Monterey County, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Chapter 18.01, the Building Standards Administrative Code, governs permits in unincorporated Monterey County; incorporated cities administer their own systems. Section 18.01.050(D) replaces California Building Code § 105.5 (Expiration): a permit becomes invalid if work isn't commenced within one year of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for a year after it starts, and work counts as suspended or abandoned specifically "if one or more required County department inspections have not been performed and documented in County records ... within the requisite one-year time period." The Building Official may grant written extensions of up to one year each, upon a timely written request showing justifiable cause and payment of a fee set by Board of Supervisors resolution.

Inspections are also staged for certain systems: under § 18.01.060(A) (amending CBC § 107.2.2), fire sprinkler shop drawings must be approved before installation and "a rough sprinkler inspection must be scheduled by the installing contractor and completed prior to requesting a framing inspection." The Building Official may also issue phased permits, allowing foundation work "before the construction documents for the whole building or structure have been approved" (§ 18.01.060(B)). Under § 18.01.090(C), failing to obtain final inspection approval before a permit expires is itself unlawful.

Enforcement authority rests with the Building Services Unit of the County Resource Management Agency's Land Use and Community Development Division (§ 18.01.030), which administers CBC Division II as locally amended.