After obtaining a permit and beginning construction work, inspections are required before any work can be covered or concealed. Construction is not approved until it has been inspected and accepted by inspection staff. It is the responsibility of the contractor or the owner to schedule all required inspections. Learn more about the 
inspection process and the types of inspections. All inspections are scheduled online.
Problems Scheduling an Inspection Online?
Please refer to our troubleshooting guide for tips on common inspection scheduling issues. You can also call 858-492-5070 for general questions about inspections or to report problems with scheduling inspections online.
On this page:
The City conducts more than 200 different types of inspections on commercial and residential projects. These include construction, additions, alterations or demolition of:
Summary: Standard inspections must be scheduled at least one day in advance. To schedule online you must know the Inspection Contact # associated with your project. This number will act as a PIN code giving you access to the online scheduling system.
If you want the inspector to call you back with an inspection time frame; leave your contact phone number in the "Comments for Inspector" box when scheduling. The inspector will contact you before 10 a.m. on the day of your scheduled inspection.
Schedule: Inspections are performed on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A high volume of inspection requests may result in some inspections not being completed on the day requested. After-hour, holiday or weekend inspections outside of these hours may be requested at an additional cost.
Cost: Standard inspection costs are included in the permit fees and are conducted at no extra cost to the applicant.
To schedule an inspection, select your permit below.
Virtual inspections, using the Microsoft Teams conferencing platform, will be conducted with customers at the job site and a City inspector reviewing qualified projects remotely. Here is a list of single-family, duplex and townhouse project types that are qualified for virtual inspections:
Schedule: VirtVirtual inspections are performed on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Cost: Virtual inspections are conducted at no extra cost to the applicant if conducted during normal business hours. If conducted outside of normal business hours, see Information Bulletin 501 to view the fee schedule.
Enhanced inspections offer additional non-standard scheduling options. These include:
Requirements: All requests shall be submitted to the inspection office a minimum of one business day in advance, except as noted below. Enhanced Inspections can be scheduled by completing and submitting DSD form DS-167.
Cost: Enhanced inspections are subject to additional fees, except the Virtual Inspection option which is free of additional charge if performed during normal business hours. If a Virtual Inspection is requested during non-business hours, additional fees apply. See Information Bulletin 501 to view the fee schedule.
You can cancel inspections online or through the automated phone line. However, canceling inspections on the day that they are scheduled can only be done by contacting Inspection Services during regular business hours (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at 858-492-5070.
Inspectors are available by phone on normal business days from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. Messages left afterward may not be returned until the following business day. To contact a specific inspector, use the staff directory.
The following is required at the time of inspection:
Information Bulletin 585 for more information. Construction Industry Exposure Prevention Plan outlines an effective response to a potential exposure event and promotes preventative workplace habits in order to mitigate transmission of the virus between employees, contractors, etc. Field Evaluation & Equipment Testing Agencies - The following companies are acceptable to the City of San Diego
