Inspections

Building and Plumbing Inspections

City Building and Plumbing Officials conduct inspections during various phases of a project to ensure construction conforms to the approved plans, including the applicable codes, regulations and bylaws thereby ensuring buildings meet current structural, health, security and fire protection safety standards. The type of inspections your project needs will vary depending on the scope of work for your project.

It is the responsibility of the owner/agent to request inspections through the City of Abbotsford Building Permit Division. If work is covered without an inspection, the Building or Plumbing Official may require the work to be removed/exposed, at the owner/agent's cost, to verify compliance.
Inspection requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and every effort is made to ensure inspections can be booked within 1-2 business days. At a minimum, 24-hour notice is needed for an inspection to be scheduled.
You must meet all residential or commercial building inspection requirements before requesting an inspection.

Please note: An occupancy permit for a newly constructed building may only be granted once all necessary inspections have been completed.

Schedule an Inspection

General Inspection Information

- It is the permit holder's responsibility to book inspections and ensure that all inspections are carried out.
- Ensure you meet all inspection requirements.
- Inspections can be scheduled for the morning or afternoon (after 12:00 pm). Staff will make every effort to accommodate your preference; however, due to the volume of inspection requests, we cannot book inspections for a specific time.
- You can leave comments for the Inspector during the online booking. These will be reviewed prior to the Inspector attending the site.
- Inspection results are emailed to the permit holder after the inspection and can also be obtained online.
- Inspectors are available to answer questions over the phone or at City Hall, Monday to Friday between 8:30am - 9:00am and 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm.
- All inspections must be scheduled online. Before scheduling an inspection, you will need the following information:
  
  8-digit building permit number (last two digits of the year, followed by the 6-digit permit number, e.g. 20123456)
  
  Contact Name
  
  Contact Phone Number
  
  Type of Inspection
  
  Date the Inspection is being requested for
  
  Documentation/Professional Reviews required for the Inspection
Please note: Inspection bookings will not be accepted by phone, voicemail or email.
- Enter your 8-digit permit number.
- Under Select an Inspection Code, select the desired inspection.
- Select Schedule an Inspection as type of inspection request. Then, Submit.
- A list of the next 10 days available for scheduling the inspection will be displayed.
- Choose a date for the inspection.
- Choose AM, PM or either time for the inspection.
- Enter a note, if applicable (max 130 characters).
- Enter the contact name and phone number where you can be reached.
- Click Schedule Inspection.
- Record or print your confirmation number.
Schedule an Inspection
- Enter your 8-digit permit number.
- Select Re-Schedule an Inspection as type of inspection request.
- A list of the next 10 days available for re-scheduling the inspection will be displayed.
- Choose a date for the inspection.
- Choose AM, PM or either time for the inspection.
- Enter a note, if applicable (max 130 characters).
- Enter the contact name and phone number where you can be reached.
- Click Re-Schedule Inspection.
- Record or print your confirmation number.
Reschedule an Inspection
You can cancel and reschedule an inspection online. Please allow 24 hours' notice for a cancellation.

Please note: Inspections cannot be cancelled online on the same day they are scheduled.

Inspections that are cancelled after 8:30 am on the day of the inspection may be subject to a re-inspection fee.

To Cancel an Inspection:
- Enter your 8-digit permit number.
- Select Cancel an Inspection as type of inspection request.
- Enter a note, if applicable (max 130 characters).
- Click Cancel Inspection.
- Record or print your confirmation number.
Cancel an Inspection
Inspection results are emailed to the permit holder after the inspection and can also be obtained online.
- Enter your 8-digit permit number.
- Select Obtain Inspection Results/View Scheduled Inspections.
- View all your inspections, results, and scheduled inspections.
Obtain Inspection Results
After booking your inspection, you will receive confirmation from the City of your inspection date. Unfortunately, due to the uncertainty of the timing of inspections and issues encountered onsite, we can't provide a specific time for your inspection.

On your scheduled inspection date:
- You should be available onsite to meet the City Inspector from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm.
- You must provide access to all areas requiring inspections. As per WCB regulations, Inspectors are not permitted to use ladders, so proper temporary stairs with guards/handrails must be provided.
- If approved plans are available and access to the site without the need of lockboxes or codes is possible, then you may not be required to be onsite for inspections.
Please note: Inspectors are unable to call before they attend site.
Inspection Fees are included in the overall permit fees.

An additional fee may apply if:
- The site or building is inaccessible to the Inspector.
- The Inspector finds incomplete work that had been identified on a previous inspection.
- An inspection has to occur more than 2 times to address unresolved items or deficiencies.
- Further inspection(s) are required to address non-compliance(s).
If a re-inspection fee is required, it must be paid before further inspections on the project can be booked.

For further information on re-inspection fees, please contact the Building Permits Division at 604-864-5525 or by email at building-info@abbotsford.ca.
To avoid delays in your project and ensure your inspection goes smoothly, please address all of the following in advance of your inspection:
- All the required documents for your inspection must either be received in the office or be available onsite during the inspection.
- Have a copy of the accepted designs, plans and specifications available onsite.
- Post the permit card at the front of the property in a conspicuous location.
- Ensure the site is free of dangers, unsafe or fall hazards, and hazardous materials.
- Ensure the remainder of applicable requirements of the City of Abbotsford Building Bylaw, Section 86 and 87, have been complied with. (Erosion and Sediment Control Bylaw: Best Management Practices)
- Ensure that all of the applicable requirements of Part 8 of the current BC Building Code and WorkSafe BC Regulations have been complied with.
Please note: If any aspects of the work are concealed before an inspection, the Building Official may order that it be uncovered at the owner's expense to permit an inspection.
All the required documents for your inspection must either be received in the office prior to the scheduled inspection date or be available onsite during the inspection.
- Residential Inspection Documentation Checklist (coming soon)
- Tenant Improvement Inspection Documentation Checklist (coming soon)
- Backflow Test Report
- Insulation Confirmation Sheet
- Spray Foam Insulation Record
- Secondary Suite E1 Form
- Documentation Meeting Checklist
- Documentation Meeting Guidelines
- Strata and Unit Lot Number Assignment

Required Building and Plumbing Inspections Information

The type of inspections your project needs will vary depending on what your permit is for. Inspection requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and every effort is made to ensure inspections can be booked within 1-2 business days. At a minimum, 24-hour notice is needed for an inspection to be scheduled.

All work in preparation for an inspection must be completed prior to the Inspector arriving on site. If work is not completed, it may result in the inspection being rejected and re-inspection fees being applied.
Communicating with your Inspector in advance reduces the chances of problems arising during a field inspection. Inspectors are available to answer questions via email, over the phone, or at City Hall (Monday to Friday, between 8:30am - 9:00am and 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm).

Please note: The approval of the plans and specifications to which a permit applies does not relieve the owner/contractor from the responsibility of compliance with the current BC Building and Plumbing Codes and the City of Abbotsford Bylaws.

Required Building Inspections

The following are typical inspections required for various projects but these may vary depending upon the scope of your project.

Residential (including secondary suites, coach houses, mobile homes, decks, etc.	Footing Only Forms Dampproofing Poly Underslab Suspended Slab Waterproofing Slab Tie Downs Sheathing Framing/Fire Blocking Rainscreen Metal Lath Insulation Drywall - Pre-Mud & Tape Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
Retaining Walls	Footing Only Forms Drainage Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
Agricultural	Footing Only Forms Dampproofing Poly Underslab Tie Downs Sheathing Framing/Fire Blocking Rainscreen Metal Lath Insulation Drywall - Pre-Mud & Tape Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
Swimming Pools (Concrete and Preformed)	Footing Only Forms Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
Townhouses	Pre-Construction Site Meeting Forms Footing Only Dampproofing Poly Underslab Sheathing Framing/Fire Blocking Fire Stopping Rainscreen Metal Lath Insulation Drywall - Pre-Mud & Tape Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
Supporting Structures	Forms Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
Commercial Tenant Improvements	Forms - Monitoring Frame/Fire Stopping Insulation/Vapour Barrier Drywall - Pre-Mud & Tape NFPA 96 System Demonstration Fire Alarm Demonstration Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
New Complex Buildings	Forms - Monitoring Frame/Fire Stopping Insulation/Vapour Barrier Drywall - Pre-Mud & Tape NFPA 96 System Demonstration Fire Alarm Demonstration Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
Certified Professional Projects	Pre-Construction Site Meeting Site Monitoring Visits Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Fire Alarm Demonstration Final Occupancy

Required Plumbing Inspections

The following are typical inspections required for various projects but these may vary depending upon the scope of your project.

Residential Plumbing Inspections (includes Townhouses)	Rain Water Leaders Draintile Under Slab Rough-In Above Slab Rough-In Water Lines P Traps Watermain Radiant Hot Water Heating Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Plumbing Final
Residential Plumbing Site Services (includes Townhouses)	Sanitary Sewer Storm Sewer Rain Water Leaders Draintile Rockpit Watermain Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Site Services Final
Residential/Commercial Sprinkler Inspections	Sprinkler Rough-In Sprinkler Trip Test (Commercial) Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Sprinkler Final
Commercial Tenant Improvements	Rain Water Leaders Draintile Under Slab Rough-In Above Slab Rough-In Water Lines P Traps Watermain Radiant Hot Water Heating Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Plumbing Final
New Complex Buildings	Rain Water Leaders Draintile Under Slab Rough-In Above Slab Rough-In Water Lines P Traps Watermain Radiant Hot Water Heating Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Plumbing Final
Plumbing Repipings	Water Lines Watermain Firestopping Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Plumbing Final
Swimming Pools (Concrete & Preformed)	Water Lines Sanitary Sewer Rockpit Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Final
Cross Connection Control Devices	Water Lines Watermain Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Plumbing Final

Operational Notices

- When the air temperature is below 5° C, special considerations for concrete pours must be given. Poured concrete must be maintained at a temperature of 10° C for a period of at least 72 hours.
- Contractors and Builders will be asked how they will maintain this temperature for the set period of time.
- A Field Review from a Professional Engineer may be required prior to Forms Inspection. DO NOT POUR CONCRETE until this has been reviewed and accepted by the Building Official. If City Staff deem the heating plan to be unsatisfactory, the Forms Inspection will not be conducted until after temperatures increase above 5° C.

Sound Regulation Bylaw

Request a Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting

To ensure that all documents are submitted and completed correctly, a documentation meeting is required for projects using a Coordinating Registered Professional (CRP). The meeting is conducted at City Hall, prior to the Final Inspection. This ensures the project is completed in an efficient manner, and allows staff to address any potential issues that may impact the timeline.

Pre-Occupancy Documentation Meeting Request

Mondays to Saturdays	7:00 am to 9:00 pm
Sundays and Statutory Holidays	9:00 am to 9:00 pm

Related Contact

Building Permits & Licences

Planning and Development Services