Pasadena, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section 14.03.110.A makes construction or work requiring a permit subject to inspection by the Building Official, and requires it to 'remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved.' It is the permit applicant's duty to keep the work exposed; neither the Building Official nor the city is liable for the cost of removing or replacing material needed to allow an inspection.

Under subsection I, work cannot go beyond the point marked by each successive inspection without the Building Official's approval; a passed stage is a 'successful inspection,' and anything that fails must be corrected and stay uncovered until authorized. A final inspection and written approval from the division is required for every building or structure before it is lawfully used or occupied. Subsection H puts the burden on the person doing the work to request each inspection, in a manner the Building Official accepts, at least one business day beforehand; failing to schedule and complete required progress or final inspections is itself a violation of the administrative code.

Certain projects get extra scrutiny: Subsection C requires a licensed surveyor to certify building height against the approved plans on new construction when the city requires it, and Subsection E requires structural observation for buildings in seismic design category D, E, or F. Subsection J allows the Building Official to charge a reinspection fee when work isn't ready or ordered corrections weren't made, though the section is not meant to charge a fee the first time a job is rejected.