Royston City Manager proposes ending permit-holder-selected third-party inspector program

City Manager Lanier Dunn told the Royston City Council on June 2 that the city's third-party building inspector program, used for new construction since 2023, should be restructured so that the city—not permit applicants—selects inspection contractors.

Dunn, joined in the recommendation by the City Marshal, said the current arrangement lets permit applicants hire inspectors from a city-approved list. He and the marshal recommended ending that model and replacing it with one or two third-party inspection companies hired directly by the city.

Council members discussed the proposal and instructed the City Manager to prepare an ordinance updating the city's inspection procurement and procedures for consideration at the earliest possible time. No vote on an ordinance or formal policy change occurred at the June 2 work session.

The change would alter how building inspections are procured for new construction and could affect workflow for permit applicants, the city's permitting office and private inspection firms. The transcript records the program has been in place since 2023; specifics about contract terms, estimated costs, or implementation timeline were not specified in the meeting record.