Understanding why inspections commonly fail can help you avoid project delays and additional fees. This page highlights frequent turndown reasons, allowing you to identify and resolve potential issues before scheduling. By addressing these items in advance, you can streamline the approval process and keep your project on track.
Below are general inspection requirements that apply to all inspections. Click the accordions below to view specific turndown reasons by inspection type.
General Inspection Requirements
- A permit box, address and permit number must be present.
- County-approved permit card, site plan, and stamped building plans must be available for all inspections.
- Work must follow county-approved plans. Any changes require prior approval.
- Inspectors must have clear visibility of all required items. Do not cover construction before passing inspections. Examples include:
- Pouring footings before inspection approval.
- Installing insulation before passing the framing inspection.
- Installing drywall before insulation approval.
- Covering electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work before passing rough-in inspections.
Common Inspection Issues by Inspection Type
Building Final Inspection
- County-approved permit card, site plan, and stamped building plans not available on-site.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors missing or not installed in required locations.
- House numbers missing or not in a contrasting color.
- Handrails and guardrails missing or inadequate.
- Exterior penetrations not sealed; vertical brick-to-trim joints not caulked.
- Improper grading around the foundation.
- Foundation drains do not exit to daylight
- Attic access doors not weather-stripped or insulated.
- Crawlspace debris present, vapor barrier missing, or improperly installed.
- Blown attic insulation lacks depth/thickness markers or is incorrectly installed.
- Windows not tempered in required locations.
- Energy efficiency certificate missing or incomplete.
- Child safety window locks missing where required.
- Garage door lacks DP (design pressure) rating.
- Stairs do not meet code: inadequate head clearance, riser/tread dimensions, or total vertical rise.
Electrical Rough-In and Final Inspections
- Outlet spacing does not comply with code requirements.
- Readily accessible from grade-level outlets missing on exterior
- Improper grounding and bonding:
- Ground rods not fully driven or properly installed in soil.
- Insufficient clearance around closet lights.
- Nail plates missing where required.
- Outlet boxes not set at proper depth or securely fastened to wall surfaces.
- Panel breaker labeling unclear, vague, or incomplete. Must be permanently marked, pencil markings are not acceptable.
- No ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection where required.
- Circuits overloaded beyond capacity.
- Open or exposed junction boxes.
- Improper cable installation: cables too close to stud surfaces, stapled on edges, or with insufficient wire length at outlets.
- Incorrect circuit breaker or wire sizing: breakers oversized for wire gauge.
- Arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) protection missing or inadequate.
Footing Inspections
- Permit box missing, or address and permit number not provided.
- County-approved permit card, site plan, and stamped building plans not available on-site.
- Standing water or debris present in footing trenches.
- Rebar not installed according to approved plans.
- Slab insulation not installed.
- Completed the Design Profession Inspection (DPI) form for third-party inspection not provided.
- Footings not excavated to the required depth or per plans.
- Inadequate soil bearing capacity: footings placed on soft or unstable soil without proper compaction or soil testing documentation.
- Incorrect footing sizes for piers per approved plans.
Foundation Inspections
- County-approved permit card, site plan, and stamped building plans not available on-site.
- Insufficient projection of footings beyond foundation walls.
- Anchor bolts missing, inadequate, or improperly installed.
- Foundation wall thickness or reinforcement does not meet code or plan requirements.
- Foundation backfilled, preventing verification of footing projection.
- Mortar joints missing or inadequately filled.
- Piers not located within the middle third of footings.
- Foundation vents not spaced according to code requirements.
- Damp-proofing missing or inadequately applied.
Framing Inspections
- County-approved permit card, site plan, and stamped building plans not available on-site.
- Framing does not match approved plans.
- Anchor bolts missing, lacking nuts/washers, or loose.
- Hangers missing, incomplete nailing, or hurricane tie clips not installed.
- Fire blocking missing, incorrectly installed, or made from unapproved materials.
- Draftstopping missing where required.
- Load-bearing members not fully supported or aligned with foundations.
- Point loads from beams, girders, or concentrated loads not properly transferred to supporting members or foundations. Point load blocking missing.
- Damaged roof trusses without an engineer’s repair design.
- Air barrier missing or improperly installed.
- Stair stringers lack proper support.
- Insufficient stud counts for point loads, headers, or beams.
- Fire-resistance construction incomplete: soffit and eave protection missing or made from improper materials.
- Wall bracing or portal frame bracing missing or inadequate.
- Insulation baffles not installed.
- Over-notched or over-bored studs, joists, or rafters compromising structural integrity.
- Trusses not installed or braced per engineered design.
- Roof or floor truss engineered design package missing.
- I-Joist layout or manufacturer installation guide missing.
- Windows not tempered in required locations.
Insulation Inspections
- Insulation compressed, reducing its R-value.
- Gaps or voids in walls, attics, or crawlspaces where insulation is missing.
- Air barrier missing or improperly installed.
- Gaps around doors, windows, or framing members not sealed.
- Insulation baffles missing where required.
- Insulation installed against non-insulation contact-rated (non-IC) recessed lights.
- Spray foam insulation lacks required thermal or ignition barriers.
- Spray foam installer letter missing. Evaluation report with correct date missing.
- Insulation not securely installed or fastened.
Mechanical Rough-In and Final Inspections
- Improper venting of exhaust systems: gas appliances not vented to the exterior, undersized vent pipes, incorrect materials (e.g., single-wall pipe used where double-wall is required), or vents terminating too close to windows or air intakes.
- Inadequate combustion air supply for fuel-burning appliances.
- Ductwork issues: ducts improperly supported, poorly sealed at joints, made from unapproved materials, or lacking insulation in unconditioned spaces.
- Improper condensate drainage: lines lack proper slope, discharge to unapproved locations (e.g., crawlspaces instead of outdoors), or missing drain/pan overflow switches in attics.
- Insufficient clearance between gas appliances/exhaust vents and combustible materials (e.g., wood framing or insulation).
- Gas piping unprotected or unsupported: lines not properly secured, missing shutoff valves in the same room as appliances, or coregulated stainless steel tubing (CSST) not bonded correctly.
- Inadequate equipment access: attic catwalk to equipment not installed or insufficient service space provided.
- Dryer exhaust ducts exceed maximum allowable length.
- Gas lines not pressure-tested to required standards or tested with improper gauges.
Plumbing Rough-In and Final Inspections
- Fiberglass tubs not securely fastened to studs.
- Nail plates missing or improperly installed where pipes pass through framing.
- Drain lines lack proper slope.
- Tub/shower valves unsupported or improperly installed.
- Incorrect pipe sizing for water supply or drainage.
- Cleanouts missing or improperly installed.
- Inadequate venting of plumbing fixtures.
- Insufficient spacing between plumbing fixtures per code.
- Pipe supports and hangers spaced incorrectly or missing.
- Backflow preventers missing or improperly installed.
- Inadequate freeze protection for exposed piping.