FAQ’s About Building Inspectors
What’s the Role of a Building Inspector? A building inspector’s role is to survey completed construction projects to ensure that they are in compliance with building ordinances.
Who Do They Work For? Most frequently, building inspectors are affiliated with regional governmental agencies & planning offices.
What’s Their Purpose? Building inspectors are there to verify that a minimum level of quality and safety are being followed at the construction site.
How Do They Know That Work is Being Performed? Once a construction permit is pulled, a building inspector will be informed.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire One? The funds to pay them come through construction permits.
What Happens if My Project Passes Inspection and a Safety Issue Occurs Later? The building inspector, along with the government agency they represent, could be held responsible. This is part of the reason building inspectors have a reputation of being meticulous.
How Often Will They Visit the Jobsite? The answer to this is all dependent on the scope of the work being performed. If it’s a new construction project, they may come out at various checkpoints to make sure the work is being completed in alignment with building codes. If it’s a one day job, such as new roof, they may only visit when the work is finished.
How Does an Inspector Know the Work Has Been Completed? The contractor who pulled the permit calls the issuing agency and lets them know that the project has been completed and that they may visit the job site.
How are Jobs Graded? Jobs are graded on a pass/fail basis.
Who Needs to Be Present for an Inspection? This varies by project, but if the inspector does not need access to the interior of a home (think siding or a roof) they can simply visit the site without supervision after they have been notified the project is finished.
How Do I Know if My Project Passed Inspection? The inspector will sign off on the building permit. They do not call the contractor to inform them that they passed.
