Okaloosa County, FL Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Foundation inspection
- After trenches excavated and forms erected
- Framing inspection
- After roof, framing and rough utilities in place
- Roofing inspection
- Covers dry-in, insulation, coverings, flashing
- Final inspection
- Required before occupancy
- Stop-work order
- Issued for unsafe or noncompliant work (§ 115.1)
- Violation penalty
- 2nd-degree misdemeanor, per day (§ 114.1)
Summary
Okaloosa County's Administrative Construction Code, Section 110.3, sets the inspection sequence for every unincorporated-area building permit: foundation, framing, sheathing/dry-in, roofing and a final inspection before occupancy, plus a four-stage sequence for pools. The building official controls timing, and Section 115 lets the official issue an immediate stop-work order on any job proceeding unsafely or out of compliance.
[A] 110.3 Required inspections. The building official upon notification from the permit holder or his or her agent shall make the following inspections, and shall either release that portion of the construction or shall notify the permit holder or his or her agent of any violations which must be corrected in order to comply with the technical codes. The building official shall determine the timing and sequencing of when inspections occur and what elements are inspected at each inspection. Building 1.Foundation inspection. To be made after trenches are excavated and forms erected and shall at a minimum include the following building components: Stem-wall, Monolithic slab-on-grade, Piling/pile caps, Footers/grade beams... 2.Framing inspection. To be made after the roof, all framing, fireblocking and bracing is in place, all concealing wiring, all pipes, chimneys, ducts and vents are complete... 4.Roofing inspection. Shall at a minimum include the following building components: Dry-in, Insulation, Roof coverings, Flashing 5.Final inspection. To be made after 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
3 of the county's Administrative Construction Code. Once the permit holder or an agent notifies the building official that work is ready, the official either releases that stage of construction or flags violations that must be corrected before work continues, and the official controls the timing and sequence of every inspection on the job. For a typical single-family or commercial building the sequence runs foundation inspection (after trenches are excavated and forms erected, covering stem-walls, monolithic slabs, piling/pile caps and footers/grade beams), framing inspection (after roof, framing, fireblocking and bracing are up and rough wiring, piping, chimneys, ducts and vents are complete), sheathing/dry-in inspection, roofing inspection (covering dry-in, insulation, roof coverings and flashing), and a final inspection before the structure can be occupied.
Swimming pools get their own four-stage sequence: excavation/rebar/bonding, electrical grounding, underground plumbing pressure test, and a final check of the pool-safety enclosure. 1 makes it the owner's or agent's duty to keep the work accessible and exposed until each inspection is approved, and an approval never authorizes a code violation elsewhere on the project. 3.
Violations & Fines
Building without the required inspections, or continuing after a stop-work order under Section 115.1, is enforced two ways. Section 114.1 makes any violation of the Administrative Construction Code, including uninspected or noncomplying construction, a second-degree misdemeanor, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. Section 115.3 separately penalizes anyone who keeps working after a stop-work order is served, aside from work directed to remove the unsafe condition. The building official can also withhold the certificate of occupancy until every required inspection has passed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What inspections does a new house in unincorporated Okaloosa County need?
Can the building official stop work on my project?
What happens if I skip a required inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Okaloosa County
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