Inspection results

Your result is recorded on the permit, usually the same day, and you'll be notified. Here's what each outcome means and what to do next.

The office handling your application may use different wording than you see here — the outcomes work the same way.

Passed

The work meets requirements for this stage. You can move on, including covering up work that needed to be visible.

Check whether another inspection comes next. Most projects have a sequence, and the permit lists it.

Failed, or corrections required

Something needs to change before this stage can be approved. The inspector records what and, usually, why.

This is common and it's fixable. It doesn't affect your permit's validity and it isn't a mark against you.

What to do:

Partial approval

Some of the work passed, some didn't, or only part could be inspected. The notes say which.

Treat the outstanding portion as a failed item: correct it and request the follow-up. Don't assume a partial pass lets you cover anything up — check the notes first.

Cancelled or not ready

The inspector couldn't complete the visit — no access, work not ready, or the inspection was called off.

Confirm the work is genuinely ready, then request again. If this happens twice, a call to the office is worth more than a third request.

Why results sometimes surprise people

A different inspector may see something the last one didn't. Inspections cover different things at different stages, and a pass at rough-in isn't a judgment on everything visible at the time.

Approved plans aren't a guarantee of a pass. Plan review checks the drawings; inspection checks what was actually built. They can diverge — usually because something changed on site.

Field changes need to be reflected somewhere. If the work deviates from the approved plans, it'll come up. Raise it early rather than hoping it passes; a revision is far cheaper than undoing finished work.

Reading the notes

Inspection notes are written quickly and in the field, so they're often brief and use trade shorthand. If a note doesn't make sense, ask — the office, using the details on your portal. Have your permit number and the inspection date ready.

If a contractor is doing the work, send them the notes directly. They're usually written for whoever is on the tools.

When all inspections pass

Once every required inspection has passed, your permit can be finalized and closed. Depending on your project, there may be a final document confirming the work is approved for use — the office can tell you what applies to yours.