Inspection checklist
Get the inspection sequence for your scope, in the order they have to happen.
What this tool does and does not do. It reasons over general US building-code practice and routes you to your own jurisdiction's official page. It does not know your local exemption thresholds, fee amounts or review times, and it does not invent them. The office with jurisdiction is the only authority on those.
The order matters more than the list
Each inspection has to happen before the work it covers is concealed. Rough-in electrical, plumbing, mechanical and framing all have to be visible when the inspector arrives, which is why insulation and drywall over uninspected rough work is the most expensive mistake on a residential project — the only remedy is to open it back up.
The cutoff nobody mentions
Most offices operate a daily cutoff for next-day inspections and it is often earlier than people expect. Requests after it roll to the following business day. Ask what yours is when the permit is issued; it is the easiest scheduling mistake to avoid and one of the most common.
Being ready
An inspector who arrives to find work incomplete records a failure and usually triggers a reinspection fee. Before booking, confirm the stage is genuinely finished, the approved plans and permit card are on site, and access is clear — including to crawl spaces and attics.
The final inspection is the one people forget
A very large share of open permits exist because the work finished, everyone moved on, and nobody called for the final. Treat it as a distinct task with a named owner rather than assuming the contractor handled it, and get the finaled permit or certificate of occupancy in writing. An unfinaled permit becomes the next owner's problem and surfaces at sale.
Our inspections guide covers what to do after a failure and how to dispute a correction.