Tehama County, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Inspection stages
- 5: foundation, slab, frame, lath, final
- Notice required
- 1 working day before inspection
- Enforcing agency
- Tehama County Building Official
- Reinspection
- Fee charged per fee schedule
Summary
Tehama County requires five staged inspections, foundation, slab or under-floor, framing, lath/wallboard, and final, before a building permit closes, and each stage must be approved before work is covered up.
Foundation Inspection. To be made after excavations for footings are completed and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any required forms shall be in place prior to inspection. All materials for the foundation shall be on the job, except when concrete ready-mixed in accordance with UBC Standards No. 19-3, the concrete need not be on the job. Where the foundation is to be constructed of approved treated wood, additional inspections may be required by the building official.2.Concrete Slab or Under-Floor Inspection. To be made after all in-slab or under-floor building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place but before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed, including the sub floor.3.Frame Inspection. To be made after the roof, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, and heating wires, pipes, and ducts are installed.4.Lath and/or Wallboard Inspection. To be made after all lathing and wallboard, interior and exterior, is in place but before any plastering is applied or before wallboard joints and fasteners are taped and finished.5.Final Inspection. To be made after finish grading and the building is completed and ready for occupancy.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
Tehama County Code § 15.02.370 sets five required inspection stages: foundation (after footing excavation and rebar placement), concrete slab or under-floor (before concrete or subfloor goes down), frame (once roof, framing, and rough electrical/plumbing/HVAC are installed), lath/wallboard (before plaster or taping), and final (when the building is complete and ready for occupancy). Work cannot proceed past a stage, and framing or rebar cannot be covered, until the building official approves it. Inspection requests must be filed at least one working day ahead. This covers unincorporated county construction only. Red Bluff, Corning, and the City of Tehama run their own building departments.
Violations & Fines
Covering framing or reinforcing steel before it is inspected, or occupying a building before final inspection, violates § 15.02.370 and can trigger a recorded notice of noncompliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cover framing before it's inspected?
How much notice does the inspector need?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tehama County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tehama County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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