Alpharetta, GA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Under Section 4.4.6 of the Unified Development Code, the Building Official inspects construction in the City of Alpharetta at defined stages, and none may be skipped. The FOOTING inspection happens after trenches are excavated and cleaned, forms are erected and supported, and required reinforcing steel is secured in place, all before any concrete is placed. The SLAB-PREP inspection follows, after footings are placed, underground mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems have been City-inspected, approved, and backfilled, forms are erected, reinforcing is in place, rock base is set at below-grade slabs, and the vapor barrier is installed, again before concrete pours.

The FOUNDATION inspection covers concrete or masonry retaining walls and requires reinforcement and weep holes and piping sleeves in place with safe access provided for the inspector before concrete or grout is placed. Requests for these inspections go to the Building Inspection Division, and the building permit yard card must be posted and legible from the public street at all times; work cannot start until the card is posted, and lost or damaged cards must be replaced before further inspections proceed. If erosion control on the site is not being maintained per City Engineering Department requirements, inspectors will refuse to inspect at all and leave a Notice of Violation on the yard card until the permittee obtains a written release. Large or multi-floor buildings over 15,000 square feet may have mechanical and electrical wall/ceiling cover inspections performed in stages at the Building Official's discretion.