You know what a construction inspection is. You've been through thousands of them. This page is the reference you send to new PMs, new subs, and homeowner clients who ask questions. Everything in one place — how it works in LA, what inspectors actually check, and what to do when something fails.
A construction inspection is an official review by a licensed building inspector verifying that work complies with approved plans, building codes, and safety standards. Required at specific stages of construction. Must pass before work proceeds to the next phase. No passing inspection, no certificate of occupancy, no legal structure.
In Los Angeles, LADBS (Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety) handles all building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical inspections for the City. LA County uses a separate system (EPIC-LA) through the Department of Public Works. Different systems, same process.
Licensed building inspectors from LADBS. They handle building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical. Different inspectors for different trades. You don't pick which inspector shows up.
Standard inspections are included in your permit fees. Re-inspections after failure cost $200–$500 in LA. But the real cost is always the delay — $1,200 on average per failed inspection when you factor in idle crews and downstream impacts.
15 minutes to 1 hour on-site. The inspector reviews specific items, documents findings, and issues a pass, fail, or correction notice. Results usually same-day via iRFIS or next business day.
Pass: proceed to the next phase. Fail: get a correction notice, fix every item, then re-request. All corrections must clear before you can move forward. One open item holds up the whole project.
Foundation, framing, shear walls, connections, overall structural integrity. The most complex inspections with the highest failure rates. Framing inspection on a new-build ADU is where most contractors get hit with corrections.
Wiring, panel installation, grounding, GFCI/AFCI protection, device placement. Rough and final inspections required. ADU sub-panels are a common fail point if sizing doesn't match approved plans.
Supply lines, drainage, venting, water heater, gas connections. Includes pressure testing on rough plumbing. Drain slope is the #1 correction item on ADU plumbing inspections.
Ductwork, equipment installation, refrigerant lines, ventilation. Most ADUs use ductless mini-splits, which simplifies this. Make sure the equipment is operational before you schedule.
Fire-rated assemblies, smoke detectors, sprinkler systems, egress requirements. Critical for occupancy approval. Don't skip the CO detector — inspectors check every time.
Comprehensive walk-through confirming all prior inspections passed and all corrections resolved. Required before Certificate of Occupancy. This is where everything has to come together.
Three ways: iRFIS (the LADBS online portal), calling 311 to reach the AIRS automated phone system, or using InspectPilot to handle it automatically. All requests must be in by 3:00 PM the day before. You need your 15-digit permit number and 7-digit confirmation number. Requests can go up to 3 business days in advance.
InspectPilot submits through iRFIS and 311 using your credentials, before the 3 PM deadline, for all your permits at once. It knows your inspection sequence, confirms trade readiness, and handles the correction loop when something fails. See how it works →
The most common reasons for failure aren't structural defects — they're administrative. Work not matching approved plans, missing documentation on-site, trades not finished when the inspector arrives, or requesting the wrong inspection type. These are exactly the mistakes that happen when you're juggling 4+ permits and tracking everything in your head.
An official review by a licensed LADBS inspector verifying construction work complies with approved plans, building codes, and safety standards at specific phases of the project.
Standard inspections are included in your permit fees. Re-inspections after failure cost $200–$500 in LA. The real cost is always the delay: $1,200 on average per failed inspection.
15 minutes to 1 hour on-site. Results are usually available same-day via iRFIS or next business day.
Make sure the work matches approved plans exactly, all documentation is on-site, and the trade's work is actually complete. Those three things prevent 80% of failures.
InspectPilot manages scheduling, tracking, and the correction loop for all your permits. $200/month, month-to-month, cancel anytime.
No credit card required · No annual contract · LA contractors get priority