Building Inspections

Inspections are divided into four disciplines: Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Structural. Each ensures that work complies with code requirements that are intended to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of city residents and guests.

Most permits are issued with a base number of inspections, also called trips. Trips and inspections are specific to a permit. In other words, a plumbing inspection is scheduled using the plumbing permit number, which will debit an inspection trip from the plumbing permit.

Each time an inspector visits the site, regardless of the inspection type (i.e. rough, final) or result (i.e. approved, disapproved, partial approved) a trip is debited form the permit. When the balance of trips is zero (0) additional trip(s) need to be purchased before an inspection can be scheduled.

Inspectors are in the field from 8:00 am until 4:00 pm on days of business. The inspection can take place anytime during that window. When scheduling through Citizen Access you have the ability to write a comment and request a time of day (AM or PM) or a call ahead. While we accept these requests and try our best to fulfill them, they are not guaranteed.

Inspections for the next day of business, or an upcoming business day of your choice, can be scheduled until midnight through our Citizen Access Portal or automated phone system.

Online

• Visit our Citizen Access Portal

• Under the building section, click the Schedule an Inspection Link
• This will redirect you to a search page
      If you do not know the permit number, you can enter the address into the Street No. and Street name fields
• Click the search button at the bottom of the page
• On the page that appears, click the red Schedule an Inspection button
• Follow the steps to schedule the inspection for the business day of your choice

By Phone

• (614) 645-8235

Online

• Visit our Citizen Access Portal
• Create an account and log in
• Under the building section, click the Purchase Permit or Inspection Trip link
• Follow the steps to purchase Additional Inspection Trip(s)

In person

• Complete and deliver the Miscellaneous Services Application
• The application can be found in the document library on this site

Cancel a Scheduled Inspection

Cancellations received before the inspector arrives at the job site will have the trip credited to the permit. After-hours inspection cancellations must be received by 3:00 p.m. in order to avoid being charged for the inspection. For inspections scheduled for non-business days, the cancellation request must be received by 3:00 p.m. on the business day prior to the date of the inspection.

Citizen Access Portal

• Under the building section, click the Schedule an Inspection Link
• This will redirect you to a search page
  • If you do not know the permit number, you can enter the address into the Street No. and Street name fields
• Click the search button at the bottom of the page
• On the page that appears, scroll down to Review Upcoming Inspections
• Expand the Actions menu to the right of the scheduled inspection and click Cancel

By Phone

• (614) 645-8235

Rough fire alarm inspections can be scheduled through Citizen Access Portal following these instructions:

Online

• Visit our Citizen Access Portal

• Under the building section, click the Schedule an Inspection Link
• This will redirect you to a search page
      If you do not know the permit number, you can enter the address into the Street No. and Street name fields
• Click the search button at the bottom of the page
• On the page that appears, click the red Schedule an Inspection button
• Follow the steps to schedule the inspection for the business day of your choice

By Phone

• (614) 645-8235

All other fire alarm and suppression inspections require the

 which can also be found in the document library on this site. The form needs to be completed and submitted to BZSCFDInspectionRequests@columbus.gov or brought to our office. Please be mindful of the cutoff times provided above the different inspection types.

After-hours inspections take place from 5:00 pm until 5:30 am between days of business. After-hours inspections require three regular hour trips or one after-hours trip be available on the permit. These inspections can only be requested through Citizen Access Portal.

Online

• Visit our Citizen Access Portal

• Under the building section, click the Schedule an Inspection link
• This will direct you to a search page
• Enter the permit number in the Application/Permit Number field
  *If you do not know the permit number, you can enter the address into the Street No. and Street Name fields
• Click the search button at the bottom of the page
• On the page that appears, click the Request an After-hours Inspection link
• On the page you are redirected to, enter the appropriate information into all of the fields

When application is made for construction, the owner or owner’s representative shall employ one or more special inspectors to provide special inspections and tests during construction on the types of work specified in Chapter 17 of the Ohio Building Code and identify the approved agencies and inspectors on a “Statement of Special Inspections” form.  The Statement of Special Inspections will be a condition for issuance of the plan approval.  A list of approved agencies and inspectors can be found below.

For special inspector requirements for Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, please reference construction industry communication document 40.

Inspectors desiring to be considered on the list of approved inspectors may complete and submit a Special Inspector Application to our office.

Documents & Forms

•   Special Inspector Application
•   Special Inspection Qualifications
•   Special Inspection Testing Agencies and Inspectors
•   Statement of Special Inspections Form
•   CIC-40 Permit/inspection Process – Photovoltaic (PV) Systems