Sec. 13-40. - Inspections under building code generally.

(a)

A building inspector shall, upon notification from the permit holder or such holder's agent, make the following inspections of buildings and such other inspections as may be necessary, and shall either approve that portion of the con-struction as completed or shall notify the permit holder or such holder's agent wherein the same fails to comply with the building regulations:

(1)

Inspection of footing excavations and reinforcement material for concrete footings prior to the placement of concrete.

(2)

Inspection of foundation systems during phases of construction necessary to assure compliance with the building code.

(3)

Inspection of preparatory work prior to the placement of concrete.

(4)

Inspection of structural members and fasteners (framing) prior to concealment.

(5)

Inspection of electrical, mechanical and plumbing materials and systems prior to concealment.

(6)

Inspection of energy conservation material (insulation) prior to concealment.

(7)

Inspection of lath or wallboard prior to plastering or prior to taping and finishing wallboard joints and fasteners.

(8)

Final inspection to be made and approved after the building, or portion thereof to be occupied under a temporary certificate of occupancy, is ready for occupancy.

The building official may designate additional inspections and tests for the above enumerated items to be conducted during the construction or repair of a structure and so notify the permit holder.

(b)

No work shall be done on any part of a building or structure beyond the point indicated above in each successive inspection, without first verifying that a building inspector has approved the work in place.

(c)

No reinforcing steel, structural framework, plumbing, electrical wiring, gas piping, standpipe or sprinkler system piping, ductwork, or required insulation or fire-proofing material shall be covered or concealed in any manner whatsoever, without first verifying that such work or materials have been inspected and approved by an inspector employed by the city authorized to perform such inspection.

(Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5975-03, § 1)

Sec. 13-41. - Plumbing inspections.

(a)

Inspections of plumbing work covered by the provisions of the building code shall be performed by a plumbing inspector, upon notification from the permit holder or such holder's agent. Such inspector shall either approve that portion of the plumbing work as completed or shall notify the permit holder or such holder's agent wherein such work fails to comply with the plumbing code or other building regulations.

(b)

Completion of a final inspection of the plumbing system within a building shall not constitute final approval of such system where sanitary sewer or septic tank system connections have not been inspected and approved, or where the public sanitary sewer serving the premises has not been accepted for service by the department of engineering.

(Ord. No. 5365-99)

Sec. 13-42. - Electrical inspections.

(a)

Inspections of electrical work covered by the building code and required under this section shall be performed by an electrical inspector, upon notification from the permit holder or such holder's agent. Such inspector shall either approve that portion of the electrical work as completed or shall notify the permit holder or holder's agent wherein such work fails to comply with the building regulations.

(b)

As a minimum, the following inspections of electrical work shall be required.

(1)

Rough inspection. To be made after wiring and electrical equipment has been installed but not yet covered or concealed.

(2)

Service inspection. To be made after the electrical work is ready to be energized. The certificate of inspection provided for in section 13-43 shall be based on this inspection.

(3)

Final inspection. To be made after all electrical work, including the installation of all electrical fixtures, has been completed. The certificate of inspection provided for in section 13-43 shall be based on this inspection.

(c)

Additional inspections may be required by the electrical inspector where, in such inspector's judgment, such inspections are necessary because of the scope or complexity of the electrical work to be installed.

(Ord. No. 5365-99)

Sec. 13-43. - Certificate of electrical inspection.

The certificate of inspection required by the building code shall be issued by an electrical inspector. Notice of the issuance of such certificate shall be furnished to the electric power company providing service to the premises.

(Ord. No. 5365-99)

Sec. 13-44. - Mechanical inspections.

(a)

Mechanical inspections of mechanical work covered by the provisions of the building code shall be performed by a mechanical inspector, upon notification from the permit holder or such holder's agent. Such inspector shall either approve that portion of the mechanical work as completed or shall notify the permit holder or such holder's agent wherein such work fails to comply with the building regulations.

(b)

Additional inspections may be required by a mechanical inspector where, in such inspector's judgment, such inspections are necessary because of the scope or complexity of the mechanical work to be installed.

(Ord. No. 5365-99)

Sec. 13-45. - Certificate of mechanical inspection for gas piping.

A mechanical inspector or plumbing inspector shall issue a certificate of inspection after a final inspection has determined that all gas piping on any premises has been found to be in compliance with the building regulations. Notice of the issuance of such certificate shall be furnished to the gas company providing service to the premises.

(Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5975-03, § 1)

Sec. 13-46. - Inspection and approval of electrical and gas installations prerequisite to service.

It shall be unlawful for any public utility company to furnish electricity or gas and to make or permit to be made any connections with its electric or gas supply lines to any building or structure, unless such electrical or gas piping installation has been inspected and a certificate of inspection has been issued, as provided for in this division. If such public utility company shall disconnect its electric or gas supply lines for the purpose of accommodating system related work or due to hazardous conditions, such company shall not reconnect its supply lines until such work or necessary corrective action has been inspected and approved.

(Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 6849-12, § 1)

Sec. 13-47. - Notification or request for inspection; inspector's access.

It shall be the duty of every person to whom a permit has been issued under the several provisions of the building code to arrange for each inspection as may be required in this division. Such person may designate an agent in his or her employ to notify an appropriate inspector that specific construction work is ready for inspection. Receipt of such notification or request for a specific type of inspection shall be taken to mean that such work to be inspected has been completed to the degree required for such inspection, and that reasonable access to the work has been provided to the inspector. Reasonable access for inspection of an attic space shall be taken to mean the placement of a ladder to access hatches, unless a permanent means for such access has been installed.

(Ord. No. 5365-99)

Sec. 13-48. - Service charge for additional inspections due to faulty work, premature inspection requests, etc.

Whenever the senior building inspector, senior electrical inspector, senior plumbing inspector or senior mechanical inspector shall determine that inspections, in addition to those required in this division, are necessary, due to the failure of a contractor to properly correct faulty work, or where a contractor has requested an inspection before the work to be inspected has been completed to the degree required, or where the inspector cannot obtain reasonable access to the work to be inspected, the inspector shall assess a service charge of fifty dollars ($50.00). Such charge shall be chargeable to the holder of the permit covering such work and shall be paid to the city at the department of codes compliance prior to final approval of such work.

(Ord. No. 5365-99; Ord. No. 5975-03, § 1)

Sec. 13-49. - Inspections in addition to those required by division.

The director shall prescribe such inspections, in addition to those provided for in this division, as may be necessary to secure compliance with the building code, the Virginia Industrialized Building and Manufactured Home Safety Regulations or its successor, the zoning provisions of the City Code and such other regulations as shall properly fall within the enforcement responsibility of the department of codes compliance.

(Ord. No. 5365-99)

Secs. 13-50—13-59. - Reserved.