Brookhaven, GA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Brookhaven Code § 7-170(a) makes all permitted work subject to inspection by the building official and requires it to remain accessible and exposed until approved. The permit applicant carries that duty, and neither the building official nor the city is liable for the expense of removing material to allow inspection. Inspections are performed by the building official or designee, qualified third-party inspectors can be used only with prior written approval, and combination inspections require every affected trade to be ready before the inspection is requested. New construction and demolition also need pre-construction and final site inspections by the city land development inspector under chapter 14.

The building sequence in § 7-170(f)(1) is foundation and slab inspection, before concrete is placed and with silt and erosion controls functional; a foundation survey by a registered land surveyor for new single family residences, approved before concrete is poured; waterproofing, before backfill of crawl space or basement foundation walls; pre-cladding and sheathing; roof felt and sheathing; framing (rough), before insulation or wall coverings; and a final inspection before the certificate of occupancy issues. Electrical and plumbing each have underground and slab, rough-in and final stages, plumbing adds testing under section 312 of the International Plumbing Code, mechanical has underground, rough-in and final, gas has rough-in, final piping with a gas pressure test, and final, and energy has insulation and final.

The permit holder or agent must notify the building official when work is ready and provide safe access. Under § 7-170(o), work cannot proceed beyond the point of each successive inspection without approval, and failed portions must be corrected and stay uncovered until authorized. Re-inspection fees apply under § 7-170(p) when a correction was not made, the job was not ready, the structure was not accessible, work was covered, or a stop work order requires re-inspection. Entry is between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. with consent or an inspection warrant issued by a municipal court judge under § 7-171. A certificate of occupancy under § 7-143 waits on the final inspections.