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San Jose building inspections: how to schedule one and be ready

Published Oct 6, 2026 · Silicon Valley Building Service and Repair

Once the City issues a building permit, the work has to be inspected before it is covered up and again when it is done. You schedule San José building inspections yourself, at SJPermits.org or by phone, and you decide when the work is ready.2 This guide covers how to schedule, what happens on inspection day, what to have on site, and how to read the result, with the City's own pages linked for every point.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
  • Schedule at SJPermits.org with the "Schedule an Inspection" button, or call 408-535-3555, Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm.1
  • On inspection day the inspector calls between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. and gives you a 2-hour arrival window.2
  • Have the Permit Card, any prior inspection notices and the City-approved plans ready for the inspector.2
  • If the inspector needs a ladder, you must supply an OSHA-compliant one. Inspectors do not bring ladders.2
30 minutesminimum inspection time, which includes 10 minutes of inspector travel, so count on 20 minutes on site2
No refundfor a missed inspection, the City says2

How to schedule a San José building inspection

  1. Decide the work is ready. The City says you are responsible for determining when completed work is ready for inspection. Small projects may need only one inspection. Complex jobs have a sequence.2
  2. Go to SJPermits.org. Select "Schedule an Inspection" at SJPermits.org.1 Or call 408-535-3555 and choose the option for scheduling an inspection.2
  3. Request every process that is complete. Ask for all the processes that are done and ready. Not sure which one to pick? The City says to look at your Permit Card and use your best judgment. Inspectors can add processes in the field if needed.2

For help by phone, the City's line is open Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm.1

Is the work ready? The City's checklist

  • Documents and plans. The Permit Card and any prior inspection notices must be available to the inspector. As they apply: City-approved, professionally stamped plans, pre-inspection reports such as a HERS test report, and manufacturer listings and installation instructions.2
  • Things are working. Utilities are on. No leaks at plumbing fixtures. All light fixtures and fans work.2
  • The work can be seen. Structural, plumbing and electrical work is installed to the plans and is not covered.2
  • Safety features. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are installed and working.2
  • Access and ladders. The inspector can easily reach the roof, attic, basement, crawl spaces, electrical panel and furnace. If a ladder is needed, you must have an OSHA-compliant ladder ready.2

The City recommends keeping the documents in a binder or as an electronic file, and says having them ready avoids a cancellation.2

What happens on inspection day

The morning call. Your assigned inspector calls between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. The call may come from a blocked number. If you do not answer, the inspector leaves a message. You are given a 2-hour window for the inspector's arrival, and the window could start as early as 8:00 a.m.2

Be on site. Be there by the start of the window. A 2-hour window does not mean a 2-hour inspection: the minimum inspection time is 30 minutes, and 10 of those are the inspector's travel time.2

If no one is there. The inspector tries to reach the contact named when the inspection was scheduled, then leaves a "sorry we missed you" note. For a 30-minute inspection, being late may mean rescheduling. There is no refund for a missed inspection.2

The types of inspections

The City lists these minimum required inspections under San José Municipal Code sections 24.02.520 and 24.02.530. The scope of your project decides which ones apply, and your Permit Card shows them.2

  1. Foundation. Before concrete is placed. Checks the location of the new structure and the forms, reinforcing steel and anchor bolts.
  2. Under slab or underfloor. After drain, water, conduit and ducts are in place, before concrete is poured or floor sheathing goes on.
  3. Rough plumbing, mechanical, gas and electrical. Framing is done and pipes and wires are installed, but nothing is covered by drywall.
  4. Frame. After roof sheathing, framing, shear, fire blocking and bracing are in place, and after the rough trades are approved.
  5. Lath. After lath is in place and before plaster.
  6. Insulation. After rough frame approval and before interior wallboard.
  7. Fire-resistive assemblies. Joints and penetrations in fire-rated assemblies, before they are covered.
  8. Final. The project is complete, clean and safe, and appliances work. Building Final is approved only after every other inspection process on the permit is approved.

How to read the result

Each process that is inspected gets one of five results:2

  • OK: approved.
  • PA: partial approval.
  • CN: correction notice.
  • NR: not ready.
  • NN: not needed.

The inspector publishes the results as notices at SJPermits.org and also records them on the Permit Card, so keep the card at the job site for the whole project. When every final is approved, the permit status at SJPermits.org changes from "Under Inspection" to "Finaled." Keep the approved plans, the inspection notices and the completed Permit Card for your records.2

If you need more inspection time

If the project needs more inspection time than was allotted, you can buy more. Call the Permit Center at 408-535-3555 and choose the "make a payment" option, or use the link on the scheduling screen at SJPermits.org. The City states that additional inspection fees are not refundable.2

Building inspection or Code Enforcement inspection?

This guide is about Building Division inspections on a permit you hold. If an inspector came because of a complaint or a suspected violation, that is Code Enforcement, a different process. See what to do after a San José code enforcement notice, or the full list on the San José code compliance page. If you are not sure the work needs a permit at all, see when a San José remodel needs a permit.

How we help

On the jobs we build, we pull the permits, schedule the inspections and meet the inspector. Silicon Valley Building Service and Repair is a licensed general contractor, CSLB #1050108. If a correction notice or an expired permit has stalled your project, see code violation and permit resolution, or call or text (408) 667-4946.

Common questions

How do I schedule a building inspection in San José?
Go to SJPermits.org and select "Schedule an Inspection," or call 408-535-3555 and choose the scheduling option. Phone help is available Monday to Friday, 7 am to 4 pm.1
What time will the inspector come?
The inspector calls between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. on inspection day and gives a 2-hour arrival window. The window could start as early as 8:00 a.m.2
What happens if I miss the inspection?
The inspector tries to reach your contact, leaves a note, and records the visit on the inspection notice. The City says there is no refund for a missed inspection.2
Who do I ask about building codes or an inspection?
The Building Division takes questions at InfoInspector@sanjoseca.gov or by voicemail at 408-535-7641.1

Sources

Checked against the City's pages on October 6, 2026. The City can change its process at any time. This page is general information, not legal advice. The City and its inspectors decide what applies to your project.

Stuck on a correction notice?

Call or text (408) 667-4946. We handle the permits, the corrections and the inspections. CSLB #1050108.
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