Schedule All Required Inspections
Plan your inspection sequence from foundation through final. Whole home remodels require 10-20 inspections - missing or failing any can halt construction and delay occupancy. Build inspection milestones into your construction schedule from day one.
Quick Summary
Typical Count
10-20 inspections
For whole home remodel
Scheduling Lead Time
24-72 hours
Varies by jurisdiction
Re-Inspection Fee
$50-$200
After free attempts
Why Inspection Planning Is Critical
Inspections are the gatekeepers of your project. Work cannot proceed past certain points without inspection approval. Covering work before inspection means opening it back up - expensive, time-consuming, and completely avoidable with proper planning.
For whole home remodels, inspections create a cascade of dependencies. Framing inspection must pass before rough-in work begins. Rough-in inspections must pass before insulation. Insulation must pass before drywall. One failed inspection ripples through your entire schedule.
- Legal requirement: Uninspected work violates building code and can void insurance, block sales, and create liability
- Quality assurance: Inspections catch problems before they're hidden behind walls and impossible to fix cheaply
- Schedule driver: Failed inspections are a leading cause of construction delays
- Occupancy gate: Can't get certificate of occupancy without all inspections signed off
- Insurance requirement: Many policies require permitted and inspected work for coverage
- Resale impact: Unpermitted or uninspected work creates problems when selling home
Common Inspections for Whole Home Remodels
Foundation/Footing
Before concrete pourVerifies excavation depth, rebar placement, form dimensions, and soil conditions meet plans and code.
Tip: Schedule 24-48 hours before planned pour. Have engineered plans on-site. Concrete truck cannot wait for inspector.
Framing
After framing complete, before coveringChecks structural elements: studs, headers, beams, connections, blocking, shear walls, and fire stops.
Tip: Most complex inspection. Have plans, engineering, and hardware schedule available. Allow extra time.
Electrical Rough-In
After wiring, before drywallVerifies wire sizes, box fill, grounding, circuit protection, AFCI/GFCI locations, and proper installation.
Tip: Panel must be accessible with circuits labeled. All boxes visible with wires properly secured.
Plumbing Rough-In
After piping, before coveringChecks pipe sizes, venting, drainage slopes, water supply, and pressure testing.
Tip: System must hold pressure test. All cleanouts accessible. Venting visible through roof.
Mechanical Rough-In
After ductwork, before coveringVerifies duct sizes, returns, combustion air, equipment placement, and refrigerant lines.
Tip: Duct calculations and Manual J available. Fire dampers at all penetrations. Condensate routing clear.
Insulation
After insulation, before drywallChecks R-values, installation quality, vapor barriers, and air sealing per energy code.
Tip: No gaps or compression. Proper facing orientation. All penetrations sealed. Energy compliance docs ready.
Final Inspections
After work completeSeparate finals for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and building. Verifies complete, safe, code-compliant installation.
Tip: All fixtures installed and working. HVAC commissioned. Safety devices (smoke/CO) installed. Address visible.
Inspection Planning and Scheduling Process
Get Complete Inspection List at Permit Issuance
When your permit is issued, ask for a complete list of required inspections specific to your project. This list varies based on scope - additions require more inspections than interior remodels.
Review Your Permit Card
The permit card (posted on-site) lists required inspections. Each inspection has a sign-off line. Missing any prevents final sign-off.
Ask About Special Inspections
Structural work may require special inspections by third-party engineers (concrete, welding, etc.). These are in addition to building department inspections.
Understand Sequencing
Some inspections must occur in sequence. Framing before rough-ins. Rough-ins before insulation. Insulation before drywall. Know the order.
Build Inspections Into Construction Schedule
Work with your contractor to explicitly schedule inspection milestones. Don't assume inspections will happen between phases - plan specific dates with buffer time.
Sample Inspection Schedule Approach
Week 1-2: Demo and foundation work → Foundation inspection before pour
Week 3-5: Framing → Framing inspection, then 2-day buffer
Week 6-8: MEP rough-in → Separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical inspections
Week 9: Insulation → Insulation inspection before any drywall
Week 10-14: Drywall, finishes → Drywall inspection if required
Week 15+: Final work → Final inspections for each trade, building final
Pro Tip: Build 2-3 day buffer after each major inspection. If inspection fails, you have time to correct and re-inspect without delaying subsequent trades.
Prepare Thoroughly Before Each Inspection
A failed inspection usually means something was missed in preparation, not that the work is fundamentally wrong. Thorough pre-inspection verification prevents most failures.
Work Completeness Check
Have the responsible subcontractor verify their work is 100% complete before requesting inspection. Partial work will fail.
Accessibility
Inspectors need to see and access everything. Clear debris, provide lighting, have ladder available for attic/high work. Remove obstacles.
Documentation Ready
Have approved plans, engineering documents, equipment specs, and energy calculations on-site. Inspector may reference these.
Self-Inspection First
Walk the job yourself or with contractor looking for obvious issues: missing fire blocking, unsecured wires, gaps in insulation.
Schedule Inspections with Proper Lead Time
Each jurisdiction has different scheduling processes and lead times. Understand your local requirements and plan accordingly.
Scheduling Methods
- • Online portal (most common)
- • Phone call to inspection line
- • In-person at permit office
- • Automated phone system
Information Needed
- • Permit number
- • Property address
- • Inspection type requested
- • Preferred date/time window
Typical Lead Times
- Normal: 24-48 hours advance notice required
- Busy season: 3-5 business days
- Expedited (if available): Same-day or next-day for additional fee
Handle Inspection Day Effectively
What happens during the inspection affects outcomes. Being prepared and professional makes a difference.
Have Someone On-Site
Contractor or subcontractor should be present to answer questions, provide access, and understand any corrections needed.
Be Respectful of Inspector Time
Have site ready, documents available, and questions prepared. Inspectors have many stops - efficiency is appreciated.
Ask Questions
If you don't understand a correction or requirement, ask for clarification. Better to understand now than guess wrong.
Document Everything
Take notes on inspector comments, photograph any corrections noted. Get correction notice in writing if inspection fails.
Address Corrections and Re-Inspect Promptly
Failed inspections are normal - even experienced contractors get corrections. The key is addressing them quickly to maintain schedule.
Understand the Correction
Read correction notice carefully. If unclear, call the inspector for clarification. Don't guess at what they want.
Fix Promptly
Have contractor address corrections within 24-48 hours if possible. Delays compound quickly.
Document the Fix
Photo corrections before and after fixing. Inspector may ask to see specific corrections addressed.
Schedule Re-Inspection
Once corrections are complete, schedule re-inspection immediately. First re-inspection is usually free; additional ones have fees.
Pro Tip: If you have a good relationship with your inspector, ask if they can check the specific corrections during re-inspection rather than re-doing the entire inspection. This saves time and shows respect for their schedule.
Tracking Your Inspections
Create an inspection tracker to monitor status throughout your project. Include these columns:
| Inspection | Required Date | Scheduled | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | Before pour | 01/15 | Passed | - |
| Framing | After frame | 02/01 | Corrections | Missing fire stops |
| Electrical Rough | Before drywall | TBD | - | After framing re-inspect |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Not knowing which inspections are required
Consequence: Missed inspections, work that must be uncovered, potential permit revocation, certificate of occupancy denied
Prevention: Get complete inspection list from permit office before construction starts. Post list on-site for reference.
Scheduling inspections before work is ready
Consequence: Failed inspections, re-inspection fees, schedule delays, wasted inspector time, damaged reputation with inspector
Prevention: Have contractor or subcontractor verify work is 100% complete and accessible before scheduling inspection
Covering work before inspection
Consequence: Must open walls/ceilings to expose work, added cost, delays, potential code violations if work was non-compliant
Prevention: Never cover rough-in work until inspection passes. Build inspection points into schedule explicitly.
Not being present or available for inspections
Consequence: Missed questions from inspector, inability to make quick corrections, delays waiting for re-inspection
Prevention: Ensure contractor or knowledgeable representative is on-site for every inspection
Ignoring or delaying correction items
Consequence: Work backlog, complications when corrections affect subsequent phases, potential stop-work orders
Prevention: Address corrections within 24-48 hours. Track all corrections in writing. Schedule re-inspection promptly.
Not building inspection buffer into schedule
Consequence: Project delays when inspections take longer than expected or require re-inspection
Prevention: Build 2-3 day buffer after each major inspection milestone. Assume re-inspection may be needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many inspections are required for a whole home remodel?
A typical whole home remodel requires 10-20 inspections depending on scope. Common inspections include foundation, framing, electrical rough-in, plumbing rough-in, mechanical rough-in, insulation, drywall, and finals for each trade. Projects with additions or structural work require more.
How far in advance should I schedule inspections?
Most jurisdictions require 24-48 hours advance notice. During busy seasons, this may extend to 3-5 days. Some jurisdictions offer same-day inspections for additional fees. Build 48-72 hour minimum buffer between requesting and receiving inspection.
What happens if I fail an inspection?
Failing requires correction and re-inspection. The inspector provides a correction notice listing deficiencies. Your contractor fixes issues, then you schedule re-inspection. Most jurisdictions allow 1-2 free re-inspections; additional ones incur fees ($50-$200).
Can work continue after a failed inspection?
It depends on severity. Minor corrections allow work to continue while fixing issues. Major issues may halt work until resolved. Never cover failed work - drywall over failed electrical must be opened for re-inspection.
Who schedules inspections - me or my contractor?
Your general contractor typically schedules inspections as part of their scope. However, you as permit holder are ultimately responsible. Verify your contract specifies this responsibility. Track inspection status regardless of who schedules.