The closeout process for a commercial construction project is the culmination of an incredible amount of planning and labor. This is particularly true for one of the last steps of closeout: the final inspection.
The final inspection is an inspection by a local zoning authority or building department to make sure a building fully complies with local codes, usage regulations, and safety requirements. The final inspection is usually the last requirement for obtaining a certificate of occupancy and is done after all work has been completed, permits have been closed, and other inspections have been conducted.
In this article, we will take a look at how to prepare for a final inspection, what building inspectors usually look for, and common things that could go wrong.
Table of contents
Passing a final inspection is a crucial part of keeping closeout on schedule and on budget. Because a final inspection takes place after work is done, addressing major issues — such as faulty wiring that’s covered up by walls — can be extremely time-consuming and expensive.
The final inspection is meant to check the safety of buildings that have been newly constructed, converted to a different usage classification, had major renovations, or are changing ownership. The inspection is done by a licensed inspector from the local building authority who will check for compliance to codes and laws that weren’t reviewed in other inspections, such as the placement of address numbers, as well as making sure all issues from other inspections, like electrical or plumbing, have been resolved.
Passing the final inspection is almost always a requirement for obtaining a certificate of occupancy (CO) and closing all work permits, both steps that must be completed if the owner ever wants to sell the building. A CO is required in most places for a building to be used at all. For contractors, obtaining a CO is often connected to receiving final payment or retainage.
Preparing to pass a final inspection is a long process that requires diligence throughout the construction process. It starts when designers submit building plans to the local building authority, which only approves plans if they comply with codes and laws. Those plans must then be followed at every stage of construction by builders and subcontractors.
While that might sound intimidating, there are a few things that general contractors can always do to prepare for a final inspection.
Before a final inspection can even be conducted, the building must first pass a number of other, smaller-scale inspections that are required to close specific work permits. These inspections are done at strategic times during construction to make addressing issues manageable. Some work permits require an inspection while work is in progress, often called a rough or rough-in, and another when it’s done. For example, many places require a rough electrical inspection when the building is partially done and electrical boxes are in place, and a final electrical inspection when all work is done and walls have been put up. Some places, like Nassau County in Florida, will provide different checklists for the rough electrical and the final electrical.
These prerequisite inspections should ensure there are no surprises at the final inspection, and passing them should mean the building is already up to, or nearly up to, code. It’s important to check with the local building authority to see which inspections are needed. Some inspections are extremely specific, such as lowest floor elevation inspections which are required for buildings in flood hazard areas such as Scottsdale, Arizona.
Some places, like Montgomery County, MD, will provide lists of all potential inspections and what each one will focus on. Which ones are required depends on the building and where it’s located. Here are common types done before a final inspection:
