Kauai County, HI Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section 110.1 makes any construction or work requiring a permit subject to inspection by the building official, and it puts the burden on the owner or the owner's authorized agent to keep the work visible and accessible for inspection until it is approved; approving one inspection does not excuse a violation elsewhere in the code. Section 110.3 directs the building official to make the inspections listed in Sections 110.3.1 through 110.3.11 and to either approve the completed portion of the work or notify the permit holder that it fails to comply.

Those numbered stages cover items such as the lowest-floor elevation check in flood hazard areas under Section 110.3.3, the load-path and uplift-tie inspection after framing anchors go in and before they are covered by sheathing under Section 110.3.3.1, and the lath, gypsum board, and gypsum panel inspection under Section 110.3.5, which must happen before plastering or taping. Section 110.3.9 gives the building official authority to require other inspections beyond that numbered list to confirm compliance with the code or other laws the code enforcement agency enforces.

Solar installations get their own inspection trigger under Section 110.1.1. To schedule any of these, Section 110.5 requires the permit holder or an authorized representative to notify the building official when work is ready; the official may require at least two working days notice, given in writing, by email, or by phone. Section 110.7 lets the building official charge a $50 reinspection fee when work called for inspection is not complete or corrections are not made, though not for a first-time rejection.