The Department of Buildings is cracking down on permit-related issues by adding fees for incomplete inspections.
Per a newly proposed rule, the DOB will add inspection fees to permit-related inspections that cannot be completed, either because “the permit holder or licensee is not prepared or willing to assist Department inspectors in conducting the inspection, or cannot provide full access to the permitted work.”
According to the DOB, incomplete inspections have become a huge burden to the Department, costing over $2 million dollars. Approximately 44,000 instances of incomplete inspections occurred between May 2021 and May 2026, with one company accounting for 1,800 alone.
To blunt the impacts of incomplete inspections, this new rule will do the following:
- Impose a fee of $200 for each incomplete inspection
- Provide that “an incomplete inspection may not be rescheduled until the associated fee has been paid“
- Extended failure to pay fees or incurrence of repeated incomplete inspections may result in suspension, revocation, or denial of applications for license renewals or registrations
What Is An Incomplete Inspection?
Based on the new rule, there are several situations which may be considered incomplete inspections:
- Failure to keep the appointment – failure to be at the inspection site at the scheduled time
- Incomplete installation – the subject of the inspection is not sufficiently complete to permit the scheduled inspection to be conducted
- Inspection declined – permit holder or licensee is seen leaving the site prior to or at the time of the inspection; or is present onsite but refuses or otherwise declines to proceed with the scheduled inspection
- Late cancellation – cancellation request received by the DOB fewer than 3 business days prior to the scheduled appointment
- Incomplete access – the inspector is not given full access
- Unprepared site – inspector cannot complete the inspection for reasons including lack of required safety measures, absence of necessary documentation, or other specific condition identified by the inspector
- Unfamiliar with scope of work – permit holder or licensee is not sufficiently familiar with the installation to be inspected to answer the inspector’s inquiries or otherwise faciliate the inspection
Conversely, full access means that “The inspector has unobstructed entry to the completed installation and can reach all relevant components, equipment, and equipment rooms required for completion of the inspection.”
Impact and Challenges
Failure to pay fees may slow ongoing work and prevent completion. At worst, ongoing issues can cause disciplinary referrals (including suspension, revocation, or denials of license/registration renewals).
That said, the rule does establish a challenge process. Submissions can be made via DOB’s website within 30 days of the fee’s imposition. Supporting documentation must be included in the challenge request.
What’s Next?
As with any proposed rule, we’ll have more details following the public comment period and hearing after 9/9/26.
If you’d like to leave comments or participate in the hearing, click here to get more details. We’ll keep you posted if anything changes, and when similar rules are proposed.
Don’t forget – you can view job, permit, and CO information directly in your SiteCompli or InCheck account. Let your Customer Success Manager or support@sitecompli.com know if you have any questions.
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