Inspections
You can use the form on this web page to schedule inspections. Alternatively you can schedule over the phone or on Accela. By scheduling on Accela you can also see the results of your inspection. See below for more information.
To schedule online in Accela:
- Log into your Accela account and click the "Building" tab.
- Click the "Schedule an Inspection" text.
- Click the record you want to schedule an inspection for.
- Click the "Schedule or Request an Inspection" text.
Next Steps
If you need to meet your inspector at a specific time do the following.
- Call 707-445-7245 between 8:30-9:30 on the day of your inspection.
- Provide your permit number and request to be forwarded to your inspector.
- Coordinate directly with your inspector.
Keep in mind that your inspector will have between 5 and 15 stops a day and will not know exactly how long each stop will take. What this means is it might be difficult for your inspector to promise specific times for inspection and you should plan on making yourself available that day.
Scroll down and make an inspection request now!
To schedule over the phone:
- Call 707-445-7244.
- You will be directed to leave a message. Make sure to leave the following information.
- Your name
- Your building permit number
- The inspection you are requesting (see inspection stages below)
- Whether you want an A.M. or P.M. inspection (optional)
Inspection requests must be received by 3:00 P.M. the business day prior to the day you would like the inspection performed.
When should I schedule my inspection?
The building inspectors can inspect Monday through Friday in areas close to Eureka, but can only go to farther locations on certain days of the week. Download the Inspector Route Sheet to see what days of the week we inspect your area. Generally speaking we inspect as below, but be sure to check the Inspector Route Sheet for the most up to date information.
- Monday - Friday (Eureka, Arcata, Kneeland, Blue Lake, Humboldt Hill, Pepperwood, Loleta, Ferndale, Fortuna, Hydesville, McKinleyville, Korbel, Trinidad)
- Monday, Wednesday, or Friday (Garberville, Redway, Benbow, Alderpoint, Miranda, Myers Flat, Salmon Creek)
- Monday (Willow Creek and Hoopa)
- Tuesday (Blocksburg, Bridgeville, Dinsmore, Pilot Ridge)
- Wednesday (Petrolia, Honeydew, Orleans, Weitchpec, Klamath, Orick)
- Thursday (Briceland, Whitethorn, Shelter Cove, Ettersburg)
Download Inspector Route Sheet
Note that our calendar does not update until a week into the month. If it's the beginning of the month make sure to check the County Office Office Closure page to ensure we're open on the day you're trying to schedule.
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What inspections should I schedule?
Use the tabs below to determine what inspection to call for. Typical development includes new construction, additions, and remodels. Use those tabs to learn about what inspection to call for. For most regular building permits each construction stage below must be completely inspected before continuing to the next stage. For example, before your schedule your drywall inspection you must have your insulation inspection approved.
Other fast track development typically only requires one inspection. This type of development includes re-roofs, service panel upgrades, solar/battery, new space heater, and similar.
Regular Building Development
At this inspection the inspector will get pictures of the area to be developed and will address the following items.
- Existing Structures – The inspector will walk your parcel with your site plan to ensure all existing structures are indicated on the site plan with use and square footage indicated.
- Streamside Management Areas (SMA) & Wetlands – If streams or wetlands exist on your parcel you will need to show the setback distance around these features as a buffer area (see Site Plan Checklist). The inspector may verify the buffer areas shown on the site plan are accurate by measuring your SMA setback.
- Flood Zone – If a flood zone exists on your parcel you will need to show it on your site plan. Your inspector will verify that the flood zone is shown, and that existing and proposed structures are accurately shown as being inside or outside this zone.
- Easements and the Right of Way – Your inspector will verify that easements, such as PG&E utility easements, that exist on the parcel are shown on the site plan. Additionally the public right of way should be shown.
- Slope – You inspector may look at the overall slope of the area to be developed and ensure it is properly indicated on the site plan.
After this inspection your inspector will check the completeness of your construction document submittal. If missing the inspector may request additional documents and/or revisions to your site plan. Once all required documents have been submitted, you project will move to plan check. See First Time Applying for a Building Permit for more information.
Once you have completed the demolition work, upload the demolition disposal receipts to your Accela record as a pdf Document (How to Upload Documents). Please use this file naming convention: Demo Receipts MM/DD/YY.pdf
Once the receipts are uploaded, schedule an inspection. A demolition permit will require the following inspections.
- Site Conditions – We will ensure that all waste generated from construction has been disposed of per the Construction Waste Management Plan and sediment and erosion control measures have been established per the approved construction documents.
- Final Demo – We will verify conditions meet current Health and Safety code standards and work has been completed per the approved construction documents.
Once all inspections have been approved you may continue to the construction phases. If you are not building, you can close out your permit with the building department. If your permit was in regards to a Code Violation, follow up with the departments you have been working with. See the Divisions page to see department specific information.
Where a foundation system is added or altered the following inspections shall be scheduled. You may schedule them all at once or one at a time.
- Setbacks – We will verify that the setbacks described on your county approved site map match your development. You must be outside the setback distance from property lines, easements, streamside management areas, and rights of way. Your forms are required to be set prior to the setback inspection. If you cannot provide definitive proof, you are outside setback areas you will be required to obtain a property survey from a qualified surveyor. See our Survey Setback form for more information.
- Footings * – We will verify that your footings match what is required in the soils report and building plans. This includes proper depth, width, quality of soil, and sediment and erosion control. A footing special inspection by the engineer on record may be required.
- Forms ** – We will verify that forms will produce a concrete foundation assembly described on the foundation plans and soils report. This includes verifying anchor bolts and stab bolts are in place or at least that the forms are marked for setting the hardwire while the concrete is still wet. A UFER ground should be inspected at this stage if used.
- Site Conditions – We will ensure that all waste generated from construction has been disposed of per the Construction Waste Management Plan and sediment and erosion control measures have been established.
- Underfloor Plumbing (Slab Only) – We will verify that your drain-waste-venting system is assembled as per plans, wrapped where exposed to concrete, and can hold water pressure up to a 10ft head for at least 15 minutes.
- Temporary Electric (Optional) – It is optional to install a service panel before construction. A listed panel enclosure, a grounding electrode system, and a 20-amp GFCI protected outlet is required at minimum.
Once all inspections have been approved you will be ready to pour concrete and start framing your floor.
* Not required for AOB permits without a soils report.
** Not required for AOB permits.
Where a floor system is added or altered the following inspections shall be scheduled. You may schedule them all at once or one at a time.
- Foundation Framing * –We will verify that the floor framing matches what is described on your foundation plans. This includes everything before floor sheathing such as girders, joists, and required hardware. If you are developing new construction in the flood zone, we will require a second flood certification.
- Underfloor Plumbing – We will verify that your drain-waste-venting system is assembled as per plans and can hold water pressure up to a 10ft head for at least 15-minutes.
Once approved you will be ready to install floor sheathing, walls, the roof, rough-plumbing, rough-electrical, and rough-mechanical.
* Not required for AOB.
Where a building’s structural, electrical, mechanical, and/or plumbing systems are added or altered the following inspections shall be scheduled. Except for rough-framing, you may schedule them all at once or one at a time. Rough-framing should be inspected last.
- Shear Nail * – We will verify that the nailing pattern of your exterior and interior shear wall matches what is shown on your shear wall schedule and structural calculations. We will also verify roof sheathing material, type of fasteners, and nail pattern.
- Hold-downs * – We will verify the type and location of hold-downs installed match what is shown on the shear wall schedule and structural calculations.
- Windows – We will verify that windows are properly sized, insulated, and tempered per construction plans.
- Rough Electric – We will verify that the rough electrical matches your electrical plans. Overcurrent protection devices must be the only device connected, all electrical boxes must be mounted, the grounds must all be tied together, feeder/branch circuits must be landed in each panel enclosure, protective plates must be provided, and the grounding electrode system must be properly installed.
- Initial Gas Line Test – We will verify that the gas line will be able to hold 10 PSI, or half the working pressure of the gauge used for 15 minutes. For example, if a 30lbs gauge is used then the gas lines must be pressured to 15lbs for 15 minutes. A second line test will be done after drywall.
- Rough-Plumbing (Top-Out) – We will verify that adequate venting is provided, proper installation of the drain-waste-venting system (DWV), protective plates are provided, and that the DWV and potable water system can hold water pressure for at least 15-minutes.
- Rough-Sprinkler * – We will verify that the sprinkler system matches what is described on your sprinkler plans. This includes spacing, sizing, materials, pumps, and other devices.
- Rough-Mechanical – We will verify all ducting, flues, and mechanical appliances are installed per buildings plans and manufactures specifications. Once approved you will be ready to install insulation.
- Rough-Framing * – We will verify that the framing matches approved framing plans, structural calculations, and truss calculations. The building official may require a structural certification at this inspection. This inspection is required to be inspected after all the rough electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems have been installed.
Once approved you will be ready to install insulation.
* Not required for AOB permits.
Where insulation is added or altered the following inspections shall be scheduled. You may schedule them all at once or one at a time.
- Insulation –We will verify that the insulation used meets the R-value required by your energy calculations. We will also ensure that insulation to be used as fire blocking is in place.
- HERS Verifications – Required HERS documentation will be requested by your inspector at final; however, if you haven't already you should check in with your HERS rater to see if an inspection should be conducted at this time. Your required HERS verifications will be shown in your approved energy calculations.
Once approved you will be ready to install drywall.
Where drywall is added or altered the following inspections shall be scheduled. You may schedule them all at once or one at a time.
- Drywall * – We will verify that the correct size of drywall is used according to required fire assemblies and that they are fastened to framing members as per plans.
- Gas Line Test – We will verify that the gas line will be able to hold 10 PSI, or half the working pressure of the gauge used for 15 minutes. For example, if a 30lbs gauge is used then the gas lines must be pressured to 15lbs for 15 minutes.
Once approved you will be ready to complete the construction through to final.
* Not required for AOB permits.
To finalize your permit, you must call for the following inspections. You may schedule them all at once or one at a time.
- Mechanical Final – We will verify the functionality of all mechanical systems and ensure the absence of mechanical hazards. Your energy calculations may require a HERS Special Inspection at this time.
- Plumbing Final – We will verify functionality and efficiency of all plumbing fixtures and ensure the absence of plumbing hazards.
- Electrical Final – We will verify functionality of the electrical system, AFCI/GFCI protection, smoke/CO alarms, and absence of electrical hazards.
- Building Final – We will verify the safety of all structural and path of travel elements and ensure the absence of hazards.
- Exterior –We will verify the exterior covering is watertight and free from hazards. This includes ensuring water will be shed away from the foundation and the correct installation of plumbing and flue terminations.
- Sprinkler System – We will verify that all escutcheon plates are installed on sprinkler heads, ensure the absence of hazards, and recheck spacing requirements.
- Site Conditions – We will ensure that all waste generated from construction has been disposed of per the Construction Waste Management Plan and sediment and erosion control measures have been established.
- Accessibility * – If your site contains accessibility features (multifamily and commercial) we will check parking, accessible routes, and all other accessible features.
- SRA Site – If your parcel is located in an SRA area, we will verify compliance with current Fire Safe Regulations. See this SRA Checklist for more information.
Once you have passed all the inspections you may contact the building department to receive your certificate of occupancy.
* Only required for commercial uses.
Fast Track Development
Once the permit has been issued you are free to schedule an inspection. It is your responsibility to provide the approved construction plans on site (digital or printed). A PV & Energy Storage permit will require the following inspections to be scheduled.
- Setbacks * – We will verify that any ground mounted systems meet the setback requirements of Humboldt County Code.
- Site Conditions – We will ensure that all waste generated from construction has been disposed of and sediment is contained per approved erosion control measures.
- Electrical Final – We will verify underground trenching is to current electric code, functionality of the PV and/or energy storage system, and the absence of electrical hazards.
- Building Final – We will verify the safety of all structural elements and ensure the absence of hazards.
Once all inspections have been approved your permit will be finalized.
* Only required for ground mount PV systems, generators, and other ground mounted equipment.
Once the permit has been issued you are free to schedule an inspection. A service panel permit will require the following inspections to be scheduled.
- Setbacks * – We will verify that the pole of any pole mounted service panels meet the setback requirements of Humboldt County Code.
- Site Conditions – We will ensure that all waste generated from construction has been disposed of and sediment is contained per approved erosion control measures.
- Electrical Final – We will verify underground trenching depth, system grounding is properly arranged, the grounding electrode is installed to current code, and the absence of electrical hazards. See our Service Panel handout for more information.
- Building Final – We will verify the safety of all structural elements and ensure the absence of hazards.
Special Note: Service panels in the flood zone will have to comply with requirements outlined in this Electric Panels in the Flood Zone form.
Once all inspections have been approved your permit will be finalized.
* Only required for new service poles.
Once the permit has been issued you are free schedule an inspection. A water heater permit will require the following inspections to be scheduled.
- Electrical Final * –For electric water heaters we will verify the water heater was installed per the manufacturers specifications and current electric code. The specs often call for a dedicated circuit. We will verify the absence of electrical hazards.
- Plumbing Final – We will verify the water heater was installed per the manufacturers specifications and current plumbing code. We will verify the absence of plumbing hazards.
- Building Final – We will verify the safety of all structural elements altered in the installation.
Once all inspections have been approved your permit will be finalized.
* Only required for electric water heaters.
Once the permit has been issued you are free to begin construction and complete the work. Before construction we recommend reviewing this Residential Space Heating handout. If you haven't already, upload the CF3R (if required) to your Accela record as a PDF Document (How to Upload Documents).
- Please use this file naming convention for the CF3R form: CF3R MM/DD/YY.pdf
Once the necessary documents have been uploaded, schedule an inspection using the directions at the bottom of this page. A space heater permit will require the following inspections to be scheduled.
- Mechanical Final – For electric space heaters we will verify the water heater was installed per the manufacturers specifications and current mechanical code. If the scope of work necessitates a CF3R we will ensure it has been uploaded. We will verify the absence of mechanical hazards.
- Plumbing Final * – We will verify the hydronic system was installed per the manufacturers specifications and current plumbing code. We will verify the absence of plumbing hazards.
- Electric Final – We will verify the space heater was installed per the manufacturers specifications and current electric code. We will verify the absence of electrical hazards.
- Building Final – We will verify the safety of all structural elements altered in the installation.
Once all inspections have been approved your permit will be finalized.
* Only required for hydronic space heaters.
Once the permit has been issued you are free schedule an inspection using the directions at the bottom of this page. A Roof permit will require the following inspections to be scheduled.
- Smoke Alarms – We will verify the Smoke & CO Self-Certification form was uploaded and properly completed.
- Re-Roof – We will verify that scope of the roof permit matches the field installation, the roof covering was installed per manufacturers specifications and current code, and the edge metal flashing is properly installed.
- Roof Framing * – We will verify roof framing was installed to current code.
- Roof Sheathing * – We will verify roof sheathing material, type of fasteners, and nail pattern were installed to current code.
- Building Final – We will verify the safety of all structural elements altered in the installation.
Once all inspections have been approved your permit will be finalized.
* Only required if the roof framing was altered (not just the roof covering).
Once the permit has been issued you are free to schedule an inspection using the directions at the bottom of this page. A Siding permit will require the following inspections to be scheduled.
- Exterior – We will verify that scope of the siding permit matches the field installation and the siding was installed per manufacturers specifications and current code.
- Building Final – We will verify the safety of all structural elements altered in the installation.
Once all inspections have been approved your permit will be finalized.
Inspection Request
Next Steps
If you would like to meet at a specific time on the day of your inspection it is your responsibility to call the department at 707-445-7245, follow the phone tree, and coordinate directly with your inspector.
Although you can schedule inspections over the phone and here on our website, we urge you to use Accela to schedule inspections. By getting familiar with using Accela you will be able to see the results of your inspections, upload documents, access field reports, and more. Additionally, if you use Accela we will be able to process your permit more efficiently, as it better aligns with our workflow. See instruction on how to view your inspection results below and visit our Accela Support Resources page for more information.
In order to access your approved construction plans you will need to follow the below 5 steps to download your plans from Accela.
- Log into your Accela Account and navigate to the "Building" tab.
- Find the building permit "Record Number" you want to get approved plans from.
- From this record select the "Record Info" tab.
- From the record info dropdown select "Attachments".
- All documents associated with that building permit will appear below. If there are a lot of documents you may have to navigate to second or third pages. Once you find the approved plans select the "Name" of the document which will appear as green linked text. Your approved plans will begin downloading.
You may be an architect or homeowner who wants to give a building contractor access to your permit record, or you may be a contractor who wants to give access to a subcontractor. If you would like to give someone access to your building permit record on Accela please follow the below steps.
- Register for an Accela Account. Have the person you want to add to your record register for an Accela account. You can show them our Accela Support Resources for help registering for an account.
- Send an Email. Email planningbuilding@co.humboldt.ca.us including the following information of the person you want to add.
- Full name
- Email address they used to create the Accela account
- Wait for a Response. A permit technician should reach out to let you know that your requested person has been added to your permit record. Once they have been added they will be able to access construction plans and schedule inspections.
Once they have been added they will be able to access construction plans and schedule inspections.
Login to your Accela account and follow the below steps.
- Click "My Records"
- Click the arrow to the left of the word "Building"
- Find the building permit record that was inspected and click the record number.
- Click "Record Info" at the top banner.
- Click "Inspections" from the dropdown menu.
- Click "View Details" to see the result of your inspection.
If you decided to make a change to your approved plans after the permit has been issued you will need to get your new plans re-approved. Similarly, if you constructed something that is not on your approved plans, your inspector will require you to remove the added feature OR get your plans re-approved with the added feature included. To change your issued permit complete this Change to Issued Permit form, revise your plans, and upload both documents to your Accela record. Note that additional square footage (more than 10% difference) will require a new permit and cannot be a change to issued permit.