[Updated 7/7/2020] With stay-at-home orders and "social distancing" rules in effect in most jurisdictions nationwide, building departments, builders, and remodelers are facing a new problem: The need to conduct jobsite inspections conflicts with policies intended to prevent the spread of coronavirus contagion. Feedback from JLC readers supports the story told by news sources around the country: Increasingly, building departments are declining to visit job sites to conduct inspections. In some cases, that means jobs are halted. But in many jurisdictions, inspectors are willing to rely on photos or a virtual tour of the job to verify that work was done properly.
In Colorado, Larimer County has started doing inspections via FaceTime, reported the Loveland Reporter-Herald (see: "Larimer to use FaceTime for some building inspections during coronavirus closures," by Pamela Johnson). "Chief building inspector Eric Fried said his department decided to go virtual for inspections of building projects inside occupied homes, something like a kitchen remodel or a basement finish, that take them into close contact with residents," the paper reported. "Other cities across the country, including Tucson and Las Vegas, have been using this technology, Fried said, explaining that the virtual inspections may not work in some remote areas as there must be internet or cellphone service." Erie, Colorado, has also begun inspecting some projects virtually, reported the Colorado Hometown Weekly (see: "Erie offering virtual home inspections during coronavirus pandemic," by Kristina Pritchett.)
California jurisdictions have also begun the practice. Goleta, California, is one, reported the Santa Barbara News-Press (see: "Goleta switches to virtual building inspections and electronic plan submissions," by Paul Gonzalez). The city had already been working on this technology, according to city officials: “As the Planning and Environmental Review Department strives to continue to provide basic permitting and inspection services during this public health crisis, we are excited to implement these new remote and paperless technologies. They will continue to provide enhanced customer service and greater operating efficiencies long after this crisis is over,” City Planning and Environmental Services Director Peter Imhof told the paper.
Virginia, Maryland, DC. JLC author Doug Horgan, a vice president with remodeling firm BOWA in the suburbs of D.C., told JLC: "There have been a lot of video inspections in our sites. We have about fifteen jobs running and I know of about five video inspections. On one site in Virginia an inspector did video from the driveway then ended up walking in to put eyes on a flush beam in a renovation. Our project manager reports he wanted to see the post down into the basement. On another site an AHJ which hadn’t announced remote inspections did one by FaceTime anyway."
Massachusetts remodeler Peter Feinmann told JLC that Lexington, Massachusetts, inspectors are deciding on a case-by-case basis whether to physically inspect jobs. "They recommend to reach out once plumbing, electrical and rough inspection work is ready to be reviewed. They'll then decide if the inspection will be performed through video or if they'd like to bring all three inspectors on site together and will request the client leaves the house for an hour. Then, we're to perform insulation work and reach back out. Based on the project, they'll perform the inspection either verbally, through video or on site once again."
And Massachusetts contractor Jim Wolffer told JLC, "We recently called for a plumbing inspection and since the job was minor, the plumbing inspector asked the plumber to take a few pictures and email them to him. After viewing he would decide if he needed to come out in person. He was satisfied with the photos and signed off on the rough."
In Ohio, Miami County Chief Building Official Rob England had already implemented a virtual-inspection protocol for his large rural jurisdiction, even before COVID-19 struck. The Building Safety Journal has a report (see: "The digital touch: Miami County Building Department expands its Virtual Inspection Program," by Nick Reiher). "Our jurisdiction encompasses 2300 square miles and 5 counties in western Ohio. Last year we created what we call our 'VIP' or 'Virtual Inspection Program,' England explained in an email to Builder magazine. "Initially this remote inspection program was used to save time and money by not driving long distances for simple inspections, however with the current health crisis we expanded the program so as to keep projects moving while keeping safety for everyone in mind." Contractors can use either an iPhone or iPad equipped with FaceTime, or an Android phone equipped with Skype, to take inspectors on a virtual tour of the job site, according to the county's information flier.