Building Inspections

Building Inspection Schedule

City of Santa Cruz - Inspection Schedule

Inspection schedules are posted by 8 AM on the morning of the scheduled inspection day. The inspection period is the two-hour window posted.

Scheduling Inspections

All inspections must be scheduled by phone. Please contact the Building Division at (831) 420-5110 to schedule an inspection.

Important Notes About Scheduling

Inspection requests made after 2 pm do not have the option for the next business day; rather they are scheduled for the second business day to allow us to schedule our routes.
Inspection requests submitted through voicemail are not guaranteed and should always be confirmed with admin or building staff.
Scheduled inspections may be canceled or changed by calling (831) 420-5110. Please give at least an hour’s notice before changing or canceling an appointment.

Preparing for Your Inspection

At the time of inspection, make sure the following are available on-site:

Please make sure the contractor, superintendent, or responsible party has walked the area of work to be inspected for completeness.
Approved plans if plan review was required
Your City of Santa Cruz issued permit card
Any equipment needed to do the inspection, such as a ladder.

Make sure all work being inspected is visible at the time of inspection. If any work has been covered, you will be asked to uncover it and schedule another inspection, and additional fees may be assessed.

About Inspections

Before you can request an inspection, you must first obtain the required permit(s) for the work you intend to do. Once you obtain a permit you can commence with the work. However, you must call for inspection before you cover or conceal any work.

Work is generally inspected and approved in succession and no work may continue beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the inspector. The inspector will make sure that the work is being performed in accordance with the applicable codes and standards.

Department Hold - Prior Coordination Required

If you have a department hold on your permit, make sure to schedule an inspection with all departments listed on your permit card prior to requesting a final inspection. Holds may be placed for Final Inspections and Frame Inspections, such as fire sprinklers. Department Holds are listed in the bottom left-hand corner of the permit card.