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Development Services

Special Inspections

Special Inspection Resources

  • Duties: Special Inspectors/Labs/Agencies
    This technical bulletin provides an overview of the duties and responsibilities of special inspectors registered by the City of San Diego to perform special inspections. Special inspections are in addition to and not a substitution for the inspections performed by the City inspector. This bulletin also establishes the duties and responsibilities of material testing laboratories and special inspection agencies approved by the City to provide testing of materials and special inspection services. For more information, call Inspection Services at 858-492-5070 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the most current information on construction material testing laboratories and agencies.
  • Approved Construction Materials Testing Laboratories and Special Inspection Agencies
    List of construction materials testing laboratories and special inspection agencies approved by the City of San Diego Development Services Department. This list is subject to change without notice. Call  Inspection Services at 858-492-5070 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the most current information.
  • Registered Special Inspector Roster
    The roster contains a list of active and registered Special Inspectors who can work on projects within the City of San Diego. Call the Inspection Services at 858-492-5070 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, for more information.

Special Inspection Forms

These forms are used in construction projects when the project architect and/or engineer of record has specified types(s) of work requiring special inspections, material testing and structural observations in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 17 of the California Building Code.

Special Inspector Registration

  • How to Become Registered As An Approved Special Inspector
    Technical Bulletin 17-1 Revised July 2020
    This Technical Bulletin establishes the requirements and the process for becoming a registered special inspector with the City of San Diego.

  • Application for Special Inspector Registration
    FORM DS-320 Revised March 2024
    This application is required to be submitted to the Building Official of the City of San Diego for consideration for approval as a Registered Special Inspector for inspection of the particular type of construction or operation requiring special inspection regulated by the City of San Diego.