Special Inspections

Many construction projects will require a Special Inspection as per the California Building Code.  Please Note:  Required Special Inspections ARE NOT in lieu of Plumas County Building Inspections.  Only the County Building Inspector may approve construction milestones and allow the project to continue with work.

What is a Special Inspection? Inspection of construction requiring the expertise of a special inspector to ensure compliance with the building code, project Engineer design, and the approved construction documents as per California Building Code.

Does Plumas County Building perform the Special Inspection?  No.  Special Inspections are not performed by Plumas County Building Inspectors.  Special Inspectors shall be performed by a third‐party Special Inspector who is objective, competent, and independent from the contractor responsible for the work being inspected.  A Special Inspection is not in lieu of required Plumas County inspections and approvals.  No work shall be covered without County inspector approval. 

When are Special Inspections required?  Special Inspections are required to be periodic or continuous. For continuous inspections, the special inspector must be present while the construction is in progress.  Two examples of continuous special inspections are welding and shotcrete. Periodic special inspections require the inspector to be present intermittently. An example of an intermittent special inspection is a bolt tension test for a metal building. The stamped County approved plans should indicate whether periodic or continuous Special Inspection, as defined in the California Building Code.

How do I know if I need a Special Inspector? Plans and construction documents should clearly indicate the scope of the required Special Inspection.  

For more information, please contact the County's Plan Examiner.