(A) Inspections of work in process. The Inspection Department shall inspect all buildings and structures and work therein for which a permit of any kind has been issued as often as necessary in order to determine whether the work complies with this chapter and the appropriate codes. When deemed necessary by the appropriate inspector, materials and assemblies may be inspected at the point of manufacture or fabrication or inspections may be made by approved and recognized inspection organizations. However, no approval shall be based upon reports of the organizations, unless the same are in writing and certified by a responsible officer of the organization. All holders of permits or their agents, shall notify the Inspection Department and the appropriate inspector at each of the following stages of construction, so that approval may be given before work is continued:
(1) Foundation inspection. To be made after trenches are excavated and the necessary reinforcement and forms are in place and before concrete is placed. Drilled footings, piles and similar types of foundations shall be inspected as installed.
(2) Framing inspection. To be made after all structural framing is in place and all roughing-in of plumbing and electrical and heating has been installed, after all fire blocking, chimneys, bracing and vents are installed, but before any of the structure is enclosed or covered. Poured-in-place concrete structural elements shall be inspected before each pour of any structural member.
(3) Fireproofing inspection. To be made after all areas required to be protected by fireproofing are lathed, but before the plastering or other fireproofing is applied.
(4) Final inspection. To be made after the building or structure has all doors hung and fixtures set and is ready for occupancy, but before the building is occupied.
(B) Calls for inspection. Request for inspections may be made to the office of the Inspection Department or to the appropriate inspector. The Inspection Department shall make inspections as soon as practicable after requests are made therefor, provided the work is ready for inspection at the time the request is made.
(1) Reinspections may be at the convenience of the Inspector. No work shall be inspected until it is in proper and completed condition ready for inspection. All work which has been concealed before the inspection and approval shall be uncovered at the request of the Inspector and placed in condition for proper inspection. Approval or rejection of the work shall be furnished by the appropriate inspector in the form of a notice posted on the building or given to the permit holder or his or her agent.
(2) Failure to call for inspections or proceeding without approval at each stage of construction shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
(C) Street or alley lines. Where the applicant for a permit proposes to erect any building or structure on the line of any street, alley or other public place, he or she shall secure a survey of the line of the street, alley or other public place adjacent to the property upon which the building or structure is to be erected, before proceeding with construction of the building or structure. It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to see that the building does not encroach upon the street, alley or other public place.
(D) Certificates of compliance. At the conclusion of all work done under a permit, the appropriate inspector shall make a final inspection and if he or she finds that the completed work complies with all applicable state and local laws and with the terms of the permit, he or she shall issue a certificate of compliance. No new building or part thereof may be occupied, no addition or enlargement of an existing building may be occupied and no existing building that has been altered or moved may be occupied, until the Inspection Department has issued a certificate of compliance. A temporary certificate of compliance may be issued permitting occupancy for a stated period of specified portions of the building that the Inspector finds may safely be occupied prior to final completion of the entire building. Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.
(G.S. § 160A-423)
(E) Periodic inspections. The Inspection Department shall make periodic inspections, subject to the Council's directions, for unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise hazardous and unlawful conditions in structures within its territorial jurisdiction. In addition, it shall make inspections when it has reason to believe that such conditions may exist in a particular structure. In exercising this power, members of the Department shall have a right to enter on any premises within the jurisdiction of the Department at all reasonable hours for the purposes of inspection or other enforcement action, upon presentation of proper credentials.
(1992 Code, § 150.54)
Statutory reference:
Periodic Inspections, see G.S. § 160A-424