Chico Municipal Code Ch. 16.14 Building Regulations - Inspections, Surveys, and Tests

All work on a building or structure, building service equipment, or a sign for which a permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title shall be subject to the inspections, surveys, and tests required by this chapter, and the right of the building official or other person designated by or pursuant to this chapter to make such inspection, survey or test to enter upon the premises where such work is being performed for the purpose of conducting the inspection, survey, or test shall be a condition of the issuance of such permit. Where an inspection, survey, or test is required at a particular stage of any work for which a permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title, the person to whom the permit was issued shall not cause or permit additional work to be performed beyond the state at which such inspection, survey, or test is required until the inspection, survey, or test has been made and the work approved.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part))

A. Inspection by Building Official. The building official shall make the following inspections of all work on a building or structure for which a basic building permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title and, following such inspection, shall either approve the work to be inspected as complying with the basic building standards adopted by Chapter 16.06 of this title or shall notify the permit holder or an authorized agent of the reasons why such work fails to comply with same. Where reinforcing steel or structural framework has been constructed in any building or structure to be inspected, the building official shall make such inspection prior to the time such reinforcing steel or structural framework is covered or concealed.

1. Foundation Inspection. A foundation inspection shall be made after trenches are excavated and forms erected and when all materials for the foundation are delivered to the work site. Provided that, where concrete from a central mixing plant is to be used, the materials need not be inspected at the work site.

2. Concrete Slab or Underfloor Inspection. A concrete slab or underfloor inspection shall be made after all in-slab or underfloor building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories, and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is poured or floor sheeting installed, including the subfloor.

3. Frame Inspection. A frame inspection shall be made after the roof, all framing, fireblocking, and bracing are in place; all pipes, chimneys, and vents are complete; and the rough electrical, plumbing, and heating wires, pipes, and ducts are approved.

4. Lath or Wallboard Inspection. A lath or wallboard inspection shall be made after all lathing and wallboard, interior or exterior, is in place but before any plastering is applied or before wallboard joints and fasteners are taped and finished.

5. Final Inspection. A final inspection shall be made after finish grading on the building is completed and ready for occupancy.

B. Inspections by Fire Chief. The fire chief shall make a fire and life safety inspection of all work on a building or structure for which a basic building permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title, other than a building or structure classified as a Group R, Division 3 or Group M occupancy by the basic building standards adopted by Chapter 16.06 of this title, when work on such building or structure is complete. Following such inspection, the fire chief shall either approve the work being inspected as complying with the fire and life safety regulations adopted by this code or the laws of this state, or shall notify the permit holder or an authorized agent of the reasons why such building or structure fails to comply with same.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part), Ord. 2268)

The building official shall make an inspection of all building service equipment for which an electrical permit, mechanical permit, or plumbing permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title when the installation of such building service equipment is completed, and shall either approve the building service equipment being inspected as complying with the standards for building service equipment adopted by Chapter 16.06 of this title or shall notify the permit holder or an authorized agent of the reasons why such building service equipment fails to comply with same. When the building service equipment to be inspected will be enclosed by any permanent portion of a building or structure, then the building official shall make an additional inspection of such building service equipment prior to the time it is covered or concealed.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part), Ord. 2268)

The building official shall make an inspection of all signs for which a sign permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title when the installation of such sign is completed, and shall either approve the sign being inspected as complying with the sign standards adopted by Chapter 16.06 of this title or shall notify the permit holder or an authorized agent of the reason why such sign fails to comply with same. When the sign to be inspected is a ground-mounted or pole- mounted sign requiring a footing, the building official shall make an additional inspection of such sign when such footing is in place.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part), Ord. 2268)

All buildings or structures, building service equipment, or signs for which a permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title shall be subject to any special inspection required by the building standards adopted by Chapter 16.06 of this title. Such special inspections shall be carried out by a qualified person who has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the building official, the competence to conduct an inspection of the particular type of construction or operation requiring a special inspection. All costs and expenses of such special inspection shall be borne by the permit holder.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part), Ord. 2268)

All buildings or structures, building service equipment, or signs for which a permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title shall be subject to any other inspection in addition to those hereinbefore required by this chapter which are determined by the building official to be necessary in order to ascertain whether such building or structure, building service equipment or sign complies with the building standards adopted by Chapter 16.06 of this title.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part))

It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder or an authorized agent to request the building official or other designated inspector to make any inspection on a building or structure, building service equipment, or sign required by this chapter. Such request may be oral or in writing but shall be made not less than 24 hours prior to the time the inspection is desired unless the building official or other designated inspector waives such requirement for good cause shown.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part), Ord. 2268)

It shall be the responsibility of the permit holder and any agent of the permit holder to provide the building official or other designated inspector with safe and convenient access to any work for which an inspection is required by this chapter as well as all facilities and assistance necessary for the building official or other designated inspector to make such inspection. When an inspection required by this chapter will entail the removal or replacement of any material or any portion of a building or structure, mechanical service equipment, or a sign, such removal or replacement shall be carried out by the permit holder or an authorized agent and all costs of such removal or replacement shall be borne by the permit holder.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part), Ord. 2268)

Work on any building or structure for which a basic building permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title shall not be commenced until the permit holder or an authorized agent has posted an inspection record card provided by the building official at the time of the issuance of such permit in a conspicuous place at the site of such work in such a position to allow the building official or other designated inspector to conveniently make the required entries thereon regarding inspection of such work. The inspection record card shall be maintained in such position until the final inspection of such work has been made and all such work approved by the building official.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part), Ord. 2268)

Following the final inspection of a building or structure, building service equipment or sign for which a permit is required by Chapter 16.10 of this title, the building official shall endeavor to inform the Butte County Assessor of such final inspection not less than 15 days after the date such final inspection was made.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part))

A. An inspection fee may be assessed and levied by the building official incident to the inspection of the work on any building or structure, building service equipment or sign as required by this chapter if, at the time the requested inspection is made:

1. The work to be inspected is not complete or previously required corrections to such work have not been made;

2. The work to be inspected deviates, in a significant manner, from the approved plans and specifications for such work;

3. The approved plans and specifications for such work are not readily available to the building official at the work site;

4. Safe and convenient access to the work to be inspected is not provided to the building official; or

5. An inspection record card is not posted at the work site. Provided that, this section shall not be interpreted as requiring inspection fees the first time the work to be inspected is rejected or for failure to comply with any building standards adopted by this chapter, but as controlling the practice of calling for an inspection prior to the time the work is ready for such inspection.

B. Inspection fees assessed by the building official pursuant to this chapter shall be in an amount set forth in a schedule of inspection fees established by resolution of the city council and shall be paid prior to any further inspections required by this chapter.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part))

Prior to the issuance of a permit for a building or structure, building service equipment or sign or at the time of conducting an inspection of same, the building official may require a survey to be made of the lot or parcel on which such building or structure, building service equipment, or sign is or will be located when necessary to determine whether the building or structure, building service equipment, or sign complies with approved plans and specifications. All such surveys shall be conducted by a licensed surveyor and all costs and expenses of such surveys shall be borne by the permit holder.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part))

Prior to the issuance of a permit for a building or structure, building service equipment or sign or at the time of making an inspection of same, the building official may require such tests to be made as may be necessary in order to determine whether the building or structure, building service equipment or sign, or any of the materials or methods of construction used therein, comply with the standards adopted by Chapter 16.06 of this title. Such tests shall be conducted in accordance with the test protocols established by the building standards adopted by Chapter 16.06 of this title or by other recognized test methods; provided that in the absence of such standards or other recognized test methods, such tests shall be carried out in accordance with test protocols established by the building official. All such tests shall be conducted by an approved agency and all costs and expenses of such tests shall be borne by the permit holder.

(Ord. 1646 §6 (part))