The footing and foundation inspections occur after excavations for the footings are complete and any required reinforcing steel is in place.

For concrete foundations, the forms must be in place.

Materials for the foundation must be on the job, except where concrete is ready mixed in accordance with ASTM C 94.

Property corners must be marked and identified, with strings pulled, in order to verify zoning setbacks.

In flood hazard areas, the initial building permit is limited to the foundation of the structure. The builder must submit an elevation certificate upon placement of the lowest floor, including the basement, and prior to vertical construction. Once approved, we can release the full building permit for vertical construction.

To submit the elevation certificate for the building under construction:

• Click on the "Request Inspections" button below
• Click on "My Permits"
• Click on the specific permit in the list
• Click on the "Upload Document" option in the “Document” section and follow the prompts from there

Exterior sheathing must be inspected after the exterior wall sheathing is applied and before any energy wrap, felt, siding, or brick is installed.

A House Wrap inspection is required as a separate inspection.

Framing inspections are made after the roof deck or sheathing, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and pipes, chimneys and vents to be concealed are complete and windows and doors are installed. The rough electrical, plumbing, heating wires, pipes and ducts must also be installed.

Energy code requirements

The State of South Carolina requires compliance with the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. This stage of construction is one option for builders to complete two key compliance requirements. 

• Guidance about the Energy Code

Duct tightness compliance

The Energy Code requires that ducts, air handlers, filter boxes and building cavities used as ducts be sealed unless the HVAC equipment and duct work is located in a conditioned space. When sealing is required, it must be tested to ensure minimal leakage is achieved. The same regulations apply when existing HVAC systems are changed or upgraded to replace all duct work.

It requires that the builder verify compliance through one of two options.

• The first option is a test that occurs at the rough-in stage, with the equipment showing that it meets these standards:
  • 6 cfm per 100 square feet with air handler
  • 4 cfm per 100 square feet without air handler
• The second option is a post-construction test—see #12 below.

Building envelope compliance

The Energy Code also requires that the building thermal envelope be durably sealed to limit infiltration.

• Air sealing diagrams (PDF) 

The builder is required to verify air tightness in one of two ways.

• The first option occurs at the rough-in stage. The builder performs a visual inspection prior to installation of insulation and drywall to verify all caulking, blocking and air sealing measures have been performed.
• The second option is a door blower test that may be performed later in the construction process. See #12 below.

The City inspector also will be looking for the manufacturer’s certification to be with the windows at the time of the framing inspection.

Required documentation

Regardless of which option you choose for each requirement, State law requires documentation to be on file with your project before we can issue a Certificate of Occupancy.

• Duct tightness: The HVAC company that completes the test will issue a Duct Tightness Compliance Certificate. 
• Building envelope: Submit the Thermal Envelope Air Leakage Compliance Certificate (PDF). 

Please submit both required documents as soon as possible; they need to be part of the project record before we can schedule final inspections.

• Click on the "Request Inspections" button below
• Click on "My Permits"
• Click on the specific permit in the list
• Click on the "Upload Document" option in the “Document” section and follow the prompts from there

House wrap inspection

The 2018 International Residential Code currently in effect requires a water-resistive barrier applied over studs or sheathing of all exterior walls. There is no exception for vinyl siding or other coverings.

• One layer of No. 15 asphalt felt that complies with ATM D 226 or another approved water resistive barrier that is free from breaks or holes may be used.
• The material must be applied horizontally with the upper layer lapped over the lower layer at least 2 inches. 
• Where joints occur, the material must be lapped at least 6 inches and must be continuous to the top of the walls. It is not required under the paperbacked stucco lath when the paper backing is an approved weather-resistive sheathing paper.

The City will perform a water barrier inspection as part of the framing inspection as well as a sheathing inspection. 

Gas piping

If applicable, the gas piping inspection is made after the gas line has been installed with a pressure gauge on the line. The pipe size, length of run, BTUs of heating units and dip pipe will be verified at the time of inspection. This inspection can be scheduled with the Framing All Roughs inspection.

Insulation Inspection

This inspection is performed after the Framing All Roughs inspection has been approved and after all walls and floors requiring insulation are complete.

Any ceiling areas where it is not possible to use blown insulation or where blown insulation is not to be used must be complete at this time.

Energy Code Inspection

At this stage, our inspectors will review general compliance with the Energy Code. Unfortunately, this does not eliminate the requirements that the Code places on the builder to verify the same through the steps explained in #7 and #11. 

Before you request the Temporary Power inspection, the underground electric line must be installed. You must submit a written request form (PDF) to the Utilities Department to start the installation process. The meter base should be installed at this point.

Sometimes the line will need to be installed under your driveway. If your driveway has already been poured, contact Utilities at 803-329-5500.

The temporary power inspection is performed when all circuits have been completed, receptacles and covers have been installed, ceiling outlets have been wire nutted and covered, and the electrical panel has been completed with all circuit breakers installed. An exception may be considered for receptacles installed in areas to be tiled or awaiting special order counters or cabinets. 

Door blower test

If the builder did not verify compliance with the building envelope air leakage requirements of the Energy Code during the Framing All Roughs stage, the Code requires the builder to perform a door blower test to verify less than 7 ACH (air changes per hour) at this stage of construction. 

Duct tightness test

If the builder did not verify compliance with the duct air leakage requirements of the Energy Code during the Framing All Roughs stage, the Code requires that the builder complete a post-construction final inspection stage test that shows: 

• 8 cfm per 100 square feet leakage to outdoors
• 12 cfm per 100 square feet total leakage

Required documentation

State law requires the builder to submit the test results for both these requirements before we can issue a Certificate of Occupancy for the project. 

• Click on the "Request Inspections" button below
• Click on "My Permits"
• Click on the specific permit in the list
• Click on the "Upload Document" option in the “Document” section and follow the prompts from there

In flood hazard areas, the builder must submit the elevation certification for the finished construction at this point. 

• Click on the "Request Inspections" button below
• Click on "My Permits"
• Click on the specific permit in the list
• Click on the "Upload Document" option in the “Document” section and follow the prompts from there

Final inspections are performed when the structure is ready for occupancy.

Single-family detached homes

• The address must be posted so that it can be seen from the street with lettering at least three inches tall. If the structure is more than 50 feet from the improved portion of the street, the address must also be displayed on a freestanding pole or the mailbox.
• Water meter boxes must be properly set to grade.
• All plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems must be complete and functional.
• Floor coverings must be installed in the kitchen, bath, and laundry areas, and tile in the bathrooms must be completed.
• All open permits must be complete.
• Sidewalks cannot have cracks or damaged curbs. 

Townhomes

All of the above, plus:

• Grade of land and stormwater measures are in place according to approved plans.
• All landscape material has been installed according to approved plans.
• Architectural design requirements.
• Any required fencing is installed.
• ADA requirements are met for parking lots, sidewalks, etc.
• Handicap accessibility per requirements of ANSI A117.1 

• First failed inspection: $25
• Each additional failed inspection (at the same site for the same violation): $50 
• Each failed final inspection: $100 for each type of inspection that fails (for example, if a project fails zoning, landscaping, and building final inspections, the fee would be $300)

Reinspection fees must be paid prior to receiving the Certificate of Occupancy.

Open burning is prohibited within the City limits except for construction site warming fires in containers approved by the Fire Department. Before you open burn, contact the Rock Hill Fire Department at (803) 329-7220 for further information.

If you have superintendents at any point between the initial pre-construction meetings and certificate of occupancy, we need to know right away. The new superintendents will need to participate in a new pre-construction meeting so that we can communicate important information that they will need to know, and we will need to add them to our contact list for the project.