Norfolk, VA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

1-74 governs the inspection stage of Norfolk's Dwelling Occupancy Permit program. 1-75. Following the inspection, the official hands the owner or agent a written list of any violations that must be corrected before the unit can legally be occupied again. That inspection report has a shelf life: if correction of the cited violations is not commenced or diligently pursued within six months of the initial inspection, the report becomes invalid and the unit must be reinspected from scratch before a permit can issue. 1-74(b) direct that the occupancy permit be issued to the applicant.

1-75 lets the official set up expedited special inspection procedures, available only on the owner's or agent's own application, for three situations: an occupied unit due to be vacated within 60 days, a structure holding multiple dwelling units, or a newly constructed or rehabilitated structure. 1-77 by showing a written contract or affidavit committing to finish the work by a stated date and by satisfying the property maintenance code official that the delay is reasonable and the work can proceed safely with the unit occupied; the official reinspects the unit on or before that temporary permit's expiration.

Every inspection step in this chain, the initial inspection, the six-month diligence check, and any temporary-permit reinspection, is carried out by the same official who ultimately signs the occupancy permit, tying inspection results directly to whether a unit may be lawfully occupied.