Whether you are building a residential or commercial building, your permit is not complete until your work passes the required inspections. Safety Code Officers use inspections to audit your completed work for compliance to applicable safety standards.
Inspections are an important part of the building permit process. Whether you are building a residential or commercial building, your permit is not complete until your work passes the required inspections. Safety Code Officers use inspections to verify that your completed work meets safety standards.
Phases of Construction: Types of Inspections
Building (Residential or Commercial)
- Footing and foundation inspection
- Framing inspection, once complete
- Insulation and vapour barrier inspection, once installed and ready to cover
- Final building inspection
- Rough-in wiring inspection (prior to cover up)
- Underground inspection (up to house/building)
- Final inspection
- Plumbing rough-in (prior to cover-up, can be above ground or below ground)
- Sinks
- Shower stalls
- Water pipes
- Bathtubs
- Drains
- Backwater valves
- Toilets
- Backflow prevention devices
- Final Inspection
You do not require a permit to replace a fixture or maintain an existing system which remains in the same location.
Gas
- Rough-in (prior to cover-up, can be above or below ground)
- Final inspection
Mechanical (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning)
- Rough-in (prior to cover up by drywall)
- Ventilation systems
- Kitchen exhaust
- Residential hydronic systems
- Heat recovery ventilators
- Final inspection
All inspections for HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing and Gas must be completed before the Final Building inspection will be done.
Request an Inspection
Anyone who holds a residential or commercial building permit is responsible for requesting inspections at specified stages of construction (please refer to the stages of construction: types of inspections section in the above about this service accordion).
A permit must be obtained prior to booking an inspection. An adult (18 years+) must be present to provide access for inspections in occupied dwellings.
In-person inspections
Permit holders can request an inspection using the 'Inspections' tab within their SelfServe project account or by calling 311.
If an inspection is required for the next day, you must contact our office by phone at 311 before noon of the previous day. When booking your inspection, you may request your preferred date, select a morning or afternoon inspection and provide your contact information for updates. Current building permit and inspection request intake processing times estimates are available on our online dashboard.
To prepare for the required inspections in occupied homes, please ensure:
- An individual 18 years of age or older who is responsible for the property is present during the inspection
- Clear and unobstructed access to all areas of inspection is provided
- All pets are securely contained
- Property address is clearly visible
Please note: inspectors are required to wear shoes while performing their duties in your home.
Virtual inspections
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep Edmontonians, contractors and City inspectors safe, the City is now offering virtual inspection options for certain construction projects.
- Remote Video Inspections (RVI) are available for building and trade permit (HVAC, plumbing, gas and electrical) inspections of occupied spaces within occupied residential and commercial locations. This includes, but is not limited to, projects such as interior alterations, basement developments, additions without a separate entrance, and occupied commercial locations where distancing or other safety protocols cannot be met. RVI enables virtual inspections through connected cellular mobile devices: one operated at the building location by the permit holder and the other by a Safety Codes Officer at a different location. The City is currently using Google Duo, Facetime and Whats App technology.
- Verification of Compliance (VOC) is available for re-inspection of corrected safety codes deficiencies from an earlier inspection. This method involves a self-declaration and photographic supporting evidence that the identified deficiencies of a previous inspection have been rectified.
Permit holders can request RVIs or re-inspection through photographic evidence by:
- Using the SelfServe portal and going to the project's inspection tab
- Contacting the respective tech advisor desk
- Building permit inquiries: BuildingIC@edmonton.ca or 780-496-3140
- HVAC inquiries: HVACTechDesk@edmonton.ca or 780-496-3118
- Plumbing and Gas inquiries: PlumbingAndGasTechDesk@edmonton.ca or 780-496-3117
- Electrical inquiries: ElectricalTechnicalAdvisors@edmonton.ca or 780-496-6674 or
- Calling 311, who will direct the caller to the respective tech advisor desk
Current building permit and inspection request intake processing time estimates are available on our online dashboard. In-person inspections will continue to be required for unoccupied residential and commercial construction sites, most utility service disruptions in occupied homes and businesses, and exterior structures (eg. decks).
Extra Inspections
A fee of $264, effective January 1, 2020, shall be assessed for every re-inspection required as a result of any of the following:
- No address on site, building or unit as required
- Inspector unable to access the building after having been requested to inspect
- Project not ready for inspection after a request for inspection has been made
- Previously identified deficiency has not been corrected after a request for a re-inspection has been made
- Previously identified deficiency has not been corrected when the inspector has indicated that a reinspection is required and a reasonable time period has elapsed (typically 30 days) and a request for inspection has been initiated by the inspector or City of Edmonton POSSE system
- Approved plans have not been submitted, if required, after a request for inspection has been made
Cancelling an Inspection
You may cancel an inspection by calling 311 or if outside Edmonton, calling 780-442-5311. Cut off time for requesting a cancellation is noon on the business day prior to the day the inspection is scheduled.
Virtual Inspections
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep Edmontonians, contractors and City inspectors safe, the City is now offering virtual inspection options for certain construction projects.
- Remote Video Inspections (RVI) are available for building and trade permit (HVAC, plumbing, gas and electrical) inspections of occupied spaces within occupied residential and commercial locations. This includes, but is not limited to, projects such as interior alterations, basement developments, additions without a separate entrance, and occupied commercial locations where distancing or other safety protocols cannot be met. RVI enables virtual inspections through connected cellular mobile devices: one operated at the building location by the permit holder and the other by a Safety Codes Officer at a different location.
- Verification of Compliance (VOC) is available for re-inspection of corrected safety codes deficiencies from an earlier inspection. This method involves a self-declaration and photographic supporting evidence that the identified deficiencies of a previous inspection have been rectified.
Permit holders can request RVIs or re-inspection through photographic evidence by:
- using the SelfServe portal and going to the project's inspections tab
- contacting the respective tech advisor desk Building permit inquiries:
- BuildingIC@edmonton.ca or 780-496-3140
- HVAC inquiries: HVACTechDesk@edmonton.ca or 780-496-3118
- Plumbing and Gas inquiries: PlumbingAndGasTechDesk@edmonton.ca or 780-496-3117
- Electrical inquiries: ElectricalTechnicalAdvisors@edmonton.ca or 780-496-6674 or
- calling 311, who will direct the caller to the respective tech advisor desk
Current building permit and inspection request intake processing time estimates are available on our online dashboard. In-person inspections will continue to be required for unoccupied residential and commercial construction sites, most utility service disruptions in occupied homes and businesses, and exterior structures (eg. decks).
Changes to Plumbing and HVAC Inspections
Beginning Tuesday October 1, 2019, some discretionary inspections for Plumbing and HVAC will not be required. The City is implementing new technology to reduce the number of discretionary inspections. Home builders and contractors who have a history of passing inspections the first time around may see a reduction in the number of Plumbing and HVAC inspections required by the City.
You still must request all inspections for every project. The only change is that you may receive a notification that your inspection is not required. If your inspection is not required, you will receive an email at 10 am on the day the inspection is scheduled to happen letting you know that it is not required.
If you cancel your inspection after it’s been scheduled, cancelation fees may apply.
This change aligns with the City's Quality Management Plan (QMP) and will allow the City to focus its resources on more complicated inspections that pose a higher risk to public safety.
For more information, please read our FAQ.
Edmonton Service Centre
2nd Floor, 10111 104 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5J 0J4
Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday
8am to 4:30pm
| Telephone | In Edmonton: 311 |
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