Building Final Inspection Guide
Show the completed project, confirm that prior inspection items have been addressed, and make sure all required final documents, certificates and approvals are properly on file.
Show Us the Project Is Ready to Close Out.
Building Final is not a repeat of every prior inspection. Most systems should already have been reviewed during their respective inspection stages. The final review focuses on overall completion, unresolved items, required final conditions and closeout documentation.
Projects vary. Your final may involve different trade finals, certificates, agency approvals and completion items. Use this guide to confirm that the items required for your project are complete and properly recorded.
If a previous inspection had a correction, deficiency or pending item, make sure it was reinspected, documented or otherwise cleared as required. The inspection record should reflect that the issue has been resolved.
If a certificate, report or agency approval is required, make sure it has been submitted to the proper building department or agency and is reflected in the permit or inspection record. If Permit Rockstar needs a copy for the inspection, include it with your submission.
Show us the completed project.
Start with a slow walkthrough showing the finished work included in the permit.
Show whichever applies:
- Completed exterior
- Completed interior areas
- Finished openings
- Stairs, guards or handrails
- Attic or crawl access
- Final exterior grading or access conditions, where applicable
- Any other completed building work included in the permit
Check every prior correction or pending item.
Review the inspection history and make sure all previous corrections, incomplete items and inspector comments have been addressed.
Before requesting final approval:
- Review prior failed or correction-required inspections
- Confirm required corrections were completed
- Confirm required reinspections were performed
- Confirm engineering letters or other requested documentation were submitted
- Confirm pending inspection comments are resolved
- Make sure the inspection record reflects the cleared condition
If Permit Rockstar is reviewing a specific prior correction, include clear photos or documentation showing the completed work.
Make sure required trade finals are complete.
Building Final does not replace separately required trade inspections. Confirm the applicable trade finals have been completed or otherwise satisfied as required by the permit.
This may include:
- Electrical Final
- Plumbing Final
- Mechanical Final
- Gas Final
- Pool Final
- Fire-related inspections
- Other specialty or agency inspections
The applicable permit or inspection record should show that required trade inspections have been completed.
Make sure required certificates are on file.
Review the permit requirements and previous inspection notes for certificates or documents that must be submitted before final approval.
This may include, where applicable:
- Termite treatment certificate
- Final elevation certificate
- Flood-related documentation
- Energy-related documentation
- Special inspection reports
- Engineering letters or affidavits
- Product or installation certifications
- Testing reports
- Other project-specific certificates required by the permit
Make sure the document was not only obtained, but also submitted where required and properly associated with the permit record.
Make sure outside agency approvals are complete.
Some projects require approval from agencies outside the building department before the permit can be fully closed.
This may include:
- Health Department approval
- Fire Department approval
- Utility or service approvals
- Environmental approvals
- Floodplain or other agency approvals
- Other jurisdiction-specific closeout requirements
Make sure the required approval is submitted to the proper agency or building department and is reflected in the project record.
Show us the final visible safety and access conditions.
Show the visible building conditions that remain relevant at final inspection.
This may include, where applicable:
- Stairs
- Handrails
- Guards
- Required landings
- Exterior doors and exits
- Attic or crawl access
- Safety glazing locations
- Other visible life-safety or access conditions
Only show the items that are part of your project and relevant to the Building Final.
Confirm address and project identification.
Where address identification or other final project identification is required, make sure it is installed and visible.
This may include:
- Street address
- Unit or suite identification
- Required building identification
- Other project-specific identification
Show us anything still unusual, pending or project-specific.
If the project has a special condition, late revision, deferred item or anything that was handled differently from the typical construction sequence, make sure it is clearly documented.
This may include:
- Late plan revisions
- Engineer-approved changes
- Special inspections
- Deferred submittals
- Corrections completed near project closeout
- Unusual final conditions
- Anything else the inspector should know before closing the permit
Before You Submit
Take a few minutes to make sure the project is truly ready for final approval.
- Is the permitted building work complete?
- Did you review all prior inspection corrections and pending comments?
- Have required corrections been reinspected or otherwise cleared?
- Are required Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical, Gas, Pool or other trade finals complete where applicable?
- Is the termite treatment certificate on file where required?
- Is the final elevation certificate on file where required?
- Are Health Department, Fire Department or other agency approvals complete where applicable?
- Are required engineering letters, affidavits, testing reports or special inspection documents on file?
- Did you show the applicable final safety and access conditions?
- Is required address or project identification installed?
- Are late revisions, deferred items and special conditions fully resolved?
- Does the permit or inspection record accurately reflect the completed status of the project?
That's It.
Submit the applicable final photos and documentation through Permit Rockstar, and make sure all required certificates, approvals and prior inspection corrections are properly reflected in the permit record. The final review is about confirming the project is complete and ready to close.
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