Building Permit Inspections: What Inspectors Check and When

Why Inspections Exist

Most of what makes a house safe is hidden: footings, framing connections, wiring, gas lines and drain slopes. Inspections exist so that a trained official sees that work before drywall, roofing or soil covers it. The IRC's administration chapter sets the framework: R109 lists required inspections, and R110 covers the certificate of occupancy for new dwellings. If work is covered too early, the inspector can require it to be uncovered.

The Usual Inspection Stages

1. Footing and foundation: after excavation and forms or reinforcement are in place, before concrete is poured. Common for decks, additions and ADUs.
2. Underground or under-slab: plumbing or electrical that will be buried.
3. Rough-in: framing plus rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical, before walls are closed. Trades may be inspected separately.
4. Insulation or energy: where the local code requires it.
5. Final: when the work is complete. A passed final closes the permit.

Simple jobs need fewer inspections. A re-roof may have a mid-roof or dry-in inspection and a final; Orlando's residential roof permit, for example, includes a dry-in inspection before the final. An HVAC change-out may need only a final.

What Inspectors Look For

Inspectors compare the work with the approved permit and the code. Typical checks include:

• The work matches the permit scope and any approved plans.
• Structural elements: footing depth, beam and joist sizes, connectors and fasteners.
• Fire and life safety: smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, egress, fire separation.
• Electrical: correct wire sizes, breakers, grounding and protection devices.
• Plumbing and gas: materials, slopes, venting and pressure tests.
• Mechanical: equipment sizing, venting, clearances and refrigerant connections.

Scheduling and Passing an Inspection

The permit holder, usually the contractor, requests each inspection through the city's portal or phone line. Baltimore publishes inspection guidelines that explain what must be ready at each stage. To pass the first time:

• Request the inspection only when that stage is fully complete.
• Make sure someone can give the inspector access.
• Have the permit number and approved plans ready.
• Fix corrections promptly and request a re-inspection. Some cities charge re-inspection fees; amounts vary by jurisdiction.

The Final Inspection Closes the Permit

The final inspection is the step most often skipped, usually because the homeowner did not know it was needed or the contractor moved on. A permit without a final stays open in the city's records and, under rules like IRC R105.5, may expire. An open or expired permit can surface during a sale, as described in Selling a House with Unpermitted Work: Risks and Options. Before making the final payment to a contractor, ask for proof that the final inspection passed.

You can check this yourself in the permit record; How to Read a Building Permit Record explains the status codes.

If an Inspection Fails

A failed inspection is normal and simply means corrections are needed. The inspector leaves a list; the contractor fixes the items and requests a re-inspection. If you disagree with a decision, ask the department about its appeal process. Under the IRC, the building official can also issue a stop work order (R114) if work is unsafe or proceeding contrary to the code.

Preparing the Site for an Inspector

• Access: clear paths to the work, ladders for roofs and attics, and pets secured.
• Documents: the permit card, approved plans and any product installation instructions or engineering letters.
• Visibility: do not cover framing, wiring, piping or footings that are due for inspection.
• Completeness: the stage should be finished. Partial work often leads to a failed inspection and a re-inspection fee.
• Safety: temporary guards on decks and stairs, and power safely off where the inspector needs to see live parts.

Remote and Video Inspections

Some departments offer virtual inspections for simple work, where the contractor or owner walks the inspector through the job on a video call. Availability and eligible work vary by jurisdiction; ask your department whether it offers them.

Keep the Records

Save inspection results with your house documents. They are the clearest evidence, years later, that the work was approved.

Building Departments in the Cities We Cover

Rules in this guide vary by jurisdiction. These are the official departments that issue residential permits in the 15 cities we track, with the city's open-data source for permit records. Each city page shows the rules for roofing, HVAC, solar, fence and deck work.

Before relying on any rule, read the department's current page or call its permit desk. Model-code sections cited here (such as IRC R105) are adopted locally, often with amendments.

Frequently Asked Questions