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The Building Inspectors are responsible for safeguarding life, property, and public welfare by ensuring compliance to property and zoning by-laws, whether it is in the area of design, construction, or alteration of buildings.  

 

Why are Building Code Inspections Necessary? 

As a building owner, tenant or employee, it is important that you feel safe in the premises where you work or live.  Building inspections during construction should ensure that the structural work of that building complies with the approved plans, specifications, and most importantly, the minimum standards set out by the National Building Code of Canada.  Building inspections also verify that buildings meet the acceptable standards of health and safety for occupants.
 
Your home is most likely the biggest investment you will make in your lifetime. Building Code inspections help to assure your investment is a wise one. Becoming aware of exactly what you are getting can help ease the anxiety associated with building or buying a home.

Inspections by an experienced and professional inspector will bring you peace of mind. Even if no problems are found, code inspections give you the chance to talk to a knowledgeable professional about your new home. You may also have the opportunity to ask questions you may have about the operation and maintenance of your new house or building.

At the very least, building code inspections provide peace of mind. It's comforting to know that the home or building you're buying or building is safe and sound, and the largest investment of your life is a sensible one.
  

Request a Building Inspection

To request a building inspection, please contact the Planning and Compliance Office at 506-357-4500 or email: csteeves@oromocto.ca.  Building inspections are normally conducted Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm.  The permit application and supporting documentations must be submitted and the necessary fees paid to the Town before an inspection is completed. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions

When are inspections required? You are required by law to obtain a building permit and receive building inspections. Typically inspections are required at the following stages:

1. Prior to the poring of any concrete for a slab on grade or ICF wall system.  If it is a conventional foundation wall, inspection would be prior to any backfilling around the wall.
2. Prior to any interior sheathing being installed
3. Upon final completion of the project

Who is responsible to obtain all the necessary permits and inspections? As the owner of the property, you are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and inspections - not the contractor. If a contractor you hire fails to advise you that a permit is needed, the Town will still hold you responsible. And the Rural Planning District Commission can force you to correct deficiencies in the work or demolish any work that does not comply with the building, electrical, plumbing or local zoning requirements.

 
Whose work needs to be inspected? Whether you are building on your own or you hire a contractor you will be required to have inspections.  However, there are some cases and exemptions under the Provincial Building Regulation 2002-45, which may not require certain inspections depending on your situation.  If you are unsure about your situation or would like more information regarding your specific situation, please contact our office.

Do I have to pay for the required building inspections?  No, you do not have to pay any extra for your required Code inspections.  The building permit fee covers the required inspections.  You will not have any additional charges for this service, even if the inspector returns to your site more than the prescribed number outlined above.

How do I know when to call for inspections? When we issue a building permit, we return signed copies of all the approved documents to the owner or applicant. 
There is also a section on the permit, which lists the required times for inspections and is generally circled by the building inspector as to which inspections apply to your job.   Please review it, so you know when to contact us for inspections.

What does a building code inspector look at? Our building code inspectors will check for compliance with the minimum building standards required under the National Building Code of Canada.  They will review for compliance with engineered or approved plans and specifications if the job so requires. For each stage, our building code inspectors will have a checklist of the important structural items to be checked.  Some of these items include but are not limited to:

• Concrete footing depths and widths
• Type and cover of drain tile
• Soil conditions and type of backfill material used
• Floor and roof spans and assembly requirements
• Sizes of lintels/headers over wall openings
• Beam and column sizes and spans
• Proper installation of stairs, handrails and guards
• Proper installation of vapour and air barriers
• Installation of smoke detectors, door closures, etc.

What type of inspections can I expect?  During the construction of a typical house, you can expect that there will be several different inspectors on-site from time to time.  Some of these individuals will include:

• Health inspector – (on-site septic system requirements 
• Provincial Electrical inspector – to inspect electrical work only
• Provincial Plumbing inspector – to inspect plumbing work only
• Bank  Assessor – this person is simply making sure that the money the bank is giving out appears to be going towards the work of the construction project
• Provincial Tax Assessor – performs an assessment for building value to determine your provincial property taxes
• ​Municipal Building Code Inspector -  It is important to know that none of the above persons will perform a structural code inspection.  Our Municipal Building Code Inspectors carry identity cards that can be produced on entering sites to carry out building inspections.  If you are unsure if the structural inspection has been done, please call our office and we can check for you.

 
What if the inspector finds something wrong?  Building inspectors will usually talk to the builder or owner and try to resolve any problems on site if possible.  If issues remain unresolved, the Town can issue an Order to Comply.  This is a written notice with clear directions on what the problem is and directions on how to fix the problem.  If the problems still remain, the Town could pursue legal action.  If an inspector believes that there is a significant safety risk, they have the power to issue a Stop Work Order that may require the construction work to cease immediately until the issue can be resolved.   
 
Want to know more?  The above information is advisory and a guide only to give you a general understanding of the key points associated with building inspections and their requirements.  It is recommended that you ask questions, seek professional advice or contact the Planning and Compliance Office regarding any specific inquiries or further assistance.