Building Inspections

CITY HALL WILL BE CLOSED ON TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY,  DECEMBER 24TH & 25TH FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS.

CITY HALL WILL ALSO BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1ST FOR THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.

NO BUILDING INSPECTIONS WILL BE PERFORMED OR SCHEDULED ON THOSE DATES. 

Inspection Scheduling

Complete the following steps to schedule and receive a Building inspection. NOTE: Multiple inspections or inspections by other departments may be required. Please read this web page in its entirety for more info, or get help by calling 707-778-4479.

  1. Request a building inspection on the Permits & Planning Hub, by email at [email protected], or by phone - 707.778.4479. Scheduling takes place within 24 hours during regular business hours (Mon-Thurs.).
  2. Inspections are performed Monday - Thursday ONLY.  If a Friday inspection is needed, pending staff availability, one can be scheduled for a minimum fee of $508.00. Please request Friday inspections via phone call in advance.
  3. The next day inspection cut off time is 2:00pm.  Schedule before 2:00pm for a next day inspection (by 2:00pm Thursday for a Monday inspection).
  4. Check the daily inspection schedule posted here. Look for your name (or applicant name), address, and inspection order number.
  5. Use the chart below to find your estimated inspection time frame. Allow a 2-hour window for estimated inspection time frame.

Inspection Order Number

 

Inspection Time Frame (estimated)

0-10

7am – 8am

11-20

8am – 9am

21-30

9am – 10am

31-40

10am – 11am

41-50

11am – noon

51-60

Noon – 1pm

61-70

1pm – 2pm

71-80

2pm – 3pm

81-90

3pm – 4pm

91-100

4pm – 5pm

What We Do

We inspect construction to assure that it meets building code and is completed according to approved plans.

How We Work - Inspection Procedures

Once construction plans and documents have been approved and the proper permits have been issued, work may begin. At specific stages of construction, the permit applicant or the contractor must call 707.778.4479, email [email protected], or log into the City's Permits & Planning Hub to request a building inspection. Note: The first time you use our online system you will have to sign up as a Registered User to get access to online services such as applying for a permit or scheduling an inspection. There is no cost to register.

Approval for that phase must be obtained prior to construction of the next phase of the project. The following are examples of required inspections:

  1. A foundation inspection after excavations for footings or piers and grade beam are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, forms shall be in place along with any required bolts, anchors or straps.
  2. An under-slab inspection after all piping, equipment, conduit, etc. is installed, but before any concrete is placed. An additional slab inspection will be required for any reinforcing steel, base fill material, required bolts, anchors or straps.
  3. For a raised wood floor system, an under-floor inspection of framing, piping, ducts, conduit, equipment, etc. is required. An additional inspection of required thermal insulation is required before installing subfloor sheathing. A floor diaphragm nailing inspection may be required before building walls.
  4. A roof sheathing and shear wall sheathing inspection prior to concealment.
  5. A close-in inspection after all framing, fire blocking, and bracing are in place, including weather barrier on roof and walls and all plumbing, electrical, and mechanical installations are roughed in and ready for inspection and testing.
  6. A wall, ceiling, or roof/ceiling thermal insulation inspection including sealing of gaps and holes. See the California Energy Commission.
  7. A lath and/or gypsum board inspection after all lathing and gypsum board are in place, but before any plaster is applied and before gypsum board joints and fasteners are taped and finished.
  8. A final inspection after all the permitted work has been completed.

If you are not sure of the inspection requirements for your project, contact your inspector. This inspection card must be posted at the job site until the project is completed and has passed the final inspection.

Final Inspections

If you are requesting a final inspection for a project that added new fire sprinklers or changed existing fire sprinklers, you must notify the Fire Marshal’s office separately at 707.778.4389 for a fire inspection.

Please leave the following information on the recording:

  1. Project address (including subdivision and lot number if applicable)
  2. Permit number
  3. Your name and company
  4. Your daytime phone number so we can reach you if needed
  5. Type of inspection requested, i.e., foundation, close-in, etc.
  6. Date inspection requested

Note: Inspections will be scheduled on the day requested between 8:00 AM and noon and 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Specific times cannot be given.

Other Inspections or Special Inspections

In addition to inspection by City staff, special inspections by other professionals may be required. These additional inspections are noted on approved plans. For example, new structures require an inspection by a soils engineer prior to pouring the foundation. Also, ongoing field observation by the structural engineer on the project may be required for residential construction and is required for all nonresidential construction.

building plans
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