East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Title 8's inspections chapter opens with Sec. 8:900, which puts construction subject to inspection by the building official and requires it to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved, with the owner or agent responsible for keeping the work exposed. Sec. 8:901 lets the building official examine a site before a permit even issues. Once work begins, Sec. 8:903 calls for a footing and foundation inspection after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place, with materials on the job unless the concrete is ready-mixed to ASTM C94.

Sec. 8:904 requires the concrete slab and under-floor inspection after reinforcing steel and rough-in equipment are placed but before concrete is poured or the subfloor installed. Sec. 8:906 requires the frame inspection once the roof deck, framing, fireblocking and bracing are in place and the rough electrical, plumbing and HVAC lines are approved. Sec. 8:908 adds an energy efficiency inspection covering envelope insulation R- and U-values, fenestration U-value, duct system R-value, and HVAC and water-heating equipment efficiency, tied to IBC chapter 13 and IRC chapter 11.

Sec. 8:911 requires the final inspection after all work required by the building permit is completed. Sec. 8:918 puts the burden on the permit holder to notify the building official when work is ready and to provide access for each inspection, and Sec. 8:919 bars work beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without the building official's approval, requiring any non-compliant portion to be corrected before it may be covered again. Sec. 8:1000 then bars occupying or changing the use of the building until the building official issues a certificate of occupancy.