_for_project', project_id=0) }}`.replace('/0', '/' + projectId))
+    fetch(FACILITIES_URL + projectId)
       .then(r => r.json())
       .then(data => {
         facilitySel.innerHTML = '';
@@ -74,6 +114,7 @@
             if (selectedFacilityId && f.id === selectedFacilityId) opt.selected = true;
             facilitySel.appendChild(opt);
           });
+          loadAreas(facilitySel.value, selectedAreaId);
         }
       })
       .catch(() => {
@@ -86,18 +127,25 @@
   }
 
   projectSel.addEventListener('change', function () {
-    loadFacilities(this.value, null);
+    loadFacilities(this.value, null, null);
+  });
+
+  facilitySel.addEventListener('change', function () {
+    loadAreas(this.value, null);
   });
 
   // On page load: if project already selected (e.g. validation error or reinspect),
-  // reload facility list preserving the currently selected facility value.
+  // reload facility list preserving the currently selected facility and area values.
   const initProject  = projectSel.value;
   const initFacility = facilitySel.value ? parseInt(facilitySel.value, 10) : null;
+  const initArea     = areaSel.value ? parseInt(areaSel.value, 10) : null;
   if (initProject) {
-    // Only reload if facility list looks like a placeholder (no real numeric id in options)
     const hasRealOptions = Array.from(facilitySel.options).some(o => parseInt(o.value, 10) > 0);
     if (!hasRealOptions) {
-      loadFacilities(initProject, initFacility);
+      loadFacilities(initProject, initFacility, initArea);
+    } else {
+      // Facilities already rendered server-side — just load areas for the selected facility
+      if (initFacility) loadAreas(initFacility, initArea);
     }
   }
 })();
diff --git a/app/utils/forms.py b/app/utils/forms.py
index a24d19c..2c51328 100644
--- a/app/utils/forms.py
+++ b/app/utils/forms.py
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ class StartInspectionForm(FlaskForm):
     template_id  = SelectField('Template', coerce=int, validators=[DataRequired()])
     project_id   = SelectField('Contract', coerce=int, validators=[DataRequired()])
     facility_id  = SelectField('Facility', coerce=int, validators=[DataRequired()])
+    area_id      = SelectField('Area', coerce=int, validators=[Optional()])
 
 
 class ChecklistResultForm(FlaskForm):