Philadelphia, PA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Section A-402 of the Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code sets the inspection sequence for every permit. Before a permit issues, the code official may run a preliminary inspection of the building, structure or site (A-402.2). Once work starts, A-402.9 bars covering or concealing any work "beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the code official"; the inspector either signs off on the completed portion or tells the permit holder where it fails to comply, and noncompliant work "shall not be covered or concealed until authorized by the code official." The permit holder must give notice of the start of work not less than 24 hours and not more than 14 calendar days before beginning permitted work (A-402.8.1); if work does not start within 14 days of that notice, the holder must report the delay and give an updated start date.

Required inspections are broken out by permit type in A-402.10: building permits cover footing/foundation, concrete slab or under-floor, lowest floor elevation in flood hazard areas, framing, wallboard, fire-resistant penetrations, energy efficiency and accessibility (A-402.10.1.1 through .1.9); plumbing, fuel gas/mechanical and electrical permits each require underground, rough-in and final stages (A-402.10.2 through .10.4); residential permits require foundation, rough system, floodplain, and frame/masonry inspections (A-402.10.5); demolition permits require an initial site-safety inspection at least 48 hours before work begins, a progression inspection per floor, an adjacent-wall inspection, a pre-final inspection and a final inspection (A-402.10.6.1 through .10.6.5); fire suppression permits require underground, rough-in and final stages plus documentation of final testing (A-402.10.7).

At the close of the job, A-402.5 requires a final inspection before a certificate of occupancy or final approval issues, performed by persons certified under Commonwealth of Pennsylvania regulations for the applicable trade; any noted violations trigger a re-inspection to confirm the fix before the certificate is issued, and if the permit holder never requests the final inspection, "the permit shall become invalid and appropriate code violations shall be issued." Under A-401.1, the code official may enter, at any reasonable time, any structure or premises for which a permit was issued to check compliance with the permit and the code, citing Home Rule Charter Sec. 5-1004 as the entry authority.