Inspections are performed when there is an active permit issued by the Building Department.

It is the permit holder's responsibility to notify the Building Department when the project is ready for an inspection. If a contractor is requesting an inspection, it is the contractor's responsibility to notify the homeowner of the date of the inspection. The contractor should make the homeowner aware that a Building Inspector will be visiting their property.   

All permits require at least a final inspection. If you have a small project that just involves one trade such as an electrical upgrade, a mechanical change out, etc., then a final inspection will be required when the project is complete.  Other more involved projects may require multiple inspections throughout the process.

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Here are some common types of required inspections:

FOR MECHANICAL CHANGE OUTS:
Virtual inspections are encouraged for HVAC change-outs of electric units. Click here for additional details. 

FOR RE-ROOFING:
Virtual inspections are encouraged for Re-Roofing Permits. Click here for additional details.

FOR MOBILE HOMES:
The final inspection should be performed when the mobile home has been installed and tied down - but before the skirting is installed. These are the items that will be inspected:

• Tie-downs
• Service connections (electrical, sewer, and water)
• Mover Certification Sticker that must be signed and dated
• Proper egress steps or stairs, to include landings, handrails, or guardrails as needed

FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION:

• Footing Inspection - once all reinforcement is placed & supported
• Plumbing: Open Trench Inspection (Rough-In) - piping underground with water head
• Slab Ready to Pour Concrete (Not Plumbing) Inspection - vapor barrier & wire mesh shall be supported at 5ft intervals
• Vapor Barrier* - only if installing exterior wall covering prior to 4-Way Inspection
• Brick Tie Inspection* - only if installing brick veneer prior to 4-Way Inspection
• 4-Way Inspection – includes Framing, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Sprinkler System. Obtain all trade permits prior to scheduling. Also, the following is required prior to scheduling:
  • Framing: All components installed, rough framing, provide truss details (if applicable), strapping, sheathing, vapor barrier, brick ties, windows, flashing, exterior doors, fire blocking, bracing, thermal barriers, etc.
  • Mechanical: All components installed, supply, return, make up air and exhaust duct work supported, tapped, and mastic. Air handler (if applicable), all attic installed mechanical equipment requires minimum 30in work platform and minimum 24in walk way to access equipment, condensate lines, etc.
  • Electrical: All components installed, wiring, strapping, nail guards where required, switch, receptacle, smoke alarm junction boxes installed. All circuits must be landed at sub panel. Main feeders and dedicated circuits routed and strapped to service panel location, etc.
  • Plumbing: All components installed, DWV-drain, waste vent piping with water head supported and nail guards installed where required, water closet flanges, washer box, ice maker box, shower/tub units, etc. Pressurize water supply piping.
  • Fire Sprinkler System: All blaze orange piping installed, supported, pressurized, and terminated at head location.

• Energy Inspection - Insulation/air barriers installed. Seal all wall plates and around windows/doors.
• Final Building Inspection - Glazing protection on site and fasteners installed (if applicable). Upload copies of the following documents prior to scheduling:
  • Duct Pressure Test (if applicable)
  • Blower Door Test (if applicable)
  • Finished Construction Elevation Certificate (if applicable)
  • US Fish & Wildlife final inspection results (if applicable)
• Final Site Inspection - To be performed by the Planning & Zoning Department. Only required for certain properties located in Zoned Areas. 

* Some inspections may be performed virtually with photos uploaded into the portal.

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NOTES:

• Inspections are performed to verify compliance with minimum standards of the applicable building codes and supplemental codes. You may view adopted codes on the Building Department website. 
• The Baldwin County Building Department does not provide verification that the construction will qualify for any certification programs.
• Inspections required for certification programs must be performed by third party inspectors in accordance with program certification requirements.

It is the permit holder's responsibility to notify the Building Department when the project is ready for an inspection. If a contractor is requesting an inspection, it is the contractor's responsibility to notify the homeowner of the date of the inspection. The contractor should make the homeowner aware that a Building Inspector will be visiting their property.   

All inspections must be requested through the Citizenserve Portal. Same day inspection requests are not accepted. Inspections must be requested at least one day in advance and can be requested up until midnight the night before the inspection is needed. We cannot guarantee AM or PM time frames. Make sure your project is ready for inspection by the day it is scheduled. There is a $45.00 re-inspection fee if your project is not ready for inspection when the inspector arrives. Make sure all required permits are on file prior to requesting an inspection. If you schedule a 4-way inspection and there is a trade permit missing, the inspection request will be cancelled. No mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or other building services are to be covered prior to approval of required inspections.

Log in to the Citizenserve Portal. Click on “My Account”, then “View My Requests”, then choose “Building Department” from the drop down list, then click on the permit #. Next, click on “Schedule an Inspection”. When the inspector has completed the inspection, the permit holder will receive an email notification with the inspection report results.

Information for scheduling a virtual inspection for a Re-Roofing Permit
Information for scheduling a virtual inspection for a Mechanical Permit/HVAC Change-Out

Permits are valid for 180 days after the issue date. If no inspections are performed within the 180 days, the permit will expire. Each time an inspection is performed, the permit expiration date is extended and the 180 days starts over again.

If your permit is close to the expiration date, here are options you may choose from to keep your permit file active or to close your file:

1. If your project is ready for an inspection, you may schedule the inspection prior to the expiration date. Login to the Citizenserve Portal. Click on “My Account”, then “View My Requests”, choose “Building Department” from the drop-down list, then click on the permit # listed above. Next, click on “Request an Inspection”. Same day inspection requests are not accepted. We cannot guarantee morning or afternoon time frames. After the inspection is completed, you will receive the inspection report results via email. 

***NOTE: If you schedule an inspection that is not valid for the stage of the project, you will be charged a re-inspection fee of $45.00.***

***NOTE: It is the contractor's responsibility to notify the homeowner that the inspection has been scheduled.***

For Virtual Re-Roofing Inspections only: In addition to requesting the inspection, you will also need to click on “Upload Documents” to submit photos. You must take photos during the process of repairing and/or replacing the roof. Each of the photos should include the permit number and the project address. You may hold the yellow permit card in the photos or a copy of the printed permit document in the photos. You could even write the permit number and the project address on a piece of paper or cardboard and hold it in the photos. You must provide the roofing photos in order for it to be a valid inspection that will extend the expiration date. If no photos are uploaded, the expiration date of the Re-Roofing Permit will not change. The photos must include:

• Deck nailing with tape measure showing nail spacing
• Deck seam tape
• Synthetic underlayment OR ice and water / Peel and stick underlayment (no seam tape required)
• Drip edge
• Shingles - nailing pattern showing 6 nails per shingle
• Any flashing used
• Finished roof photos 

For Virtual Mechanical HVAC Change-Out Inspections for electric units only: In addition to requesting the inspection, you will also need to click on “Upload Documents” to submit photos. You must take photos during the process of changing out the electrical HVAC unit. Each of the photos should include the permit number. You may use a marker to write on the HVAC unit or hold a piece of paper in fron of the unit in the photos. You must provide the HVAC photos in order for it to be a valid inspection that will extend the expiration date. If no photos are uploaded, the expiration date of the Mechanical Permit will not change. The photos must include:

• A/C compressor unit properly anchored (tied down) to the platform
• Compressor name plate showing the required maximum overcurrent protection and minimum circuitry amps
• Labeled circuit breaker for A/C compressor (Circuit breaker must meet maximum overcurrent and minimum circuitry amp requirements.)
• Heater nameplate showing heater KW and the maximum required overcurrent protection
• Labeled heater circuit breaker (Circuit breaker must meet maximum overcurrent protection and minimum circuitry amp requirements.
• Installed air handler (including condensate overflow protection)

Log into the Citizenserve Portal, click MY ACCOUNT, then click VIEW MY REQUESTS. Choose BUILDING DEPARTMENT from the drop down list, click on the permit number that the document(s) applies to, then click UPLOAD DOCUMENTS. You can select and upload multiple files at one time.

Log into the Citizenserve Portal, click MY ACCOUNT, then click VIEW MY REQUESTS. Choose BUILDING DEPARTMENT in the drop down list, click on the permit number that your question or comment is related to, then click LEAVE A MESSAGE. Your message will be automatically assigned to the staff member who is responsible for your file.

A Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.) is issued for new construction and for change of use only. No building shall be occupied without benefit of a Certificate of Occupancy. A C.O. will not be issued until all required permits have been obtained, all required paperwork is on file, and a final building inspection has been approved. Some zoned properties also require a final site inspection to be approved by the Planning and Zoning Department.

DO NOT EXPECT the C.O. to be issued on the same day as the final inspection. Please allow up to two business days after the approved final inspection has been completed for processing and issuance of the C.O. The C.O. will be emailed to the permit holder.