Yuba County Municipal Code Art. 6 Inspections, Connection to Utilities, and Certificate of Occupancy

Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the Building Official and such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved. All approved construction documents shall be onsite for each inspection. 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 Yuba County. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this Code or of other ordinances of the County shall not be valid. It shall be the duty of the permit applicant to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Neither the Building Official nor the County shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection.

(1) Inspection requests. It shall be the duty of the holder of the building permit or their duly authorized agent to notify the Building Official when work is ready for inspection. Inspections will generally be performed the following business day after the request has been received, except that Inspections may be performed the same business day when requested through the County's automated IVR system no later than 7:00 a.m. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to provide access to and means for inspections of such work that are required by this Code.

(2) Inspection approval required. Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the Building Official. The Building Official, upon notification, shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate the portion of the construction that is satisfactory as completed, or notify the permit holder or his or her agent 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 Building Official. Where the Building Official has previously cited work to be corrected and a new inspection reveals noncompliance, the Building Official may apply a fee for reinspection.

(Ord. No. 1527)

The building official, upon notification, shall make the inspections set forth in Sections A. through H. and/or Section 10.05.620. The job-site inspection card issued along with the building permit and County approved plans shall be on site for each inspection that has been schedule with the building department.

A. Footing and foundation inspection. Footing and foundation inspections, including property line setback distance, shall be made after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel and anchor bolts are 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 C 94, the concrete need not be on the job.

B. Concrete slab and under-floor inspection. Concrete slab and under-floor inspections shall be made after 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.

C. Structural shear and roof inspection. Structural shear and roof inspections shall occur after the structure has been framed and sheeted, and before any exterior weather proofing or roof coverings are installed. All bolts, hold downs, structural straps, clips, hangers, and any other seismic resisting elements of the structure shall be in place prior to inspection.

D. Frame inspection. Framing inspections shall be made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, and mechanical are installed.

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

E. Lath and gypsum board inspection. Lath and gypsum board inspections shall be made after lathing and gypsum board, interior and exterior, is in place, but before any plastering is applied or gypsum board joints and fasteners are taped and finished.

1. Exception: Gypsum board that is not part of a fire-resistance-rated assembly or a shear assembly.

F. 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.

G. Energy efficiency inspections. Shall include, but not be limited to, inspections for envelope insulation R- and U-values, fenestration U-value, duct system R-value, and HVAC and water-heating equipment efficiency.

H. Green building standards. Shall include, but not be limited to: design, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource efficiency and environmental quality.

I. Final inspection. The final inspection shall be made after all work required by the building permit is completed. The final inspection shall not be made prior to the Building Department receiving all development approvals from all reviewing departments and agencies.

1. Operation and maintenance manual. At the time of final inspection, a manual, compact disc, web-based reference or other media acceptable to the enforcing agency shall be placed in the building in accordance with the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), Chapter 4, Division 4.4.

(Ord. No. 1527; Ord. No. 1586)

(a) Preliminary inspection. Before issuing a permit, the Building Official is authorized to examine or cause to be examined buildings, structures and sites for which an application has been filed. The Building Official may charge the department's hourly rate for time spent during the preliminary inspection.

(b) Special inspection. In addition to the inspections specified in Section 10.05.610, the Building Official is authorized to make or require special inspections or any other inspections of any construction work including accepting reports of approved inspection agencies, provided such agencies satisfy the requirements as to qualifications and reliability to ascertain compliance with the provisions of this Code and other laws that are enforced by the building department.

(c) Reinspections. Where the work for which an inspection has been requested has not been completed, or where the work has not remained accessible or exposed, or where necessary construction documents are not onsite and available for the inspector at the time of inspection, the Building Official may require a fee for reinspection to be assessed and paid prior to any new inspections being made.

(Ord. No. 1527)

Where public utilities are within 300 feet of the property line of a development (existing or new), the building or structure to be served shall be connected to such utility.

A. Permanent approval. Connections from a utility, source of energy, fuel or power to any building or system that is regulated by this code for which a permit is required, shall require approval by the building official. A green, adhesive-backed, authorization tag with the words "Acceptance Notice" shall be affixed to the service equipment and/or piping as close as practicable to the service utility connection to the site being served.

B. Temporary connection. The building official shall have the authority to authorize the temporary connection of the building or system to the utility source of energy, fuel or power. Temporary utilities shall either be made permanent within 180 days of authorization or the installation shall be considered hazardous and the building official shall cause such service to be disconnected. For the purposes of this section, "permanent" shall mean where a final inspection has been made and a permanent green Acceptance Notice tag has been affixed to the service entrance.

C. Authority to disconnect service utilities. The building official shall have the authority to authorize disconnection of utility service to the building, structure or system in case of emergency where necessary to eliminate an immediate hazard to life or property or when such utility connection has been made without a permit authorizing such connection. The building official shall give notice to the serving utility of his/her decision to disconnect along with the reason for the disconnection. Except during an emergency or when there is an immediate hazard, the building official shall also give notice to the owner and/or occupant of the building, structure or service system of the decision to disconnect prior to taking such action. If not notified prior to disconnecting, the owner or occupant of the building, structure or service system shall be notified in writing, as soon as practical thereafter.

(Ord. No. 1527; Ord. No. 1586)

No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made, until the Building Official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefore as provided herein. Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of this Code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 1527)

(a) After the Building Official inspects the building or structure and finds no violations of the provisions of this Code or other laws that are enforced by the building department, the Building Official shall issue a certificate of occupancy.

(1) Exception. The Building Official is authorized to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy before the completion of the entire work covered by the permit, provided that such portion or portions shall be occupied safely. The Building Official shall set a time period during which the temporary certificate of occupancy is valid.

(2) Certificate of Occupancy are not required for:

a. Work exempt in Section 10.05.410.

b. Building or structures accessory to single family dwellings.

(b) The Certificate of Occupancy shall contain the following:

(1) The building permit number.

(2) The address of the structure.

(3) The name and address of the owner.

(4) A description of that portion of the structure for which the certificate is issued.

(5) A statement that the described portion of the structure has been inspected for compliance with the requirements of this Code for the occupancy and division of occupancy and the use for which the proposed occupancy is classified.

(6) The name of the Building Official.

(7) The edition of the code under which the permit was issued.

(8) The use and occupancy.

(9) The type of construction.

(10) The design occupant load, where applicable.

(11) If an automatic sprinkler system is provided, whether the sprinkler system is required.

(12) Any special stipulations and conditions of the building permit.

(Ord. No. 1527)

(a) The Building Official is authorized to, in writing, suspend or revoke a certificate of occupancy or completion issued under the provisions of this Code wherever the certificate is issued in error, or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or where it is determined that the building or structure or portion thereof is in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of this Code.

(b) Where no Certificate of Occupancy has been issued or where the Certificate of Occupancy has been revoked pursuant to this Code, the building or structure shall not be occupied or used and shall be considered dangerous and unsafe to occupy and may be posted as such.

(Ord. No. 1527)