Inspections

• Scheduling an Inspection
• General Information About Inspections
• When is an inspection required?
• Civil/Site Inspections
• Special Inspections
• Business License Inspection

Scheduling an Inspection

Please note that the City of Rohnert Park requires a minimum of 24 hours notice for inspections (not including weekends or holidays), and inspections are scheduled ONLY with our return phone call, fax, or e-mail. Please call (707) 588-2239, Fax (707) 794-9242, or e-mail building@rpcity.org to leave a message that includes the following information:

• The building permit number
• The day you want the inspection,
• Whether you want a morning or an afternoon inspection,
• The address of the project,
• The type of inspection you are requesting,
• The name of a person we can contact regarding this inspection,
• A telephone number, fax number or e-mail address where you can be reached.

Your inspection will be scheduled only with our return phone call, fax, or e-mail, and providing that you have supplied all of the requested information.

General Information About Inspections

• Construction or work on a project must not begin until a building permit has been issued.
• All construction or work for which a building permit is required must be inspected by the Building Department
• All permitted construction must remain accessible & exposed for inspection purposes until approved by the building inspector.
• Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of code or other ordinance of this jurisdiction.
• If you have questions about which inspection are required on your project or in what order those inspections are required please call the building inspector at (707) 588-2241.
• The permit inspection record card and all approved jobsite copy of plans must remain on the jobsite and readily accessible by the building inspector.
• The building inspector will sign off each inspection or indicate corrections to be made; a reinspection is required when corrections are completed.
• Construction or work shall not be beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining approval of the Building Department.
• Appointments to have a building inspection performed - see Scheduling an Inspection above.

When is an inspection required?

Inspection requirements vary depending on the type of permit that has been issued, i.e. building, electrical, mechanical or plumbing, and the extent of the work. A good "rule of thumb" is to never cover the work until an inspection is made. The following section gives a brief description of required inspections, but remember, whenever in doubt about inspection requirements contact the Building Department (707-588-2240). It is also important for permit holders to know that, unless a Final Inspection is performed and the work approved, Building Department records show the work as incomplete.

The following list of examples of inspections relates to each permit category. It is representational only and may or may not include all of the required inspections for your project.

Building

• Foundation work including footing excavations, pier bores and reinforcement for footings, stem walls & piers.
• Concrete slabs are inspected for conformance to the plans as well as adherence to Rohnert Park's Local Building Code Amendments, Sub-Section Numbers 1815.2, 1900. 4.4.2 & 1900.4.4.3.
• Framing, including walls, floors, ceiling & roof. (whether new or replacement work)
• Special structural components such as shear walls, hold downs & strapping
• Insulation
• Sheet rock.
• Final inspection and approval

Roofing

• Nailing of sheathing (new or replacement)
• In-progress
• Final inspection & approval

Electrical

• Temporary power, new service & upgraded service size.
• Rough electrical including conductors, panels, fixture & receptacle boxes.
• Final inspection and approval

Mechanical

• New and replacement water heaters
• Gas line installation or repairs over 10 ft. in length.
• New or replacement air conditioners or heating appliances.
• Final inspection & approval

Plumbing

• Rough plumbing including supply lines and drain, waste or vent lines.
• Back flow preventing devices, including those associated with residential landscaping systems.
• Gas piping
• Floor drains
• Grease interceptors
• Final inspection & approval

Civil/Site Inspections

The City of Rohnert Park Building Department shares civil/site inspection responsibility with other City departments. The list below delineates those features which the Building Department performs the inspections, for all other site inspections contact the City of Rohnert Park Engineering Department (707-588-2232), or Fire Services at (707-584-2600):

• Conduit and wiring.
• Piers for light standards.
• Sewer Piping > 2' from building (either Building Dept. or Engineering Dept. will inspect).
• Storm sewer piping > 2' from the building
• Water supply piping > 2' from the building
• Accessibility features (private).
• Concrete residential ramps, loading dock ramps, piers for light standards, miscellaneous flatwork.
• Building pad materials & compaction (A special inspection report is a requirement of the City & shall be prepared as described in Municipal Code Section 15.08.040).

Special Inspections

The Rohnert Park Building Department requires Special Inspections by approved third party inspectors for certain construction features, pursuant to Section No. 1701 of the California Building Standards Code. The owner employs the special inspection agency; however, the City's Building Official must approve both the special inspection agency as well as the inspector representing the agency. It is the responsibility of the project architect or engineer to list all required Special Inspections on the tile sheet of the drawings. The following is representational list of required Special Inspections.

• During grading, filling & compaction of building pad.
• Concrete, except when specifically exempted, during the taking of concrete test specimens & the placement of reinforced concrete.
• Bolts placed in concrete, unless specifically exempted.
• Special Moment-resisting concrete frames.
• During placing, stressing & grouting of tendons in prestressed concrete.
• All structural welding unless exempted per code or by the Building Official.
• High Strength Bolting.
• Structural Masonry.
• Spray-applied fire-resistive materials.
• During construction cast in place drilled piers.
• During the placing of shotcrete.
• Smoke-control systems.

Business License Inspection

A Building Department inspection of all facilities prior to issuance of a City of Rohnert Park business license is required. Please contact the City of Rohnert Park Finance Department at (707) 585-6700 if you have questions about obtaining a business license.