Pico Rivera, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Total required stages
- 10, under § 109.3
- First stage
- Footing and foundation inspection
- Last stage
- Final inspection after all work
- Scheduling duty
- Permit holder requests each inspection
- Third-party reports
- Approved agencies accepted, § 109.4
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
In the City of Pico Rivera, permitted construction work must stay accessible and exposed for inspection until the building official approves it, and the code lists ten required inspection stages, from footings and foundations through framing, energy efficiency, and a final inspection, each of which must pass before the work can be concealed or occupied.
109.1 General. Construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official and such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved. ... 109.3 Required inspections. The building official, upon notification, shall make the inspections set forth in Sections 109.3.1 through 109.3.10. ... 109.3.1 ... 0 Final inspection. The final inspection shall be made after all work required by the building permit is completed.
Full Breakdown
Section 15.08.020 enacts Section 109 of the locally amended Chapter 1, which puts the duty on the permit holder to keep work accessible and exposed until the building official signs off, since neither the building official nor the city is liable for the cost of removing material to allow a missed inspection. Section 109.3 sets ten required stages: footing and foundation, once excavation and reinforcing steel are placed; concrete slab and under-floor, before pouring or floor sheathing; a lowest-floor elevation certification in flood hazard areas; framing, once the roof deck, framing, fireblocking, and rough electrical, plumbing and mechanical work are in and approved, with moisture-content verification under CALGreen; lath and gypsum board, before plaster or taping; fire-resistant penetration checks; energy-efficiency inspections covering insulation, fenestration, duct and HVAC values; other inspections the building official deems necessary; special inspections under Building Code Chapter 17; and a final inspection once all permitted work is complete.
Under Section 109.4 the building official may accept reports from approved outside inspection agencies. It is the permit holder's duty under Section 109.5 to notify the building official and request each inspection, and no work may proceed past an inspected stage without the building official's written approval under Section 109.6.
Violations & Fines
Concealing work before the required inspection, or continuing past a failed inspection point, violates Section 113 and is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both, with each day a separate offense. The building official can also issue a stop-work order under Section 114, and any portion that does not pass inspection must be corrected and stay exposed until reinspected and authorized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the final inspection the only one required?
Who has to schedule each required inspection?
Can a private inspection company perform required inspections instead of the city?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pico Rivera
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