Scheduling Permit Inspections

When do I need a building permit?

Many appliances can be safely installed without a contractor, but for some, installation can pose safety concerns when it isn’t handled by a licensed professional. To ensure that the minimum safety requirements of the California Building Codes are met, most construction activities, including alterations, replacements, and repair work in homes, require permits and inspections.

The following are some Home Appliance projects that usually require a building permit:

Water heaters almost always require a permit because the unit’s temperature and pressure relief (TPR) valve can pose an explosion risk if installed incorrectly. A permit inspection ensures that the appliance has been installed correctly.
Appliances that connect to local gas lines, such as a gas stove
HVAC systems repairs/replacements, like furnaces, wood stoves, range hoods, bath fans, and dryer exhausts.

When do I need a permit inspection?

Any work that requires a building permit will require an inspection. After obtaining a building permit for your project, homeowners or contractors are required to submit and schedule a request for an inspection to the city’s building department. No work done on the site can be covered or concealed until the city approves the inspection. The permit holder must notify the building department when your project is ready for inspection. This may occur at various stages of construction. However, for smaller projects such as appliance upgrades, the jurisdiction may only require one inspection.

All construction work on your property is subject to the Building Code. The building inspector will arrive at the site and verify the project’s compliance with the Building Code. If your permit includes plans, inspectors will also ensure the work description matches the construction listed in the plan. Typically, there will be a final inspection that results in the project’s approval and permit finalization.

How can I schedule a permit inspection?

The permit holder is responsible for scheduling a permit inspection. Inspections are scheduled directly with the city’s building department during regular business hours. Inspection times will naturally vary depending on the local jurisdiction, but the expected dates are Monday through Friday. Appointments scheduled on a business day will typically be scheduled for the following day. Permit inspections can usually be scheduled in person at city hall, through the phone, or online if offered by your jurisdiction. Similar to online inspection schedulers, you can also submit your permit application directly to the city through Symbium. Symbium’s Appliance Center can help you schedule all the necessary inspections for your project and will provide you with inspection results when the city makes those updates on their end.

How can I prepare for my inspection?

When scheduling an inspection, the permit holder should be prepared to provide (but not limited to) the following items before scheduling an inspection and when the inspector arrives:

The permit holder's name,the project's address, and permit number should be presented when scheduling an inspection appointment. In certain jurisdictions, the inspection may also require the project location within the house and the type of inspection. Just like permit types, there are also inspection types associated with each permit. Some of the types of inspections may be broken down into the following categories:

Building: Foundation, framing, insulation, OK to Cover, final inspection
Electrical: Wiring, fire alarm, surveying, final inspection
Plumbing: Underground, rough plumbing, final inspection
Mechanical: Underground, rough mechanical, final inspection

Homeowners or contractors should have the permit or a copy of the permit. Permit holders should also know the permit number for each associated permit. In certain cases, permits that are applied online may not provide a permit card. Please contact your location jurisdiction about the exact details of presenting the permit.
If the homeowner plans to construct or remodel the property. They are considered owner-builders. Homeowners can pull every type of permit as an “owner-builder” as long as they are at least one of the property owners on the title. No license is required if the owner-builder does the work themself or through their own employees with wages as their sole compensation and the structures they work on are not intended for sale. Homeowners can also be owner-builders if they contract with properly licensed subcontractors. Be aware that a frequent practice of unlicensed persons is to have the property owner obtain an “owner-builder” building permit that erroneously implies that the property owner is providing their own labor and material personally. As an Owner-Builder, you may be held liable and subject to serious financial risk for any injuries sustained by an unlicensed person and their employees while working on your property.
It is also important to complete and present the building inspector with the Owner-Builder Acknowledgment Form. Before the permit is issued, the Owner-Builder form must be completed and submitted. This form will indicate that the homeowner is aware of the responsibilities and risks associated with pulling the permit under their name as opposed to using a licensed contractor to pull the permit with their contractor’s insurance.

What if I need help scheduling my inspections?

Symbium Appliance Center is available for all single-family properties in Milpitas. This will allow you to check if your home appliance upgrades require permits through the city. You can even submit your permit application and pay your permit fees directly to the city through Symbium. All issued permits and scheduled inspections come directly from the city.

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Start a new project in our Appliance Center to apply for a permit in under 2 minutes
Install your appliance after being notified that your permit has been issued
Schedule your inspection directly on Symbium!