San Jose, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SJMC § 24.02.520
- Required stages
- Foundation, slab, rough, frame, lath, final
- Notice for inspection
- At least 1 working day
- Cover-up rule
- No concealing work before approval
Summary
San Jose's building official runs permitted work through six mandatory checkpoints, foundation, slab, rough, frame, lath, and final, before a building can be occupied.
The building official, upon notification, shall make the following inspections: A. Foundation inspection. To be made after excavations for footings are complete and required reinforcing steel is in place... E. Frame inspection. To be made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place... G. Final inspection. To be made after finish grading and the building is completed and ready for occupancy or use.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
San Jose Municipal Code § 24.02.520 requires the building official, upon notification, to make foundation, concrete slab/under-floor, protection-of-joints, rough (plumbing/mechanical/gas/electrical), frame, lath/gypsum, and final inspections at defined construction milestones. Under § 24.02.510, it is the contractor's or work-doer's duty to notify the building official when work is ready, and the official may require at least one working day's notice. Work may not proceed past an inspected stage, and reinforcing steel or structural framing may not be covered, without the building official's approval first (§ 24.02.515). A final inspection and approval is required before any building or structure may be occupied or used.
Violations & Fines
Covering or concealing work before the required inspection and approval (e.g., pouring concrete over unapproved reinforcing steel, or closing up framing before the frame inspection) means that work must be exposed again for inspection, and reinspection fees apply under § 24.02.535 when work isn't ready or corrections weren't made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to call for a San Jose building inspection?
Can I cover framing before it's inspected?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Jose
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How other cities in Santa Clara County handle building inspections.