San Diego County, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Required inspection stages
- 9 stages, footing to final
- Who requests inspection
- Permit holder notifies building official
- Before covering work
- Must get official approval first
- Enforcing agency
- Dept. of Planning & Development Services
- If skipped
- Unlawful to bypass required inspection
Summary
Unincorporated San Diego County requires nine staged inspections, from footing/foundation through final, before permitted construction may proceed, with the building official's written approval required at each step before work is covered.
Work shall not be done beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without the building official's approval. The building official, upon notification, shall make the requested inspections and shall either indicate the portion of the construction that is satisfactory as completed or notify the permit holder or his or her agent if any work fails to comply with this chapter. Any portions that do not comply shall be corrected and these portions shall not be covered or concealed until approved by the building official. (Added by Ord. No. 10146 (N.S.), effective 5-13-11; repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 10464 (N.S.), effective 4-14-17; repealed and adopted by Ord. No. 10651 (N.S.), effective 2-28-20; repealed and adopted by Ord. No. 10829 (N.S.), effective 3-10-23; repealed and adopted by Ord. No. 10982 (N.S.), effective 4- 3-26)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated San Diego County requires nine sequential inspections for permitted construction: footing/foundation, concrete slab/under-floor, lowest floor elevation (flood zones), framing, lath/gypsum board, fire-resistant penetrations, energy efficiency, other inspections the building official requires, and a final inspection. The permit holder must notify the Department of Planning and Development Services when work reaches each stage and keep it accessible for inspection. Work cannot proceed past an inspected point, and completed portions cannot be covered or concealed, until the building official approves that stage. Failing to obtain a required inspection is unlawful under the County Building Code.
Violations & Fines
Skipping a required inspection or covering approved work is unlawful under County Code § 91.1.110.7; Code violations generally carry civil penalties up to $2,500 per day of violation (§ 91.1.117).
Frequently Asked Questions
What inspections are required for a building permit in unincorporated San Diego County?
Who has to request each inspection?
Can I cover work before the inspector approves it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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