Inspections FAQs
- When must the final inspection be done and do I have to be present?
- Can I schedule a preliminary inspection before construction is complete?
- How soon can you perform the inspection after I request it?
- How can I hire you to perform the inspection if you did not also perform the plan review?
- Who is responsible for correcting any violations cited in the inspection report?
- How long does the owner have to correct violations?
- What happens if I cannot complete all required modifications within the allotted time frame?
- Can I request a variance to a violation cited on the inspection report?
- What do I do if my variance request is disapproved?
- What do I do if all extensions have expired and I have not received a reply from TDLR regarding my variance application?
When must the final inspection be done and do I have to be present?
The owner of the building or facility must request an inspection not later than 30 days after completion of construction. Completion of Construction is defined in the TDLR Administrative Rules as: “That phase of a construction project which results in occupancy or the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.”
The final inspection must then be performed within one year of completion of construction. Please note that we cannot perform the final inspection if construction is not complete by definition. In the event an inspection is requested and upon reaching the site we find construction is not complete, additional charges for a re-visit may apply.
The owner-of-record, or his or her designated agent, must accompany our inspector. If the owner designates any other person for this responsibility, such designation must be in writing. We are prohibited by TDLR from performing the final inspection if this requirement is not satisfied, and additional fees may be charged in the event after we show up at the site we have to reschedule the inspection due to no fault of Accessology.
Can I schedule a preliminary inspection before construction is complete?
We will be happy to provide you with that service. Generally, our fee for a preliminary inspection is 75% of the final inspection fee. Although the owner is certainly welcome to be present during a preliminary inspection, it is not necessary.
How soon can you perform the inspection after I request it?
In the effort to keep our fees as low as possible, we schedule inspections to best utilize the inspector’s time by sorting them geographically to minimize travel time and expenses.
We can serve you best if you contact us at least two or three weeks prior to your preferred date. If that is not possible, we will work hard to accommodate the owner’s schedule.
How can I hire you to perform the inspection if you did not also perform the plan review?
When you contact us, we will ask for the TDLR project number (EABPRJ number) and the name of the Registered Accessibility Specialist who did the review. With that information we can request the file from the reviewer. (RAS procedures require we have the file prior to visiting the site, and it sometimes takes three or four weeks for it to arrive.)
We will also ask for billing information and confirmation of building ownership. The fee must be paid in advance. Finally, we will schedule a mutually convenient date and ask the name of the person to whom we should report when we get to the site.
Who is responsible for correcting any violations cited in the inspection report?
State law places that responsibility on the owner. Although the owner may hold others responsible (such as the tenant, architect or contractor), in the eyes of the law it is the owner of the building or facility.
How long does the owner have to correct violations?
Our letter to the owner will request we be notified within 90 days that all corrective modifications have been completed. If additional time is necessary, send us in writing a request for an extension. We are authorized to grant up to 180 days additional time.
What happens if I cannot complete all required modifications within the allotted time frame?
We are mandated by procedures to return the file to TDLR for resolution. Should that occur, we are no longer involved and all subsequent contact and correspondence must be directed to TDLR.
Can I request a variance to a violation cited on the inspection report?
Yes. Download a Post-Construction Variance Application (Form 034AB) from the TDLR Website at http://www.license.state.tx.us/ab/abforms.htm. Follow the instructions on the form and submit directly to TLDR along with the applicable fee.
Please send us a copy of the application for the project file.
What do I do if my variance request is disapproved?
The response you receive from TDLR will include information regarding your options.
What do I do if all extensions have expired and I have not received a reply from TDLR regarding my variance application?
Most likely, TDLR already requested the file from us for purposes
of processing your application. If they have not, RAS procedures require
us to return the file to them for resolution.