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Council approves policy to allow pre-authorized third-party inspections for limited circumstances
Summary
To reduce delays and handle special scheduling needs, council approved a rule allowing prequalified third-party inspectors to perform building inspections when city staff cannot; the policy requires prior approval, independence, insurance and reporting back to the city.
The council approved a policy on May 27 that allows prequalified third-party inspectors (TPIs) to perform building inspections in narrowly defined circumstances when city inspectors are unavailable or when project schedules make city inspection impractical.
Under the policy, third-party inspectors must be pre-approved before a permit is issued, demonstrate required certifications (ICC, TDLR, state plumbing inspector license where applicable), carry professional liability insurance and sign an affidavit of independence. The city retains authority to perform any required inspection, to do final occupancy inspections and to revoke third-party approval. Staff said the policy is intended to be a service-level backstop when weather, early-morning pours or staffing constraints make city inspection infeasible.
Council asked that third-party use be tightly controlled to avoid repeated last-minute substitution and to preserve public confidence. Staff said TPIs will not replace city inspections; instead, they will be used only when prior authorization is granted and will be subject to city review. The policy includes an administrative pre-permit meeting requirement and a reporting and review process, and staff will provide the builders association with the policy and training on the new workflow.
Why this matters: The measure is designed to keep projects on schedule when narrow operational constraints arise and to reduce the need for costly contractor rework and mobilization delays, while preserving the city's inspection authority and public-safety oversight.
What's next: Staff will circulate the rule to the building community, publish the prequalification requirements and begin using the policy on an as-needed basis.
