What do City Inspectors look for during inspections?

The following is provided as a basic guideline of items that the inspectors will look for through the course of an inspection:

EXTERIOR

Siding:

  • What is the condition (broken, peeling paint, cracked)
  • Are there any shingles or pieces missing
  • If brick are all bricks in place

Foundation:

  • Condition (cracks, chipped corners, painting needed)
  • Any leaks at ground level or below the walls

Gutters & Down Spouts:

  • Aluminum, galvanized, or copper
  • Condition (damaged and spilling into splash-guard, any missing sections, needs replacing, needs repairs, needs to be painted)
  • Are downspouts attached and draining away from the building.

Windows:

  • Condition (broken or cracked panes)
  • Operable (opens and close without any problems)
  • Type: Metal or wood (is any painting needed)

Screens:

  • Condition (any tears, holes, pulled away from gasket)
  • Screens should be in all windows that open and storm doors

Fences:

  • Type: chain link or privacy
  • Condition (rusting & needs to be painted, falling down, leaning, sagging, missing rails, vegetation growing in fence, wooden fence needs to be painted)

Accessory Building:

  • Type: Metal or wooden
  • Properly secured to ground (anchored down)
  • Condition (in need to repairs or painting, doors are attached and operable)
  • Legally located in yard (5 ft from rear property line & 3 ft from side property lines)
  • Building should be on a concrete pad.

Driveway / Sidewalks:

  • Cracked sections, pitted sections, raised section (replacement needed)

Yards:

  • Unnecessary debris/litter (tree limbs, branches, leaves)
  • Grass excessively high (over 8 inches)

House Lights/Receptacles:

  • Condition (broken glass, exposed receptacles weather proofed and GFCI protected.
  • Outlets near a concrete floor should be GFCI protected.

Air Conditioner:

  • Know the age
  • Condition (operable, outside unit clear of debris, leaves, trash)

Swimming Pool (Above Ground):

  • Type
  • Condition (operable, no standing / stagnant water)
  • Properly wired (electric outlet for the filter must be grounded circuit with a GFI receptacle enclosed in a weather-proof box)
  • Proper drain provision
  • Proper safety (fence, gate, removable or lockable ladder)
  • Pool must be 6 ft from ALL property lines

 

INTERIOR

Living Room, Dining Room, Bedrooms:

  • Measurements (square feet)
  • All windows operable and frames in good condition
  • Flooring cover (carpeting, hard wood, linoleum)
  • All outlets have plate covers
  • Cracks along ceiling or walls
  • Any visible water damage, ceiling or walls

Kitchen:

  • Measurements (square feet)
  • Grounded receptacle by the sink (GFI outlets)
  • Exhaust fan operable (if applicable)
  • Disposal operable (if applicable)
  • Any water leakage under the sink
  • Floor covering (linoleum, carpet, tile)
  • Items 2 through 7 under Living Room also apply to Kitchen

Hallway:

  • Operable smoke detector must be placed on the ceiling near the bedrooms

Family Room:

  • Any additional heating components (gas- must be inspected by Laclede Gas, wood burning must be properly flued / vented

Bathroom:

  • Wash basin, tub/shower, sink (water damage due to leakage)
  • Toilet (signs of water damage) Will flush to verify
  • Grounded receptacle by the sink with GFI outlet
  • Floor covering (tile, linoleum, carpet)
  • Walls (drywall, tile)

Smoke Detectors:

  • Should be inside every bedroom near the door.
  • Should be outside each bedroom
  • Should be on each level of the home
  • Should be at the top of the basement stairs.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors:

  • Should be on each level of the home

Basement:

  • Any cracks in the walls, water damage due to leakage
  • Floor drain required
  • Water heater (Approximate age, safety valve, overflow, properly vented
  • Smoke detector required at bottom of basement stairwell.
  • Handrail must be attached on basement stairs

Electrical Main Fuse Box:

  • List amps of input service (100/200 amps)
  • Fuses or breakers
  • Are any additional outlet boxes attached
  • All wiring must be terminated in junction boxes and properly covered
  • All wiring must be secured to walls/ ceiling
  • Wiring should be properly sized
  • Housing grounding (verify connection to pipe)

Stairs:

  • Basement and deck stairs should be childproofed with no openings greater than 4 inches

Furnace:

  • List type of pipe, clean out capabilities.
  • Auxiliary and space heaters must be inspected/approved by Laclede Gas.

Finished Areas:

  • If water is provided for a sink, verify that connections are proper and must have a "P" trap and not straight drop to main pipelines.

Show All Answers

1. Do I need an occupancy permit?
2. What is required to get a residential occupancy permit?
3. What is required to get a commercial occupancy permit?
4. What types of projects require a permit for my home?
5. What do I need and where do I go to get a permit?
6. How do I report a pothole or problem with my street?
7. What do City Inspectors look for during inspections?
8. How do I report issues with a tree that I think is in the public right-of-way?