Inspection Requests and Procedures

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To ensure efficient scheduling and timely inspections, contractors, permit holders, and property owners shall comply with the following procedures:

Inspector Availability

• Building Inspectors are available for telephone calls between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., Monday through Friday.
• During field inspections, inspectors are generally unavailable for phone calls.
• Office staff are unable to contact inspectors in the field for questions, inspection status updates, or inspection results.

Scheduling Inspections

• Inspection requests must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. to be eligible for scheduling on the next business day.
• Inspection requests received after 4:00 p.m. will be scheduled for the next available inspection date.
• Inspection routes are established prior to the start of the workday. Same-day cancellations may require significant route adjustments and are subject to a rescheduling fee.

Job Site Readiness

• It is the responsibility of the contractor or permit holder to ensure the site is ready for inspection prior to requesting an inspection.
• If an inspector arrives and the work is not ready for inspection, a trip fee will be assessed.
• Required permits shall be posted and readily visible at the job site. Failure to post the permit may result in the inspection being denied and a trip fee being charged.

Inspection Times

• Inspection arrival times are estimates only and cannot be guaranteed.
• Inspection schedules may be affected by the duration of previous inspections, traffic conditions, emergency responses, weather events, or other unforeseen circumstances.
• Office staff cannot provide real-time updates regarding an inspector's location or estimated arrival time.

Inspection Results and Reinspections

• Inspectors typically do not return to the office during the workday. As a result, inspection results are generally unavailable to office staff until the following business day.
• Inspection results will be left at the job site, typically in the job box when one is available.
• Requests for reinspection may only be scheduled after inspection results have been entered into the permitting system and any applicable fees have been paid.
• Office staff cannot schedule a reinspection until the original inspection results have been finalized.

Rough-In and Final Inspections

• Rough-In and Final Inspections shall not be requested until all required framing, electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning work associated with the phase of inspection has been completed and is ready for review.
• Requests for inspections involving a single trade only must receive prior approval from a Building Inspector and may be subject to an inspection fee.

HVAC Final Inspections

• A qualified representative of the HVAC contractor shall be present on-site during all Final HVAC Inspections.

Utility Service Interruptions

• Utility service interruption inspections are scheduled on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays only.
• Requests must be submitted a minimum of two (2) business days in advance.
• Contractors shall contact their assigned inspector on the business day preceding the scheduled inspection to obtain an estimated time of arrival.

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Questions? Please call or email us!

Watauga County Planning and Inspections
126 Poplar Grove Connector, Suite 201
Boone, NC 28607
Phone: (828) 265-8043   Fax: (828) 265-8080
Email: p&i@watgov.org