Building Inspections
All building permits will require an inspection, when City staff will check to make sure you are doing the work according to your submitted plans.
For many projects, you will need to schedule an inspection with the City of Berkeley. The inspector will visit your project site to make sure that you are following the plans you submitted to get your permit. Be sure to have your printed copies of your permit, approved plans, and job card on site during your inspection.
The job card you receive when your permit is approved will have information about what inspections you will need to schedule. You may need to schedule an inspection as the construction work is in progress as well as a final inspection when the work is complete.
Property owners are responsible for ensuring their projects pass the necessary inspections. However, contractors can schedule inspections and be the contact person on-site during the inspection.
Schedule online or by phone
You can schedule your inspection online or through a 24-hour automated phone system.
To schedule online:
- Visit Permits Online
- For a building permit inspection, click on the Building Permits tab. For a public works inspection, click on the Public Works tab.
- Enter your permit number, using the format: B2017-XXXXX
- Click through to your permit record, then click Record Info and Inspections.
- Click the link to Schedule or Request an Inspection
Review the Online Building Permits Guide for detailed instructions on scheduling an inspection online.
To schedule by phone:
- Call (510) 981-7440
- Select Option 1
- Enter the 9-digit Permit Number (Ex:2021-xxxx)
- Follow the automated instructions to schedule your inspection
Review the Self-Scheduled Inspections Brochure for detailed instructions on scheduling an inspection by phone.
On the morning of your scheduled inspection day, you will be able to check the estimated time of your inspection online.
Inspections generally take place Monday through Friday between 9 am and 4 pm. To request an after-hours inspection for an additional fee, fill out a Request for After Hours Inspections form and send it to buildingandsafety@cityofberkeley.info.
Follow your plans to pass your inspection
To pass your inspection, follow your plans exactly as submitted when you applied for your permit. Contact the Permit Service Center before making any changes to your plan, as you may need additional review and approval.
If you do not pass your inspection, you will receive an Inspection Report that lists items for you to correct. Once you address all of the items on the Inspection Report, you will need to schedule a re-inspection.
Schedule all final inspections for the same day
You must schedule all final inspections for the same day.
For example, if your permit indicates you need Building, Electrical, Mechanical and Plumbing final inspections, then all four final inspections must be scheduled together on the same day.
Be sure to have any required documentation available for your inspector, such as the smoke and carbon monoxide affidavits, special inspection reports, and final engineering affidavits.
The City assigns inspectors by area
The City of Berkeley has seven building inspection areas. To find your area, find your address on the Building Inspection Areas PDF. You can also look up inspector areas on the City’s GIS Portal by clicking to expand the Property & Planning layer, and checking the Building Inspection Areas box.