CHAPTER 7. Construction Inspectors, Plans Examiners, and Building Officials [18949.25. - 18949.31.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 7.

in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 18949.25. Section 18949.25.

For purposes of this chapter, “construction inspector” means any person who is hired or contracted by a local agency in a temporary or permanent capacity for the purpose of inspecting construction for structural, seismic safety, fire and life safety, or building system requirements of adopted uniform codes or standards, as applied to residential, commercial, or industrial buildings.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 18949.26. Section 18949.26.

For purposes of this chapter, “plans examiner” means any person who is hired or contracted by a local agency in a temporary or permanent capacity for the purpose of performing construction plan review for structural, seismic safety, fire and life safety, or building system requirements of adopted uniform codes or standards, as applied to residential, commercial, or industrial buildings.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 18949.27. Section 18949.27.

For purposes of this chapter, “building official” means the individual invested with the responsibility for overseeing local code enforcement activities, including administration of the building department, interpretation of code requirements, and direction of the code adoption process.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 18949.28. Section 18949.28.

(a) All construction inspectors, plans examiners and building officials who are not exempt from the requirements of this chapter pursuant to subdivision (b), or previously certified, shall complete one year of verifiable experience in the appropriate field, and shall, within one year thereafter, obtain certification from a recognized state, national, or international association, as determined by the local agency. The area of certification shall be closely related to the primary job function, as determined by the local agency. (b) Any person who is currently and has continuously been employed as a construction inspector, plans examiner, or building official for not less than two years prior to the effective date of this section shall be exempt from the certification provisions of this section, unless and until that person obtains employment as a construction inspector, plans examiner, or building official with a different employer. (c) Nothing in this article is intended to prohibit a local agency from prescribing additional criteria for the certification of construction inspectors, plans examiners, or building officials. (d) Nothing in this chapter, as it relates to construction inspectors, plans examiners, or building officials, shall be construed to alter the requirements for licensure, or the jurisdiction, authority, or scope of practice, of architects pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 5500) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, professional engineers pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 6700) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code, or land surveyors pursuant to Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 8700) of Division 3 of the Business and Professions Code.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 18949.29. Section 18949.29.

(a) All construction inspectors, plans examiners, and building officials shall complete a minimum of 45 hours of continuing education for every three-year period, with at least eight hours regarding disability access requirements pursuant to subdivision (d). A local government may charge or increase inspection fees to the extent necessary to offset any added costs incurred in complying with this section. (b) Providers of continuing education may include any organizations affiliated with the code enforcement profession, community colleges, or other providers of similar quality, as determined by the local agency. (c) For purposes of this section, “continuing education” is defined as that education relating to the enforcement of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, and any other locally enforced building and construction standards, including, but not limited to, the model uniform codes adopted by the state. When a local agency selects a model code organization as a provider of continuing education or certification programs regarding the enforcement of a model code adopted by the state, the local agency shall give preference to the organization responsible for promulgating or drafting that model code. (d) Continuing education regarding disability access requirements shall include information and practical guidance concerning requirements imposed by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336; 42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.), state laws that govern access to public facilities, and federal and state regulations adopted pursuant to those laws. Continuing education provided pursuant to this subdivision shall be presented by trainers or educators with knowledge and expertise in these requirements.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 18949.30. Section 18949.30.

This chapter does not apply to a registered professional engineer, licensed land surveyor, or licensed architect rendering construction inspection services, plan examination services, or building official services within the scope of his or her registration or licensure, except that this chapter applies to a registered professional engineer, licensed land surveyor, or licensed architect who is an employee of a local agency. This chapter does not apply to a construction inspector or plans examiner employed by any city or county fire department or district providing fire protection services.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 18949.31. Section 18949.31.

The local agency shall bear the costs of certification, certification renewal, and continuing education, as mandated by this chapter. The local agency may impose fees, including, but not limited to, fees for construction inspection and plan checks, which may be used to cover the costs of compliance with this chapter. A local agency’s actual costs of compliance with this chapter may include, but are not limited to, training and certification courses, certification exam and renewal fees, employee salary during training and certification courses, and mileage and other reimbursable costs incurred by the employee. The fees imposed to cover the costs of compliance with this chapter shall reflect these actual costs, and are not limited by Chapter 5 of Division 1 of Title 7.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026