East Palo Alto Municipal Code Art. V Inspections

Editor's note— Ord. No. 334, § 4, adopted July 20, 2010, repealed § 15.04.260, entitled, "Inspection requirement" which derived from Prior code § 9-1.501.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 334, § 4, adopted July 20, 2010, repealed § 15.04.270, entitled, "Types of inspection" which derived from Prior code § 9-1.502.

Inspections shall be made as follows:

A. Inspections other than those listed in subsection B of this section shall be made in accordance with the following principles:

1. That portion of any construction, work and equipment intended to be concealed by any permanent portion of the building shall not be concealed until inspected and approved.

2. When any construction, work or equipment is complete, a second or final inspection shall be made.

B. The inspections listed in this article shall be made at the times described:

1. A foundation inspection shall be made after trenches are excavated and forms erected and when all materials for the foundation are delivered on the job. Where concrete from a central mixing plant (commonly termed "transit mixed") is to be used, materials need not be on the job.

2. A frame inspection shall be made after the roof, all framing, fire-blocking and bracing are in place and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete.

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

4. A final inspection shall be made after construction is completed and the structure is ready for occupancy.

(Prior code § 9-1.503)

The building inspector shall not be liable for any expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow an inspection.

(Prior code § 9-1.504)

No construction, work and equipment regulated by these codes shall be connected to any energy, fuel or power supply until authorized by the building inspector.

(Prior code § 9-1.505)

A. The building inspector, upon notification from the permit holder or his/her agent, shall make appropriate inspections and shall either approve that portion of the construction, work or equipment as complete or shall notify the permit holder or his agent that the same fails to comply with the adopted building codes.

B. The building inspector may require that every request for inspection is to be filed at least one day before such inspection is desired. Such request may be in writing or by telephone at the option of the building inspector.

C. It shall be the duty of the person requesting any inspection to provide access to and means for proper inspection of all work.

(Prior code § 9-1.506; Ord. No. 426, 12-17-2019)

Work requiring a building permit shall not be commenced until the permit holder or his agent shall have posted an inspection record card in a conspicuous place on the front of the premises and in such position as to allow the building inspector conveniently to make the required entries thereon regarding inspection of the work. This card shall be maintained in such position by the permit holder until the building or structure is completed and ready for occupancy.

(Prior code § 9-1.507)

No work shall be done on any part of the building or structure beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the written approval of the building inspector. Such written approval shall be given only after an inspection shall have been made of each successive step in the construction indicated by each of the inspections required in this article.

(Prior code § 9-1.508)

There shall be a final inspection and approval on all buildings when completed and ready for occupancy. A final inspection approval may, upon notice, be revoked by the building inspector if he/she finds construction, work or equipment fails in any respect to comply with the requirements of these codes, or that the installation is unsafe, dangerous or a hazard to life or property.

(Prior code § 9-1.509)

The building inspector may require such other inspections as described in this section:

A. A survey of any lot may be required by the building inspector to verify compliance with approved plans.

B. In addition to the inspections specified above, the building inspector may make or require any other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this code, the construction codes, and other applicable laws enforced by the building department.

(Prior code § 9-1.510)

The building inspector shall make reinspections as provided in this article and may charge fees therefor as are authorized in this article:

A. Where an inspection has found any work or construction to be incomplete or not to conform with this code and the construction codes, a reinspection is required.

B. To obtain a reinspection the applicant shall file an application therefor in writing upon a form furnished for that purpose and pay the reinspection fee assessed, if any.

C. A reinspection fee may be assessed by the building inspector where the reinspection is made necessary by:

1. A failure to post the permit card properly on the work site;

2. The unavailability to the inspector of the approved plans;

3. A failure to provide access to the inspector on the date for which inspection is requested;

4. Unauthorized deviation from plans;

5. Request for inspection made prior to the time the work to be inspected is complete;

6. A failure to make the corrections called for on previous inspections.

D. Where reinspection fees have been assessed, no additional inspection of the work will be performed until the required fees have been paid.

(Prior code § 9-1.511)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 334, § 4, adopted July 20, 2010, repealed § 15.04.370, entitled, "Special inspections" which derived from Prior code § 9-1.512.