How can I check if my build-out passed inspection?
On this page
- Key facts
- Where do inspection results live?
- Is there a dashboard that tracks all of them?
- In what order do inspections usually happen?
- How do you know a failed inspection won't delay opening?
- What should you ask your contractor for each week?
- What should a permit tracker record for each item?
- How FloorStack helps
- Free tools for this step
- Frequently asked questions
- Sources
Check your jurisdiction's online permit portal, where most building departments post each inspection result, and ask your contractor for the signed inspection cards. Anne Arundel County, MD, for example, lets applicants schedule and track all inspections online and reviews each TI submittal in about 10 business days (Anne Arundel County). In 2026, dental-specific sign-offs often sit outside that portal.
Key facts
| Item | Example | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Online tracking | All inspections can be scheduled and tracked in the county's portal (Anne Arundel, MD) | Anne Arundel County |
| Order of finals | Fire Marshal life-safety final and trade permits must pass before the final building inspection (Anne Arundel) | Anne Arundel County |
| CO condition | Main and associated permits must pass all finals and fees be paid (Sacramento) | City of Sacramento |
| X-ray (NC) | No install until the shielding plan is acknowledged | NC DHHS |
| X-ray registration (TX) | Within 30 days after beginning use | 25 TAC §289.232 |
| Amalgam report | Within 90 days after first discharge (new source) | 40 CFR 441.50 |
Where do inspection results live?
In more places than one. The building department posts its own inspections, but a dental office also depends on approvals from other agencies and private verifiers:
| Sign-off | Who issues it | Where the record lives |
|---|---|---|
| Building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical inspections | Building department | Permit portal and inspection card |
| Fire/life safety | Fire marshal | Fire department records or portal |
| Health department (where required) | County health | Health department |
| Accessibility (some states) | State program, e.g., Texas TDLR | State system (TDLR) |
| X-ray shielding plan and registration | State radiation program | State letters and registration (NC DHHS) |
| Medical gas verification | Third-party verifier, then fire/building | Verifier's report; see NFPA 99 |
| Amalgam separator report | Your sewer authority | Your copy of the One-Time Compliance Report (40 CFR 441.50) |
| Certificate of occupancy | Building department | CO document |
Dental & Medical Counsel lists building permits, health department approvals, fire department sign-off and dental facility inspections among the approvals needed in California (Dental & Medical Counsel). For the full list, see dental office permits and the inspection checklist.
Is there a dashboard that tracks all of them?
Not yet in one public tool. FloorStack's free permit & inspection tracker (coming soon) is planned to keep every permit, inspection, result and re-inspection on one dashboard. Until it launches, use the template below in a shared spreadsheet with your contractor.
Inspection tracker template
| Permit / approval | Agency | Inspection | Requested | Date | Result | Re-inspect? | Card/record saved | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building TI | Building dept | Underground plumbing | GC | |||||
| Building TI | Building dept | Rough framing / MEP | GC | |||||
| Building TI | Building dept | Insulation / above-ceiling | GC | |||||
| Fire | Fire marshal | Sprinkler / alarm | GC | |||||
| Medical gas | Verifier | Verification | GC | |||||
| Fire | Fire marshal | Life-safety final | GC | |||||
| Trades | Building dept | Electrical, plumbing, mechanical finals | GC | |||||
| Building TI | Building dept | Building final | GC | |||||
| X-ray | State radiation | Plan acknowledgment / registration | Doctor | |||||
| Amalgam | Sewer authority | One-Time Compliance Report | Doctor | |||||
| CO | Building dept | Certificate issued | GC / Doctor |
In what order do inspections usually happen?
Roughly: underground, rough-in, cover-up, then finals. Anne Arundel County requires the fire marshal's life-safety final and any associated trade permits to pass before the final building inspection can be scheduled (Anne Arundel County). Sacramento issues a certificate of occupancy only after the main permit and all associated permits pass final inspection and fees are paid (City of Sacramento). Your jurisdiction's sequence may differ, so ask the inspector at the pre-construction meeting.
How do you know a failed inspection won't delay opening?
Track re-inspections and their causes the same day. Benco's startup timeline puts inspecting contractor work, testing equipment and arranging city and county inspections in the final month before opening (Benco Dental), so there's little slack. BuildCrux puts typical dental TI at 16–28 weeks from permit to certificate of occupancy (BuildCrux).
To see what a delay does to your budget and schedule, the free build-out cost & timeline calculator (coming soon) is planned to combine square footage, operatory count and region into a budget and schedule. See why dental build-outs get delayed.
What should you ask your contractor for each week?
- Inspections requested, passed, failed, and next scheduled
- Copies or photos of signed inspection cards
- Open corrections and who is fixing them
- Any agency comments that change the drawings
What should a permit tracker record for each item?
Whether you use a spreadsheet, the contractor's software or a dedicated tool, each permit and inspection line should carry the same fields so nothing is lost when people change:
| Field | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Permit or inspection type | Tells you which trade owns it |
| Permit number | Lets you look up status on the city portal |
| Responsible party | Names who schedules and attends |
| Date requested and date scheduled | Shows whether delays are on the city or the team |
| Result (pass, partial, fail) | Flags rework early |
| Corrections required | Lists what must be fixed before re-inspection |
| Re-inspection date | Tracks the delay a failure causes |
| Documents attached | Keeps signed cards and reports in one place |
Ask your contractor to update it weekly, and check the city portal yourself for the permits that gate your opening date.
How FloorStack helps
FloorStack is a dental build-out platform that ties each inspection to the room and system it covers, so you can see what's passed from anywhere. Start at the Dental Office Construction hub, and see certificate of occupancy timing and tracking construction progress remotely.
Related guides: NFPA 99 medical gas checklist.
Free tools on the FloorStack dental build-out platform for this step: Build-out cost & timeline calculator (free tool, coming soon) and Permit & inspection tracker (free tool, coming soon).
Free tools for this step
- Build-out cost & timeline calculator (free tool, coming soon): estimate budget and schedule from your square footage, operatory count and region.
- Permit & inspection tracker (free tool, coming soon): track every permit, inspection and sign-off through the certificate of occupancy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find my building inspection results?
Most building departments post results on their online permit portal by permit number. Your contractor should also keep the signed inspection cards.
Are all dental approvals on the city portal?
No. X-ray registration, medical gas verification and amalgam reporting usually sit with other agencies or verifiers.
What has to pass before the final building inspection?
In Anne Arundel County, MD, the fire marshal's life-safety final and associated trade permits must pass first.
What happens if an inspection fails?
The contractor corrects the items and requests a re-inspection. Track the cause and date so delays show up early.
Is there a free dental permit tracker?
FloorStack's permit & inspection tracker is coming soon. Until then, use the template on this page.
When can I get the certificate of occupancy?
After all required final inspections pass and fees are paid; in Sacramento, allow up to 7 business days for processing.
Sources
- Anne Arundel County, MD: Non-Residential Tenant Improvement Permit
- City of Sacramento: Certificates of Occupancy
- NC DHHS Radiation Protection: Shielding Plan Review and Post-Installation Survey Requirements (PDF)
- 25 Tex. Admin. Code §289.232: Radiation Control Regulations for Dental Radiation Machines
- 40 CFR 441.50: Dental Office Reporting Requirements
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: Architectural Barriers FAQ
- Dental & Medical Counsel: A Dental Lawyer's Guide to Your Dental Office Build-Out
- Benco Dental: Starting a Dental Practice Guide (PDF)
- BuildCrux: Dental Office Buildout Cost Guide (2026)
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