Bothell, WA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Bothell Municipal Code § 20.02.160(A) puts all permitted construction under inspection by the building official and requires the work to stay accessible and exposed until approved. The permit applicant carries that duty, and neither the building official nor the City of Bothell pays to remove or replace material needed to allow inspection. An approval never counts as approval of a violation of the code.

Subsection D lists the stages, each made upon notification. The footing and foundation inspection comes after poles or piers are set or trenches or basement areas are excavated, with hold-down anchor bolts, straps, forms and reinforcing steel in place. The concrete slab and under-floor inspection comes before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed. In flood hazard areas the lowest floor elevation certificate goes to the building official before further vertical construction. Exterior wall sheathing and roof sheathing are inspected after framing is complete and before covering, and no roof coverings go on until the roof inspection is approved. The rough-in inspection covers mechanical, gas piping, plumbing and electrical work, and no connections to primary utilities are allowed until it is approved. Flashing and weather barrier, lath and gypsum board, and fire- and smoke-resistant penetrations are each inspected before concealment. The frame inspection happens once the roof deck, wall sheathing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and the building is substantially dried in.

The permit holder must tell the building official when work is ready (§ 20.02.195). Under § 20.02.200, work cannot go past the point of each inspection without approval, and failed portions must be corrected and stay uncovered until authorized. A final inspection follows completion of all permitted work (§ 20.02.185), and a certificate of occupancy comes after (§ 20.02.205).