Austin Development Services

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Building Inspections

The Building Inspection Division conducts inspections of new construction, remodels, and trades (electrical, mechanical, and plumbing) to ensure compliance with applicable building codes. After you activate your permits, you will coordinate each stage of construction with the appropriate inspections and applicable City departments (see One-Time Inspections). Inspections are the final steps in the development and permitting process and ensure that everything is built as approved and in compliance with public health and safety regulations.  

An inspection may be conducted during construction or upon completion of the permitted work, but it is up to the applicant to schedule it. Inspections can be scheduled online via the AB+C Portal or by phone. Depending on the scope of work, a final inspection may result in the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, which confirms that a structure is safe for occupancy. Visit the Certificate of Occupancy webpage for information on obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO).

For general questions or emergency inspections, please email Building Inspections.

What you will find on this page:

Schedule an Inspection 

You can schedule an inspection online or by phone. Visit the Schedule a Building Inspection webpage to learn more.

Inspection Hours

Regular Business Hours

Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 

After-Hours Inspections 

Inspections can be scheduled outside of regular business hours. Please contact your assigned inspector directly for more information on scheduling an after-hours inspection. After hour inspection fees may apply, please review Austin Development Services' Fee Schedule.

Electrical After-Hours Inspections

For after-hours inspections related to an electrical shutdown, please contact Hyatt Dunn.

Emergency Inspections

Emergency inspections are available 24/7. Please visit the Permits for Emergency Repairs webpage for more information. 

Note: Inspections are usually performed 24 hours after scheduling, but an inspector’s workload can delay a scheduled inspection until the next business day or 48 hours after scheduling.


General

Resources
Printing Approved Plan Set 

The permit holder and owner-general contractor must ensure that a paper copy of the approved plan set is available on-site for review by the City inspections staff. Failure to provide the City-approved set of plans may result in failed inspections and delays in receiving a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Occupancy. 

Locating Active Permits

Approved plan sets can be downloaded from the Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) Portal using your AB+C Portal account or Public Search. To locate using Public Search you will need the Plan Review (PR) number or address. 

Step 1: Visit the AB+C Portal

Navigate to Public Search on the AB+C Portal . Click the AB+C ‘Public Search’ option on the top right corner of the page.

publicsearch2.png


Step 2: Search for your PR number

In the "Search By" tab, enter your Plan Review (PR) number and click the "Search" button.

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 Step 3: Select Permit/Case Number

Select the applicable Permit/Case number associated with your scope of work and click into the permit "Detail". 

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Step 4: Download Approved Plan Set 

Click the "Folder Attachment" tab on the Plan Review (PR) and click "Download" to access the approved plan set. 

publicsearch4.png

For additional instructions on how to navigate the AB + C Portal please refer to the AB+C Manual.  

Unavailable Plans 

Please contact Commercial or Residential Intake if you cannot locate the plans. Staff will verify that plans are available for download on the AB+C Portal.

If a plan set is unavailable for download, please submit a Public Information Request (PIR) to retrieve the original from off-site storage. Staff will provide a cost estimate for this retrieval and will work with customers directly to send the original for copying/scanning. The reprographics company of choice will charge the customer for the copies and scans. 

How to Upload Attachments in the AB+C Portal

Supporting documentation may be required as part of your inspection. Uploading items such as surveys, photos, and engineering reports provide inspectors with the information needed to verify compliance and helps prevent delays in processing your inspection. Follow these steps after logging into your AB+C Portal account.

Step 1: Locate Permit

Any permits that are older than 6 months will appear under "Older Permits/Cases". Recent permits can be found under "My Permits/Cases". 

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Step 2: View Permit Details

Click the "Detail" button next to the applicable permit to open the permit record.  

ABC_Upload-Attachment-Step-2.png

 

Step 3: Upload Attachment

Navigate to the "Folder Attachment" tab and follow the instructions to add your file. You can upload your supporting documents and select or write a description for the attachment.

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Once uploaded, the file will appear under the "Folder Attachment" tab for review. 

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Code Information

The City of Austin follows the 2024 International Building Codes and the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code.

Local amendments to the International Building Codes are included in the City’s Building Technical Codes. View the Technical Codes and code interpretations for each discipline.

Building Inspection is the approval authority for all inspections regulated by the following Technical Codes:

Commercial Building Code (International Building Code)
Applies to all structures other than one-and-two-family dwellings and townhomes and applies to construction when a building is remodeled, or there is a change of occupancy.

Residential One-and-Two-Family Dwelling Code (International Residential Code)
Applies to all one-and-two-family dwellings and townhouses and includes mechanical, plumbing, and energy system requirements.

Plumbing Code (Uniform Plumbing Code)
Applies to all plumbing system installations. In addition, natural gas installations are also regulated by the plumbing code.

Commercial Mechanical Code (Uniform Mechanical Code)
Applies to all mechanical systems regulated by the Commercial Building Code.

Electrical Code (National Electrical Code)
Applies to all electrical systems installed in the jurisdiction.

The Energy Code (PDF) (International Energy Conservation Code)
Applies to all commercial and residential projects.

Appeals of code interpretations may be heard before the Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals, the Electric Board, or the Mechanical, Plumbing, and Solar Board.

Austin’s Construction and Demolition Recycling Ordinance requires affected projects to divert waste from the landfill. General contractors must reuse or recycle at least 50% of construction debris and submit a construction recycling report online when the final building inspection is requested.

For more information about codes and regulations, visit Codes, Resources, and Tools.

Top 10 Tips for a Successful Inspection
  1. Verify work is complete before the scheduled inspection.
  2. Verify all deficiencies have been corrected for re-inspections.
  3. Schedule the inspection on the Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) Portal and use the Inspection Comment Tool.
  4. Ensure the job site is accessible and special access information is provided directly to the assigned inspector or listed on inspection request comments.
  5. Ensure the job site address is posted and visible from the street, including all unit's on-site identification.
  6. Ensure the latest city-approved plans are accessible for inspection staff.
  7. Ensure all required documentation is uploaded to the permit.
  8. Ensure all prerequisite inspections are completed before requesting a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy or final building inspection.
  9. Ensure someone familiar with the project is available and communicate with your inspector during the inspection.
  10. Review the building inspections webpage for the latest updates. 
One-Time Inspections Phone List

If you are receiving error messages in reference to one-time inspections when attempting to schedule the 112 Final Building, you will need to contact the Partner Department/Division Contact to ask them to clear the "one-time inspections" so you can schedule the 112 Final Building. 

Please note: Environmental Inspections must be scheduled through the Environmental Inspections webpage. All other inspections can be scheduled by emailing or calling that department. 

Inspection Type

Email

Phone

Environmental Inspections

600 - EV TCO Occupancy

601 - EV TCO Stocking

617 - Landscape TCO Occupancy

618 - Landscape TCO Stocking

602 - Environmental Inspection

603 - Landscaping

Environmental Pre-Construction &

Residential Tree Inspections

environmental.inspections@austintexas.gov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

512-978-4687

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Department

606 - Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

607 - Fire TCO Stocking

608 - Fire TCO Occupancy

609 - Fire

fireprevention@austintexas.gov512-974-0153
Option 3

Austin Water

610 - AW Temp Utilities

611 - Water Tap

612 - On-Site Sewage Facility Inspections (OSSF)

625 - Auxiliary Water Inspection 

AW Water Conservation Irrigation Inspection 

awtaps@austintexas.gov

 

 

OSSF@austintexas.gov

Charles.Deatherage@austintexas.gov

AWIrrigationInspection@austintexas.gov 

512-972-1000
Option 3


 

512-972-0050

512-972-1076 

 

Austin Public Health
(located at RLC, 1520 Rutherford Ln)

613 - Health TCO Stocking

614 - Health TCO Occupancy

615 - Health Inspections

APHPlanReview@austintexas.gov512-974-3325
Atmos Energy 888-286-6700

Emergency:
866-322-8667
Centerpoint Energyservicepermit@centerpointenergy.com 
Texas Gas Services 866-206-9587
How to Prevent a Permit from Expiring

Visit the Modify a Permit webpage to learn more about reactivating an expired permitwithdrawing an active or pending permit, and extending the expiration date of an active permit.


Commercial 

Commercial Special Inspection Process

A Statement of Special Inspections form must be completed for projects submitted after February 13, 2017. In addition, a field folder will be issued with the permit when a special inspection is required. The field folder must be kept on-site at all times and include a special inspection log and other forms to be completed by the special inspector/testing agency.

Commercial Process Flowcharts
Commercial Inspection Checklists
Commercial Building Inspector Phone List

If you have an active permit, you can contact:

  1. Your assigned Building Inspector to share details like the gate or lock box code and when you plan to arrive.
  2. The Inspection Supervisor if you have questions about building codes.

For general building and permit-related questions, please contact the following divisions:

Visit the Contact Austin Development Services webpage to view live chat hours.


Find Your Inspector - search by address, find inspectors and contact information.


Commercial | Administration | Right of Way (ROW) 
 

Commercial Building Inspectors

 

Commercial Plumbing Inspectors

 

Commercial Mechanical Inspectors

 

Commercial Electrical Inspectors

 

Commercial Division Manager

Name

Email

Phone

Marty Starrett - Manager martin.starrett@austintexas.govOffice: 512-974-3488

 

Inspection Administration

Name

Email

Phone

Rick Arzola - Business Process Specialistrick.arzola@austintexas.govOffice: 512-974-2417
Cell: 512-550-5836
Gloria Alvarado - Business Process Specialistgloria.alvarado2@austintexas.govOffice: 512-978-4646
Cell: 512-264-4842

 

Right of Way (ROW)

Name

Email

Phone

Right of Way Divisionrightofway@austintexas.gov512-974-7828
Commercial Appointments and Contact

Contact Us

For general questions, email us at building.inspections@austintexas.gov

For Commercial and technical inspection questions for your approved and active permit, please email the appropriate contact below:

Building - joshua.williams3@austintexas.gov
Mechanical - charles.ablanedo@austintexas.gov
Electrical - hyatt.dunn@austintexas.gov
Plumbing - chad.watson@austintexas.gov
 

Appointments

Appointments are only for questions about general inspection policies and procedures for Commercial Inspections.

Expected Appointment Duration: 15 minutes

Schedule here:


Residential 

Residential Process Flowcharts
Residential Inspection Checklists
Residential Building Inspector Phone List

If you have an active permit, you can contact:

  1. Your assigned Building Inspector to share details like the gate or lock box code and when you plan to arrive.
  2. The Inspection Supervisor if you have questions about building codes.

For general building and permit-related questions, please contact the following divisions:

Visit the Contact Austin Development Services webpage to view live chat hours.


Find Your Inspector - search by address, find inspectors and contact information.

Residential | Administration | Right of Way (ROW) 

Residential Inspections - Northwest Austin Territory

 

Residential Inspections - Northeast Austin Territory

 


Residential Inspections - Southwest Austin Territory

 

Residential Inspections - Southeast Austin Territory

 

Residential Division Manager

Name

Email

Phone

Scott Cochran - Manager scott.cochran@austintexas.govOffice: 512-974-2729

 

Inspection Administration

Name

Email

Phone

Rick Arzola - Business Process Specialistrick.arzola@austintexas.govOffice: 512-974-2417
Cell: 512-550-5836
Gloria Alvarado - Business Process Specialistgloria.alvarado2@austintexas.govOffice: 512-978-4646
Cell: 512-264-4842

 

Right of Way (ROW)

Name

Email

Phone

Right of Way Divisionrightofway@austintexas.gov512-974-7828
Residential Appointments and Contact

Contact Us

For general questions, please email us at building.inspections@austintexas.gov.

Appointments

Ask inspection questions related to residential building codes, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical codes for approved and active permits. Also, ask questions regarding building and trade inspection policies and procedures. 

Expected Appointment Duration: 30 minutes 

Residential Building Inspection Questions

Schedule here:

Residential Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing (MEP) Inspections Questions

Schedule here:


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