(A) General. Before issuing a permit in accordance with requirements of this chapter, the Building Official may examine or cause to be examined the property upon which the improvement is to be made in connection with which an application has been filed.
(B) Duty to inspect. The Building Official shall conduct or cause to be conducted such inspections from time to time during and upon completion of the work for which he has issued such permits in accordance with this chapter, and as he may deem necessary to determine that the work is in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and the approved drawings and specifications. The Building Official shall maintain a record of all such examinations, inspections, and of all violations of the code.
(C) No duty to inspect. The Building Official has no duty to inspect work exempted from permit requirements in accordance with the Building Code, and not otherwise required by this chapter, nor any other work for which no permit has been issued.
(D) Inspection by others. The Building Official may accept in lieu of inspection by himself or his staff inspectors, reports of inspection for any part of the work regulated by this chapter by any third party approved by the Building Official to make such inspections.
(E) Inspection procedures. Inspections of the various stages of work must be called for by the applicant before covering any work, and be made at the direction of the Building Official.
(F) Notice. It shall be mandatory that the holder of a permit notify the proper inspection agency when work is ready for the various "called for" inspections required by the terms of the permit. Such notice shall be given within a reasonable time before the inspection is desired, but in no event less than 24 hours in advance. Notice given on Friday or on a day prior to a legal holiday shall not constitute notice for inspection on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, unless arrangements have been made for inspection on such days. Before giving such notice, the holder of the permit shall first test the work and satisfy himself that it conforms to the approved plans and specifications and the requirement of this chapter. Access to and means for inspection of such work shall be provided for by the owner or contractor. Work shall be accessible and exposed for inspection purposes.
(G) Action on notice. Upon receipt of notice that work is ready for inspection, the Building Department or agency shall inspect the work as soon as reasonably practicable. However, failure of the agency to make a prompt inspection shall not be deemed justification for covering work without inspection when such work is required to be inspected before being covered.
(H) Covering work. It shall be a violation of this chapter to cover any work prior to the inspections required under the provisions of a permit or the approved rules, unless a requested inspection has not been made within four days of the request. The Building Official shall require the holder of the permit to uncover any such work for inspection, and the cost of uncovering such work and of replacing the cover after the work has been found or made satisfactory shall be borne by the holder of the permit.
(I) Right of entry. Whenever necessary to make an inspection under this chapter, or to enforce any of the provisions of this chapter, or whenever the Building Official or his authorized representative has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in any structure or upon the premises dangerous, unsafe or substandard (as defined in the Building Code, Chapter 152) conditions, the Building Official or his authorized representative may enter such premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duty imposed upon the Building Official under this chapter.
(J) Final inspection and certificate. It shall be the duty of the Building Official to make or cause to be made a final inspection and examination of all structures and work regulated by this chapter hereafter erected, constructed, altered, repaired or added to, before any such structure is placed into use; and, if such a structure has been found to have been constructed in conformity to the provisions of the code, to issue a written certificate thereof to the owner as set forth below.
(1) Temporary occupancy. Upon the request of the holder of a permit, the Building Official may issue a temporary certificate of completion for a structure, or part thereof, before the entire work covered by the permit shall have been completed.
(2) The term of a temporary certificate of completion shall be at the discretion of the Building Official; but, in no case shall the term of the first issuance or extension of a temporary certificate of completion be longer than 30 days. An additional fee in accordance with Chapter 156 of the FPCO shall be paid by the owner or owner representative for the first temporary certificate of completion, and the fee shall be thereafter doubled for each extension of a temporary certificate of completion.
(3) The applicant will be subject to penalties provided in this chapter if he allows occupancy or use before final inspection has been made and a certificate of completion has been issued.
(Ord. 25-2019, passed 8-5-19)