Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
Amended Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14474.
All work for which a permit is required by the Chicago Construction Codes is subject to inspection by the building official in accordance with this chapter.
Certain types of construction work must have special inspections completed by special inspectors in accordance with Chapter 17 of the Chicago Building Code.
It is the duty of the owner to cause work that requires a permit to remain visible and able to be accessed for inspection purposes until inspected. Neither the building official nor the City will be liable for any expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection of work done pursuant to or without a required permit.
Inspectors do not have authority to approve conditions that violate the Chicago Construction Codes or other City ordinances. Inspection results or comments purporting to approve a violation of or cancel a provision of the Chicago Construction Codes or other City ordinances are invalid.
Where the building official is required to conduct more than one inspection of the same premises for the same purpose under the same permit because the previous inspection resulted in a finding of non-compliance with a provision of the Chicago Construction Codes or because the previous inspection could not be completed because the inspector was not provided full access to the premises, the building official is directed to charge a reinspection fee as set forth in Section 14A-12-1205.1.
Exception: The building official may not charge a reinspection fee where the subsequent inspection is due to an error made by the City.
Where an inspection of permitted work is specially requested by the owner or required due to inaccurate or incorrect information on the permit application, faulty construction or installation, or the failure to make necessary repairs, the building official is directed to charge an extra inspection fee as set forth in Section 14A-12-1205.1.
Added Coun. J. 4-10-19, p. 100029.
Amended Coun. J. 2-19-20, p. 14474.
Amended Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180.
It is the duty of the holder of the building permit or their duly authorized agent to notify the building official when work is ready for inspections as described in this section. It is the duty of the permit holder to provide access to and means for inspections of such work that are required by this section. If the building official notifies the permit holder that an inspected condition does not comply with the Chicago Construction Codes, the permit holder must promptly resolve that condition and may not cover or conceal the condition or area of work until authorized by the building official.
For purposes of this chapter, both the permit applicant named on the face of a permit certificate and the person in possession of the copy of the permit certificate that is required to be displayed at the work site pursuant to Section 14A-4-401.5 are considered holders of the permit. A trade license holder or other person who requests an inspection pursuant to this chapter is also presumed to be a holder of the permit.
The holder of a boiler or pressure vessel permit must notify the building official when the device installed under the permit is ready for inspection. It is unlawful for any person to use any boiler or tank or tanks subject to pressure, other than the pressure in the city water mains, before the building official has issued a certificate stating that the boiler or tank may be safely used. This certificate must be framed and hung in a conspicuous place in the same room as the equipment.
The permit holder must notify the building official when work done pursuant to a permit is ready for the types of inspections listed in Sections 14A-5-502.3.1 through 14A-5-502.3.5. Upon notification, the building official is directed to cause the inspections to be made or otherwise verify ongoing compliance with the Chicago Construction Codes and allow the work to proceed.
Footing and foundation inspections must be requested after excavations for footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place. For concrete foundations, any required forms must be in place and materials for the foundation must be on the site before inspection.
Exception: Where concrete is ready-mixed in accordance with Chapter 19 of the Chicago Building Code, the concrete need not be on site before inspection.
Concrete slab and under-floor inspections must be requested after in-slab or under-floor reinforcing steel and building service equipment, conduit, piping accessories, and other ancillary equipment items are in place, but before any concrete is placed or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.
Framing inspections must be requested after the roof deck or sheathing, framing, fire-blocking, and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys, and vents to be concealed are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, heating systems' wires, pipes, and ducts have been inspected.
The final inspection must be requested after all work required by the building permit is substantially completed.
In addition to the inspections specified in Sections 14A-5-502.3.1 through 14A-5-502.3.4, the building official is authorized to make or require other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of the Chicago Construction Codes and other laws that are enforced by the building official.
The permit holder must notify the building official when conveyance devices are ready for inspection. Conveyance devices must be inspected in accordance with Section 103 of the Chicago Conveyance Device Code.
Mechanical amusement riding devices must be inspected by the building official before they may be opened to the public. Where devices are taken down, removed, reassembled or re-erected in another location, they must be inspected again before they may be re-opened to the public.
The permit holder must notify the building official when electrical work done pursuant to a permit is ready for the following types of inspections:
- Rough inspection, after the roof, framing, fireblocking, firestopping, draftstopping, and bracing is in place and all electrical raceway is roughed-in, and before the installation of wall or ceiling membranes.
- Final inspection, after all electrical fixtures are in place and properly connected and the work area is ready for occupancy.
The permit holder must notify the building official when plumbing work done pursuant to a permit is ready for the following types of inspections:
- Underground inspection, after trenches or ditches are excavated and bedded, piping installed, and before any backfill is put in place.
- Rough inspection, after the roof, framing, fireblocking, firestopping, draftstopping, and bracing is in place and all sanitary, storm, and water distribution piping is roughed-in, and before the installation of wall or ceiling membranes.
- Final inspection, after all plumbing fixtures are in place and properly connected and the work area is ready for occupancy.
The permit holder must notify the building official when mechanical refrigeration work done pursuant to a permit is ready for the following types of inspections:
- Where portions of the mechanical refrigeration system will be concealed by construction: rough inspection, after the roof, framing, fireblocking, firestopping, draftstopping, and bracing is in place and all distribution piping is roughed-in, and before the installation of wall or ceiling membranes.
- Final inspection, upon completion of the mechanical refrigeration system.
The permit holder must notify the building official when mechanical ventilation work done pursuant to a permit is ready for the following types of inspections:
- Rough inspection, after the roof, framing, fireblocking, firestopping, draftstopping, and bracing is in place and all ducting and other components to be concealed are complete, and before the installation of wall or ceiling membranes.
- Final inspection, upon completion of the ventilation system.
Added Coun. J. 6-25-21, p. 32180.
Ordinary demolition work is not required to request progress inspections. For complex
demolition work, requirements for progress inspections will be determined by the building official
during the preliminary inspection in accordance with Section 14A-4-401.2. For complex
demolition work, progress inspections must be requested by the permit holder as directed by the
building official.
Where, prior to permit issuance, the building official determines progress inspections will
be required for demolition work, an amount equal to the minimum fee for an extra
inspection provided in Section 14A-5-501.5 must be added to the permit fee for each
required progress inspection.
For each progress inspection in excess of the number of progress inspections
incorporated in the permit fee pursuant to Section 14A-5-503.1.1, the owner must pay an
extra inspection fee in accordance with Section 14A-5-501.5 prior to final inspection.
A final inspection must be requested after demolition and required site grading is complete.
Exception:
Where demolition is performed in anticipation of subsequent construction at
the site and a permit for the subsequent construction is issued prior to completion of the
demolition, the final inspection may be requested after excavation for the new
construction has commenced.
Either a progress inspection or final inspection must be requested within 180 days of permit
issuance. Demolition permits are subject to the general permit suspension and expiration
provisions in Section 14A-4-413.