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Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION

Section 109 — INSPECTIONS

2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

[A] 109.1 General. Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the code official, and such construction or work shall remain visible and able to be accessed for inspection purposes until approved. Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid. It shall be the duty of the permit applicant to cause the work to remain visible and able to be accessed for inspection purposes. Neither the code official nor the jurisdiction shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection.

[A] 109.2 Preliminary inspection. Before issuing a permit, the code official is authorized to examine or cause to be examined buildings and sites for which an application has been filed.

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ADMINISTRATION

[A] 109.3 Required inspections. The code official, on notification, shall make the inspections set forth in Sections 109.3.1 through 109.3.11.

[A] 109.3.1 Footing or foundation inspection. Footing and foundation inspections shall be made after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any required forms shall be in place prior to inspection. Materials for the foundation shall be on the job, except where concrete is ready-mixed in accordance with ASTM C94, the concrete need not be on the job.

[A] 109.3.2 Concrete slab or under-floor inspection. Concrete slab and under-floor inspections shall be made after in-slab or under-floor reinforcing steel and building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place but before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.

[A] 109.3.3 Lowest floor elevation. For additions and substantial improvements to existing buildings in flood hazard areas, on placement of the lowest floor, including basement, and prior to further vertical construction, the elevation documentation required in the California Building Code, or the California Residential Code, as applicable, shall be submitted to the code official.

[A] 109.3.4 Frame inspection. Framing inspections shall be made after the roof deck or sheathing, framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, heating wires, pipes and ducts are approved.

109.3.4.1 Moisture content verification. [HCD] Moisture content of framing members shall be verified in accordance with the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), Chapter 4, Division 4.5.

[A] 109.3.5 Lath or gypsum panel product inspection. Lath and gypsum panel inspections shall be made after lathing and gypsum panel products, interior and exterior, are in place but before any plastering is applied or before gypsum panel product joints and fasteners are taped and finished.

Exception: Gypsum panels that are not part of a fire-resistance-rated assembly or a shear assembly.

[A] 109.3.6 Weather-exposed balcony and walking surface waterproofing. Where the scope of work involves balconies or other elevated walking surfaces that have weather-exposed surfaces and the structural framing is protected by an impervious moisture barrier, all elements of the impervious moisture barrier system shall not be concealed until inspected and approved.

Exception: [DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC] Where special inspections are provided in accordance with Section 1705A.1.1, Item 3 or Section 1705.1.1, Item 3, as applicable, of the California Building Code .

109.3.6.1 Weather-exposed balcony and walking surface (exterior elevated element) inspections for multifamily buildings with three or more dwelling units. [HCD 1 & HCD 2] Weather-exposed balconies and walking surfaces extending beyond the exterior walls of a building, more than 6 feet (1828.8 mm) above ground level, and that rely on wood or wood-based products for structural support or stability shall be inspected. Inspections shall be conducted in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 17973(a) through (f) and (m). Weather-exposed balconies and walking surfaces found to be in need of repair or replace- ment shall be corrected in accordance with Section 17973(g) through (i). Continued and ongoing maintenance of weather-exposed balconies and walking surfaces shall be the responsibility of the building owner in accordance with Section 17973(k). See defini- tion of “exterior elevated element” in Health and Safety Code Section 17973(b)(2) for additional details. See Civil Code Section 5551 for inspections of condominium projects.

[A] 109.3.7 Fire- and smoke-resistant penetrations. Protection of joints and penetrations in fire-resistance-rated assemblies, smoke barriers and smoke partitions shall not be concealed from view until inspected and approved.

[A] 109.3.8 Other inspections. In addition to the inspections specified in Sections 109.2 through 109.3.7, the code official is authorized to make or require other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this code and other laws that are enforced by the department of building safety.

Note: All noncompliant plumbing fixtures in any residential real property shall be replaced with water-conserving plumbing fixtures. Plumbing fixture replacement is required prior to issuance of a certificate of final completion, certificate of occupancy or final permit approval by the local building department. See Civil Code Section 1101.1, et seq., for the definition of a noncompliant plumbing fixture, types of residential buildings affected and other important enactment dates.

with water-conserving plumbing_ fixtures. Plumbing fixture replacement is required prior to issuance of a certificate of final completion, certificate of occupancy or final permit approval by the local building department. See Civil Code Section 1101.1, et seq., for the definition of a noncompliant plumbing fixture, types of residential buildings affected and other important enactment dates.

[A] 109.3.9 Special inspections. Special inspections shall be required in accordance with the California Building Code .

[A] 109.3.10 Flood hazard documentation. Where a building is located in a flood hazard area, documentation of the elevation of the lowest floor or the elevation of dry floodproofing, if applicable, as required in the California Building Code or the California Residential Code, as applicable, shall be submitted to the code official prior to the final inspection.

[A] 109.3.11 Final inspection. The final inspection shall be made after work required by the building permit is completed.

[A] 109.4 Inspection agencies. The code official is authorized to accept reports of approved inspection agencies, provided that such agencies satisfy the requirements as to qualifications and reliability.

[A] 109.5 Inspection requests. It shall be the duty of the holder of the building permit or their duly authorized agent to notify the code official when work is ready for inspection. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to provide access to and means for any inspections of such work that are required by this code.

[A] 109.6 Approval required. Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the code official. The code official, on notification, shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate the portion of the construction that is satisfactory as completed or shall notify the permit holder or an agent of the permit holder

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

ADMINISTRATION

wherein the same fails to comply with this code. Any portions that do not comply shall be corrected and such portion shall not be covered or concealed until authorized by the code official.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
  1. ▸ Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
    Overview
    1. Section 1.1 — GENERAL
    2. Section 1.2 — BUILDING STANDARDS COMMISSION
    3. Section 1.3 — BOARD OF STATE AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS
    4. Section 1.4 — DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS
    5. Section 1.5 — CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
    6. Section 1.6 — DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
    7. Section 1.7 — DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
    8. Section 1.8 — DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
    9. Section 1.8.2 — AUTHORITY AND ABBREVIATIONS
    10. Section 1.8.3 — LOCAL ENFORCING AGENCY
    11. Section 1.8.4 — PERMITS, FEES, APPLICATIONS AND INSPECTIONS
    12. Section 1.8.5 — RIGHT OF ENTRY FOR ENFORCEMENT
    13. Section 1.8.6 — LOCAL MODIFICATION BY ORDINANCE OR REGULATION
    14. Section 1.8.7 — ALTERNATE MATERIALS, DESIGNS, TESTS AND METHOD…
    15. Section 1.8.8 — APPEALS BOARD
    16. Section 1.8.9 — UNSAFE BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES
    17. Section 1.8.10 — OTHER BUILDING REGULATIONS
    18. Section 1.9 — DIVISION OF THE STATE ARCHITECT
    19. Section 1.10 — DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND INFORMATIO…
    20. Section 1.11 — OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL
    21. Section 1.12 — STATE LIBRARIAN
    22. Section 1.13 — DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES
    23. Section 1.14 — CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION
    24. Section 101 — SCOPE AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
    25. Section 102 — APPLICABILITY
    26. Section 103 — CODE COMPLIANCE AGENCY
    27. Section 104 — DUTIES AND POWERS OF CODE OFFICIAL
    28. Section 105 — PERMITS
    29. Section 106 — CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
    30. Section 107 — TEMPORARY USES, EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS
    31. Section 108 — FEES
    32. Section 109 — INSPECTIONS
    33. Section 110 — CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
    34. Section 111 — SERVICE UTILITIES
    35. Section 112 — MEANS OF APPEALS
    36. Section 113 — VIOLATIONS
    37. Section 114 — STOP WORK ORDER
    38. Section 115 — UNSAFE STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT
    39. Section 116 — EMERGENCY MEASURES
    40. Section 117 — DEMOLITION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
  4. Chapter 3A — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
  5. Chapter 4 — REPAIRS
  6. Chapter 4A — REPAIRS
  7. Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  8. Chapter 5A — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  9. Chapter 6 — CLASSIFICATION OF WORK
  10. Chapter 7 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 1
  11. Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 2
  12. Chapter 9 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 3
  13. Chapter 10 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
  14. Chapter 11 — ADDITIONS
  15. Chapter 12 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
  16. Chapter 13 — PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE METHODS
  17. Chapter 14 — RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS
  18. Chapter 15 — CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS
  19. Chapter 16 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  20. Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR THE SEISMIC RETROFIT OF EXISTING B…
  21. Appendix B — SUPPLEMENTARY ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXIS…
  22. Appendix C — GUIDELINES FOR THE WIND RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUIL…
  23. Appendix D — BOARD OF APPEALS
  24. Appendix E — TEMPORARY EMERGENCY USES
  25. Appendix A — GUIDELINES ON FIRE RATINGS OF ARCHAIC MATERIALS A…

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