Schedule an inspection
Inspections and approval by a County Building Inspector are required for all work being done with a permit. The County provides next-day inspections for requests received before 3 p.m. on regular workdays. Requests received on weekends or County observed holidays will be entered on the next regular workday and scheduled for the following workday or later, depending on the date of your request. You may request inspections up to five days in advance.
There are three ways to schedule a building inspection
- Using the mobile inspection app (recommended)
- Using the Public Permit Portal
- Calling the inspection request phone line (408) 299-5700
Note: Fire Prevention (FMO) inspections for construction projects, please call (408) 341-4420
Have the following information ready before scheduling
- Permit number
- Inspection code(s) for the inspections you need (e.g., FI01 Project Complete)
- Name and phone number of the person who will be attending the inspection
Scheduling inspections for projects with multiple permits
Definitions
Original permit – The first permit issued for a project. These permits will have no suffixes.
Revision permit – A permit issued that alters the scope of the original permit. These permits will end with a suffix (example DEV23-0000-REV1).
Deferred submittal permit – A permit that issued for work that was required but not included in the original permit, such as truss calculations for a new structure, fire sprinkler systems, PV solar for new dwellings, etc. Deferred submittal permits will also have a suffix after the original permit number (example DEV23-0000-DEF1).
Instructions
For projects with multiple permits (original, revision, deferred), you must request each permit separately. When you need multiple inspections (example rough frame, rough electrical, rough plumbing, etc.) you must request each inspection that you would like the inspector to perform. The best way to request multiple inspections is to use the mobile inspection app.
Building Inspectors schedule their inspection routes based on the inspections that have been requested for a given day. If you do not request all the inspections you need, you may have to reschedule for another day as the inspector may not have time in their schedule to add additional inspections.
To close out a permit and avoid costly delays and administrative fees you must request final inspections (FI01 Project Complete) inspections for all related records.
Note: The mobile inspection app allows you to request multiple inspections quickly and easily in a few quick clicks on your mobile device.
Tips for successful inspections
- Work must match what is shown on the approved plans.
- If the actual conditions of the job are different than what is shown on the approved plans OR you are unable to follow the work on the approved plans you will need to notify your design professional and have them revise the plans and submit them to the County for approval BEFORE calling for an inspection.
- Please do not cover ANY work until it has been approved by a County Building Inspector.
- Make sure the work is COMPLETED and READY for inspection before requesting an inspection. Not being ready for an inspection can result in re-inspection fees and project delays.
- Make sure you are scheduling your inspections on the correct permit. For example, if you have a deferred submittal permit for roof trusses you need to schedule the roof frame/roof nailing inspection on both the original permit and the deferred submittal permit.
Frequently asked questions
- Download the mobile inspection app
- Create an account in the app
- Sign in
- Link Santa Clara County to your account
- Request an inspection in the app
If you are unable to use the mobile inspection app, you can use the Public Permit Portal or call (408) 299-5700 to schedule an inspection.
These inspections may be done virtually
- Finals inspections to verify smoke detector and carbon monoxide affidavits
- Reroofs – progress and final
- Water heaters
- Voluntary aseismic upgrade for single-story residential structures
- Swimming pool pre-deck
- Swimming pool pre-plaster
- Water service
- Re-inspection of minor correction items (2nd ground rod, vacuum breakers, etc.)
- Furnace/AC (The contractor must be present)
- Shower pan/tub/lath
- Property line cleanout
- Underground electrical
- Stucco lath
- Drywall (sheetrock) nailing for any NON-fire rated assemblies (commercial or residential)
- Underfloor insulation
- Kitchen remodel (roughs and finals)
- New/replacement sewer (trench or trenchless)
- Bathroom remodel (roughs and finals)
- Temporary power pole service
- Septic tank abandonment
Important note: The inspector assigned to the inspection will make the final determination as to whether a virtual inspection may be done. Inspectors may determine that an in-person inspection is required. You will be notified by the inspector on the morning of the inspection, either by phone or email on how the inspection will be conducted.
Yes, the mobile inspection app allows you to request inspections easily from your mobile device. The app also allows you to schedule multiple inspections for the same permit.
The inspector will call the contact person that was identified when making the inspection request the morning of the inspection with a time window.
You will receive notifications via email and/or text with the inspection time window after the inspector assigns an inspection time.
If you schedule inspections with the Public Permit Portal you will have to request each inspection separately.
To schedule multiple inspections at one time you will need to use the Mobile Inspection App. The Public Permit Portal only allows you to schedule one inspection at a time.
If you are cancelling an inspection before 8 a.m. on the day of the inspection, do the following:
Mobile inspection app users - cancel your inspection in the app.
All other users - call (408) 299-5700
If you are cancelling an inspection after 8 a.m. on the day of the inspection, please call (408) 299-5700.
Yes, the contractor or designated representative who is familiar with the project must be present. If the inspector has questions about the work being inspected and the person who is designated to stand the inspection cannot answer the question it may result in a correction notice and cause delays.
You need to have hard copies of the approved plans, the permit card, any correction notices from previous inspections, and where required field reports from special inspectors, soils engineers, and the engineer of record. Please note that if you do not have the approved plans available when the inspector arrives they will not be able to conduct any inspections and you will need to reschedule the inspection.
You need to have the building setback certification form at the first foundation inspection.
The Fire code requires that a water source for Fire personnel must be available within 150’ of any part of a structure. The Fire Marshal’s office must inspect and approve your Fire water source before requesting a foundation inspection where the construction materials are combustible.
No, where a structure is built using non-combustible materials the requirement for approval of the wharf hydrant or other Fire water sources can be done prior to FINAL inspection.
The rule of thumb is to call for an inspection before you are ready to cover your work.
Example#1 - you are building a new house or addition, the foundation and/or piers should be inspected when the excavation is complete, forms are up, and steel reinforcement is in place.
Example #2 - When you are installing electrical or plumbing underground you would dig your trench and install the underground conduits and/or plumbing pipes and then call for an underground inspection.
Example #3 - You are doing a remodel you should call for an inspection after the new framing, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical roughs are complete and you are ready to cover with insulation and/or sheetrock.
Reroof projects require a progress inspection at approximately 50-75% completion and then a final inspection when all of the work is complete.
Building permits are valid for 12 months from the date they are issued. When you pass a building inspection (approved or partially approved), the permit expiration date automatically extends for six months. If no inspections are approved within 12 months of the permit issuance date the permit will expire, and you will need to apply for a new permit. If no inspections are approved for six months after an inspection has been approved the permit will expire and you will need to apply for a “Permit to Complete” the expired permit.
Login to the Public Permit Portal and lookup your permit. The expiration date can be found under “Record Info” 🡢 ”More Details” 🡢 “Application Information” 🡢 “Issuance and Expiration”
- Go to the Public Permit Portal
- Log in
- Click Processing Status
The County ordinance code states the following:
Sec. B11-154. - Prohibited acts.
(6) Construction/demolition.
- Operating or causing the operation of any tools or equipment used in construction, drilling, repair, alteration or demolition work between weekdays and Saturday hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., or at any time on Sundays or holidays, that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real property line, except for emergency work of public service utilities or by variance. This section will not apply to the use of domestic power tools as specified in Subsection 11.
- Where technically and economically feasible, construction activities will be conducted in a manner that the maximum noise levels at affected properties will not exceed those listed in the following schedule:
Mobile equipment. Maximum noise levels for nonscheduled, intermittent, short-term operation (less than ten days) of mobile equipment:
Single- and Two-Family Dwelling Residential Area Multifamily Dwelling Residential Area Commercial Area Daily, except Sundays and legal holidays 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. 75 dBA 80 dBA 85 dBA Daily, 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and all day Sunday and legal holidays 50 dBA 55 dBA 60 dBA Stationary equipment. Maximum noise levels for repetitively scheduled and relatively long-term operation (periods of ten days or more) of stationary equipment are as follows:
Single- and Two-Family Dwelling Residential Area Multifamily Dwelling Residential Area Commercial Area Daily, except Sundays and legal holidays 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. 60 dBA 65 dBA 70 dBA Daily, 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. and all day Sunday and legal holidays 50dBA 55 dBA 60 dBA
(7) Vibration. Operating or permitting the operation of any device that creates a vibrating or quivering effect that:
- Endangers or injures the safety or health of human beings or animals; or
- Annoys or disturbs a person of normal sensitivities; or
- Endangers or injures personal or real properties.
(8) Powered model vehicles. Operating or permitting the operation of powered model vehicles:
- Between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day so as to create a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real property line or at any time to violate the provisions of Section B11-152.
- In a manner as to exceed the levels set forth for public space land use in Table B11-152, measured at a distance of not less than 100 feet (30 meters) from any point on the path of a vehicle operating on public space or public right-of-way.
(9) Stationary non-emergency signaling devices. Sounding or permitting the sounding of any electronically amplified signal from any stationary bell, chime, siren, whistle or similar device, intended primarily for non-emergency purposes, from any place, for more than ten seconds in any hourly period.
(10) Emergency signaling devices.
- The intentional sounding or permitting the sounding outdoors of any fire, burglar or civil defense alarm, siren, whistle or similar stationary emergency signaling device, except for emergency purposes or for testing, as provided in Subsection b.
- Testing.
- Testing of a stationary emergency signaling device must not occur before 7:00 a.m. or after 7:00 p.m. Any testing will use only the minimum cycle test time. In no case will the test time exceed 60 seconds.
- Testing of the complete emergency signaling system, including the functioning of the signaling device, and the personnel response to the signaling device, will not occur more than once in each calendar month. The testing will not occur before 7:00 a.m. nor after 10:00 p.m. The time limit specified in subsection (i) will not apply to the complete system testing.
- Sounding or permitting the sounding of any exterior burglar or fire alarm or any motor vehicle burglar alarm unless the alarm is terminated within 15 minutes of activation.
(11) Domestic power tools.
- Operating or permitting the operation of any mechanically powered saw, sander, drill, grinder, lawn or garden tool, or similar tool between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day so as to create a noise disturbance across a residential or commercial real property line.
- Any motor, machinery or pump will be sufficiently enclosed or muffled and maintained so as not to create a noise disturbance in accordance with Section B11-152.
(12) Air-conditioning or air-handling equipment. Operating or permitting the operation of any air-conditioning or air-handling equipment in a manner as to exceed any of the following sound levels without a variance:
Measurement Location; dB(A)
- Any point on neighboring property line, five feet above grade level, no closer than three feet from any wall .....50
- Center of neighboring patio, five feet above grade level, no closer than three feet from any wall .....45
- Outside the neighboring living area window nearest the equipment location, not more than three feet from the window opening, but at least three feet from any other surface .....45
(13) Swimming pool motors and equipment. Operating or permitting the operation of any swimming pool motor or swimming pool equipment that the sound therefrom creates a noise disturbance across a residential real property line or at any time violates the provisions of Section B11-152.
(14) Helicopters. Operating or permitting to be operated any helicopter which violates nighttime provisions of Section B11-152 or which causes a noise that exceeds 80 dBA during the day in residential or commercial areas without a variance. Military and government-operated helicopters are exempted from provisions of this section.
(15) Fixed noise source location. Installation or permitting the installation of any fixed noise source in the side yards of any residence without a variance.
(Ord. No. NS-517.72, § 2, 4-15-03)