Renton, WA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- RMC 4-5-060(J), Construction Administrative Code § 110
- Listed required inspections
- 18 stages, §§ 110.11.1-110.11.18
- Work status until approved
- Must stay accessible and exposed
- Final inspection
- Required before occupancy, § 110.11.18
- Concealing approved work early
- Separate violation, § 110.8
Summary
Renton's Construction Administrative Code requires the Building Official to inspect permitted work at defined stages, from first ground disturbance through footing, framing and final inspection, before construction can move to the next step. RMC 4-5-060(J)(11) lists eighteen required inspection types; work stays exposed until each one is approved.
11. 110.11 Required inspections. The Building Official, upon notification, shall make the inspections as set forth in this section. b. 110.11.2 Footing and foundation inspection. Footing and foundation inspections shall be made after poles or piers are set or trenches or basement areas are excavated and all required hold-down anchor bolts, hold-down straps, any forms erected, and any required reinforcing steel is in place and supported... h. 110.11.8 Frame inspection. Framing inspections shall be made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, fire-suppression piping, heating wires, pipes and ducts are approved and the building is substantially dry. ... w. 110.11.18 Final inspection. The final inspection shall be made after all work required by the building permit is completed.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 6197, passed August 10, 2026).
Full Breakdown
RMC 4-5-060(J), Section 110, Inspections, sets the rules the Building Official follows on every permitted job. 1 makes construction subject to inspection and requires the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved, with the owner or agent responsible for keeping it that way. 7 bars any further work beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection until written approval is issued for that step. 18 final inspection, made after all work required by the building permit is completed. Footing and foundation inspection happens once forms, hold-down anchors and reinforcing steel are in place and supported; framing inspection happens only after the roof deck, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and rough electrical, plumbing, fire-suppression, and mechanical work is already approved. 8 separately bars covering reinforcing steel or structural framework before the Building Official has approved it.
Violations & Fines
Covering or continuing work past an unapproved inspection point violates RMC 4-5-060(J)(7) and (J)(8), Sections 110.7 and 110.8, and the Building Official can require exposing concealed work again at the owner's expense to complete the inspection. Failure to request or pass required inspections under 110.11 can halt a project entirely: no further work is authorized beyond the last approved stage, and occupancy cannot be granted without a passed final inspection under 110.11.18.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
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