Residential Building Inspector B1General Administration, Legal, and EnforcementHard
A homeowner, acting as their own contractor, is building a new single-family residence. They pull the required permits, but consistently fail to call for mandatory inspections at the appropriate stages, proceeding with construction regardless. An inspector discovers that the electrical rough-in has been covered by drywall before the electrical inspection was called or performed. What is the most appropriate and effective enforcement action the building official should take?
- AIssue a stop work order on all further construction until compliance is achieved and verified.
- BImpose a triple permit fee as a penalty for not calling for inspections.
- CIssue a notice of violation and require the homeowner to expose the covered work for inspection.
- DConduct a visual inspection of outlets and switches to infer compliance without opening walls.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Issue a stop work order on all further construction until compliance is achieved and verified.
When critical work like electrical rough-in is covered without inspection, it constitutes a significant violation. A stop work order is appropriate to halt further non-compliant construction and compel the homeowner to expose the work for inspection, ensuring safety and compliance before proceeding.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Fines are a penalty, but a stop work order directly addresses the immediate non-compliance and prevents further issues.
- C. While requiring exposure is part of the solution, a notice of violation alone may not be sufficient to halt further non-compliant work by a consistently non-compliant homeowner.
- D. Visual inference is insufficient for concealed work; the code requires actual inspection of rough-in components.
Stop Work Order
A formal order issued by the building official requiring that all construction activity on a site cease immediately due to code violations, hazardous conditions, or unpermitted work.
- Issued for serious violations or non-compliance.
- Requires immediate cessation of work.
- Work may only resume upon resolution of violations and official release.
Memory trick: When inspections are bypassed and covered, stop work immediately to prevent hidden hazards.