Field notes / Homeowner guide
Inspection records, corrections and systems commissioning
During construction, the building authority inspects work in stages, energy-code verification may require separate field testing, and installers start up equipment. Each produces records that owners rarely see until something is missing. This guide shows which records to expect, who produces them and how corrections are closed, so the closeout file is complete before handover.
Written · KB Remodeling
Public resource by KB Remodeling · The link and this general checklist contain none of your private answers or notes.
Method and how to cite
Method: original KB Remodeling synthesis of the official sources listed, checked on the dates shown in the guide. It describes questions and records to gather; it is not legal, engineering or permit advice and does not decide any project.
KB Remodeling. Inspection records, corrections and systems commissioning. https://kb-remodeling.com/resources/inspection-records-and-commissioning (written 2026-10-13)
Written:
The short answer
Ask your contractor for an inspection and corrections log, copies of required energy-code verification documents, and start-up records with operating instructions for each system. In the City of Los Angeles, LADBS says work must be inspected before it is covered or concealed and is generally inspected and approved in stages. In California, energy-code field verification and diagnostic testing moved from the HERS Program to the Energy Code Compliance (ECC) Program effective January 1, 2026.
Who this applies to
Owners of permitted remodels, ADUs and new homes during construction. The closeout guide owns the final walk-through, punch list and first-year care; the energy guide owns which code edition and compliance path apply.
01 · When it applies
Five things that are easy to confuse
An inspection approves a stage of work under a permit. A final inspection or sign-off closes the permit for that scope. Occupancy authorization, where the authority issues one, allows the building to be used; LADBS, for example, offers temporary certificates of occupancy. A punch list is the owner's and contractor's list of incomplete or unsatisfactory items under the contract. A warranty covers defects for a period after completion under its own terms.
None implies the others. A passed final does not mean the punch list is done, and a finished punch list does not close the permit.
| Document | Issued by | Confirms | Does not confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage inspection approval | Building authority | That stage met review at inspection | Later work, workmanship preferences |
| Final inspection / permit sign-off | Building authority | Permitted scope closed | Contract completion or punch items |
| Occupancy authorization (where issued) | Building authority | Use of the building as authorized | Warranty or finish quality |
| Punch list completion | Owner and contractor | Contract items finished | Code compliance |
| Warranty | Contractor or manufacturer | Coverage terms after completion | That no defects exist |
Ask yourself
- Which of these documents will you receive, and from whom?
Source for this section
02 · What to ask for
Inspection and corrections log
Inspectors may approve work or issue corrections. Ask the contractor to keep a shared log, so each correction has an owner and a re-inspection result, and nothing is covered before approval.
| Stage / inspection | Date | Result | Correction noted | Responsible | Re-inspected (date, result) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Source for this section
03 · What to ask for
Energy-code verification records
Some energy-code measures require field verification and diagnostic testing by a third party in addition to the building inspection. The California Energy Commission states that, effective January 1, 2026, these provisions moved from the HERS Program into the Energy Code and its new Energy Code Compliance (ECC) Program. Which measures need verification depends on the compliance documents for your project; ask the energy consultant or contractor which apply and when testing happens, since some tests need access before finishes close.
Ask yourself
- Which measures in our compliance documents require field verification?
- At what stage must each test happen?
- Who orders the testing and keeps the registered documents?
04 · What to ask for
Commissioning: confirm operation and information
Commissioning here means confirming that installed systems start up, operate as designed and come with the information to run them — not a code certification. For each system, ask the installer for start-up or test records, settings, the manual and the warranty registration step, and ask to be shown shutoffs and filter or service access.
Verification of performance, where required or wanted, belongs to qualified testers or the design engineers. A demonstration by the installer is useful but is not the same thing.
| System | Start-up or test record | Settings recorded | Manual and warranty step | Shutoff and service access shown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heating and cooling | ||||
| Ventilation | ||||
| Water heating | ||||
| Electrical panel and any solar/storage | ||||
| Water and gas shutoffs |
05 · An example
Fictitious scenario: a missing test before drywall
A generalized, fictitious owner reviews the log at framing and sees that a required duct test is not scheduled. The contractor books it before drywall, and the result goes into the verification records. At closeout the permit final, punch list and systems handoff are checked separately, and the owner keeps all three logs with the manuals. No inspection timing is assumed here.
Ask yourself
- Which tests or inspections must happen before the next stage covers work?
Who produces which record
| Record | Produced by |
|---|---|
| Inspection results and corrections | Building authority inspector; contractor tracks |
| Energy-code verification | Qualified third-party verifier, as the compliance documents require |
| Equipment start-up records | Installer |
| Operating manuals and warranties | Manufacturer via installer or contractor |
| Punch list | Owner and contractor |
A scenario to consider
Fictitious scenario: an owner receives a permit final but no ventilation settings. The installer records the settings and demonstrates the controls before the punch list is closed.
Planning scenario
Bring this to your conversation
- Ask for a shared inspection and corrections log
- Confirm nothing is covered before its inspection is approved
- Identify which energy measures require field verification and when
- Collect start-up records, settings, manuals and warranty steps per system
- Be shown every shutoff and service access point
- Keep permit final, punch list and warranties as separate records
One more question
If the final inspection passed, is the project finished?
Not necessarily. The permit can be closed while contract punch items, operating information or warranty registration are still open. Track each separately.
Official references
Prepare plans and ADUs · Web resource · English source
LADBS — InspectionsUse this for: Understand City of Los Angeles inspection stages before work is covered.
Prepare plans and ADUs · Web resource · English source
California Energy Commission — Energy Code Compliance ProgramUse this for: Check how energy-code field verification works under the ECC Program effective 2026.
Prepare plans and ADUs · Web resource · English source
California Energy Commission — 2025 Building Energy Efficiency StandardsUse this for: Find the 2025 energy standards and discuss the applicable compliance path with the design team.
For requirements specific to your property, consult the local reviewing authority.
About this guide
Published by KB Remodeling from the official sources cited. It is not attributed to an individual author and does not claim review by an architect, engineer or attorney. We receive remodel, ADU, new-home and rebuild inquiries; scope, licensing and location are reviewed before any next step.