Residential Building Inspector B1General Administration, Legal, and EnforcementMedium
A residential building inspector is performing a final inspection for a new single-family dwelling. During the inspection, the inspector discovers several minor deficiencies, such as a missing cover plate on an electrical outlet and a leaky faucet. All major systems and structural elements are otherwise complete and compliant. What is the appropriate action for the inspector?
- AApprove the occupancy with a verbal agreement from the builder to fix the issues.
- BIssue a temporary Certificate of Occupancy, allowing immediate move-in while corrections are made.
- CDeny the Certificate of Occupancy until all minor deficiencies are corrected and re-inspected.
- DIssue a Certificate of Occupancy with a list of conditions to be corrected within 30 days.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Deny the Certificate of Occupancy until all minor deficiencies are corrected and re-inspected.
A Certificate of Occupancy signifies that the building is safe and compliant with all applicable codes. Even minor deficiencies must be corrected before a Certificate of Occupancy can be issued, as they represent non-compliance. Re-inspection ensures these corrections are made.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Verbal agreements are not a substitute for documented code compliance and official re-inspection.
- B. Temporary COs are typically reserved for specific situations (e.g., phased occupancy, public safety) and not for general minor deficiencies.
- D. Issuing a CO with conditions for non-emergency items is generally not permitted; all deficiencies must be resolved first.
Certificate of Occupancy Conditions
A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is a document issued by the building department certifying that a building complies with all applicable building codes and is safe for occupancy. It is typically issued only after all final inspections are approved and all deficiencies are corrected.
- Issued after final inspections.
- Certifies code compliance.
- Required for legal occupancy.
Memory trick: Final check, all clear, then occupancy can appear.