Redlands, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Redlands City Code section 15.04.020 amends California Building Code sections 105 through 113.4 to build a locally-run inspection process on top of the base state code. Under the amendment to Section [A]109.4 (subsection E and F), if work is discovered underway without a permit, an investigation permit must first be issued and an inspection performed, and the applicant owes an investigation fee equal to the minimum fee under Section 109.2, in addition to the eventual permit fee, whether or not a permit is ultimately issued.

The added Section [A]109.7 "Re-Inspections" (subsection H) charges a fee at the fully burdened hourly inspection rate, payable before a re-inspection is scheduled, whenever: corrections from a prior inspection were not addressed; the building permit is not posted or available on site; city-approved plans are not available at the scheduled inspection; the inspector is denied site access on the scheduled date; or the work deviates from the approved plans. No further inspection proceeds until an assessed re-inspection fee is paid. Subsection G lets the Chief Building Official refund up to 80 percent of a permit fee if no inspections were ever performed, or up to 80 percent of a plan review fee if the application is withdrawn before review, on written request filed within 180 days of payment.

Section [A]111.3, rewritten by subsection I, lets the Chief Building Official issue a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy for an unfinished building where no substantial hazard exists, for an administrative fee; before the TCO expires, the city must inspect the property and either issue a Permanent Certificate of Occupancy or require the building vacated. Appeals of the Chief Building Official's inspection-related rulings go to the Planning Commission acting as the board of appeals under Section [A]113.1, and a further appeal to the City Council must be filed with the City Clerk within fifteen days under Section [A]113.5.