Getting a building permit is just the beginning. To close out a permit and legally occupy or use your completed project, you need to pass the required inspections. Understanding how inspections work — and what inspectors are actually looking for — takes the mystery out of the process.
How Building Inspections Work
When you pull a permit, the permit itself specifies which inspections are required and at what stages of construction. For a deck, you might have a footing inspection and a final inspection. For a full addition, you might have foundation, framing, rough plumbing, rough electrical, insulation, and final inspections — each one must pass before work can proceed to the next phase.
To schedule an inspection, contact your building department — most now have online scheduling portals or phone systems. You typically need to provide your permit number, the type of inspection requested, and a preferred date. Inspectors usually arrive within a 4-hour window on the scheduled day, so plan to have someone at the site.
What Inspectors Are Actually Looking For
Building inspectors are not trying to find reasons to fail your project. Their job is to verify that the work meets the building code requirements specified in your permit. They check specific, objective items — not subjective quality judgments. An inspector won't comment on whether your tile looks nice; they will check that your electrical panel has proper clearance, your smoke detectors are in required locations, and your structural connections use the specified hardware.
Common inspection items by type: Footing inspections check dimensions, rebar placement, and that the hole is below frost depth. Framing inspections check header sizes, joist spacing, connection hardware, and shear wall requirements. Rough electrical inspections check wire gauges, box fill calculations, and AFCI/GFCI protection. Rough plumbing inspections check pipe sizes, slope, and pressure testing results. Final inspections check everything is complete, operational, and matches the approved plans.
The Most Common Reasons Inspections Fail
The most common cause of failed inspections is work that doesn't match the approved plans. If your permit was approved for a 12x16 deck and you built a 14x20 deck, the inspector will fail the inspection and require either a plan revision or bringing the structure back to the approved dimensions. Always build to your approved plans, and if you need to make changes, pull a plan revision before making them.
Other common failures: missing or incorrect connection hardware (the wrong joist hanger or missing hurricane ties), electrical work that doesn't meet AFCI/GFCI requirements, missing permits for sub-trades (inspector arrives and plumbing has been done without a plumbing permit), and work that's been covered before inspection (drywall installed over rough plumbing that hasn't been inspected yet).
How to Prepare for Each Inspection
Have your permit and approved plans on site and accessible. Most cities now use electronic permit cards, but inspectors may still want to see the permit posted. Make sure the work to be inspected is accessible — don't have equipment or materials blocking what the inspector needs to see. For structural inspections, don't install any covering (drywall, sheathing) until after the inspection. For final inspections, make sure all systems are operational and testable.
If you're using a contractor, they should handle inspection scheduling as part of their service. If you're acting as your own general contractor, build inspection lead times into your schedule — most departments require 24–48 hours notice, and backlogs in busy periods can push inspections out further.
What Happens If You Fail an Inspection
A failed inspection is not a disaster — it happens, and the process for addressing it is straightforward. The inspector will leave a correction notice listing the specific items that need to be addressed. Fix the listed items, then request a re-inspection. Most re-inspections focus only on the items listed in the correction notice. There may be a small re-inspection fee, but the overall process continues normally.
The key is to address corrections promptly. If you disagree with an inspector's citation, you can request a meeting with the supervising inspector to discuss the interpretation. Most code disputes can be resolved by providing documentation showing your approach meets the code requirement — sometimes through an alternative compliance path.
Closing Out Your Permit
After all required inspections pass and the final inspection is signed off, your permit is closed. For new construction or significant additions, the building department issues a Certificate of Occupancy (CO), which is the legal document authorizing the space to be occupied. Keep your CO — you'll need it when you sell, and it documents that the work was done legally and to code.