RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
Updated: January 2011
A. GENERAL NOTES
1. All inspections may be scheduled online or called in to the automated system at 972-304-3518. Same day inspections will be performed for all inspections phoned in to the recorder before 7 a.m. each weekday.
2. Office hours for inspectors will usually be from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. and from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. The office telephone number is 972-304-3500. Extenuating circumstances will vary the hours that the inspectors are in the field.
3. Trash and erosion control shall be maintained throughout the construction process. Streets, alleys and drainage systems shall be kept clear of mud, dirt and debris. The builder (superintendent) is responsible for removal of mud, dirt and debris on all streets, alleys and drainage systems, and failure to do so shall result in the withholding of additional permits and/or inspections.
4. Instruct subcontractors and their employees to park in such a way that emergency vehicular traffic (i.e. fire trucks and ambulances) will not be obstructed.
5. No construction whatsoever may begin until a permit is issued.
6. Building addresses must be posted AT ALL TIMES. The numbers must be a minimum of four inches (4") in height and easily readable from the street.
7. Addresses must also be posted on all temporary electrical poles. Addresses must be visible from the alley.
8. Citations will be issued to the job superintendent if temporary power is tied directly into the permanent breaker box without an electrician on the job.
9. City approved building plans and form survey must be available on the job site when foundation inspections are conducted.
10. A six square foot by four foot high (6 x 6 x 4 ft.) framed trash bin is required on the job at all times. The enclosure is to be adequately fastened to maintain its shape with a maximum opening size of two inches (2") in the walls.
11. Temporary heat may be released provided that the electrical line is tied directly into a breaker at the T-pole. The electrical line from the furnace to the breaker box must be connected to the line from the T-pole at the breaker box. The connection is to be made with wire nut connectors and taped. The breaker box will serve as a junction box only. No circuit breaker in the breaker box will be allowed to be energized. The line from the T-pole to the house must be buried or some form of adequate protection must be provided. Access must be provided to the furnace.
B. CONSTRUCTION NOISE
Any construction activity related to the erection, excavation demolition, alteration, or repair of any building, fence, swimming pool, spa, flatwork, or accessory structure on or adjacent to a residential district or structure and use as defined in Chapter 12 of the Code of Ordinances other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday and between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, except that the city manager or designee may issue a written permit to exceed these hours in the case of urgent necessity in the interest of public safety or for other reasons determined by the city manager or designee to be necessary for the public health, safety or welfare. For purposes of this section, "legal holidays" include New Year's Day (January 1), Memorial Day (observed date), Fourth of July (July 4), Labor Day (observed date) Thanksgiving Day (observed date), and Christmas Day (December 25).
C. TYPES OF INSPECTIONS REQUIRED
Each of the inspections shown below must be done in proper order. If an inspection is called in before a prior required inspection has been made, no inspection will be done. Please note: Concrete or plumbing rough inspections will be cancelled if it is raining or if it has been determined that it is too wet. In addition, concrete inspections will be cancelled if the temperature is not at least 38 degrees and rising. Contractors will not be contacted in such cases, but are expected to be aware that all weather-related cancellations must be recalled, and are not automatically held-over to the next day.
Required inspections are:
1. Plumbing rough
2. Temporary pole (needs to be inspection in conjunction with plumbing rough)
3. Foundation
4. Second (framing, electrical rough, plumbing top-out, mechanical rough, and gas line)
5. Electrical final (energy compliance form and TNRCC form due at building final inspection)
6. Water utility
7. Building final
a. Submit completed and signed Compliance Certificate, per the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code;
b. Submit completed and signed TNRCC form
8. Flatwork can be done anytime
D. RESIDENTIAL INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS
Temporary Pole
1. Double pole breaker installed for 220-volt plug.
2. Single pole breaker installed for 110-volt plug.
3. Box is to be secured to the pole.
4. Pole is to be solidly braced.
5. A full-length ground rod is to be installed.
6. Citations will be issued to anyone who ties power directly into the house breaker box.
7. Citations will be issued to anyone running power from the T-pole without proper connectors on each end of the cord.
8. Address must be on the T-pole and must be easily readable from the alley.
9. Coupling bushing must be installed at the end of the conduit for the connection to the electric utility.
Foundation--All foundation plans must be stamped by a structural engineer
Post Tension:
1. Installation must conform with the engineered plans.
2. The post tension foundation plans, detail sheet, and plot plan must be on the job site.
3. A copy of the form survey must be on the job site. Property pins must be exposed. When required, the original Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) letter must be on site.
4. All cables must be straight and centered in the beams.
5. All copper must be sleeved or taped; painting will not be accepted.
6. Cables that must be re-routed to miss plumbing fixtures must be done with long sweeping curves of the cable.
7. Poly must cover all pad areas. Poly must be laid in place to insure well formed beam size or cut at beams. If poly is installed in the bottom of beams, the inspector must be able to verify beam sizes and reinforcement.
8. Chairs must be in place.
9. Tub boxes, cooktop vents, electrical conduit, etc., must be installed.
10. Water pressure must be on and hose bibb with vacuum breaker must be installed to check for pressure on the copper.
Gas Line
1. A pressure test must be performed of not less than fifteen (15) psi for fifteen minutes. Welded piping and piping exceeding fourteen inch (14") water column are pressure tested at a minimum of 60 psi.
2. Holes cut for gas lines may only be large enough for the line to penetrate.
3. Gas lines in contact or passing through masonry must be sleeved or taped; painting is not acceptable. Gas lines shall not interfere with brick and masonry minimum thickness.
Water Utility
1. This inspection is performed by the Water Utilities Department. No other inspection can be made when this inspection is being done.
2. Meter box will be at curb grade or no more than two inches (2") above.
3. Meter box should be cleaned out so that all connections are visible from the inline ball valve (connecting copper to setter) to the discharge side of the meter yoke and all water from box shall be removed for inspection.
4. All utilities in front of building structures will be accessible and up to grade; i.e. manholes, sewer main cleanouts, lateral cleanouts (if applicable), valve stacks, and blow offs.
5. Fire hydrants (if applicable) shall be intact and operational.
6. Cleanouts and valve stack tops shall have concrete pads intact with no cracks.
7. Manhole rings should be grouted inside and out. Manhole rings should have no cracks and be centered over manhole cone with rain pan and chimney seal in place (if applicable).
8. If applicable, the storm sewer inlet shall be cleaned of all debris and dirt.
9. If applicable, the meter valve shall be clean and free of water and at finish grade.
10. If applicable, double check box (if double check is connected to discharge side of meter) shall be cleaned so that all fittings on the double check can be inspected.
Building Final
1. The TCEQ form (Water Utilities Customer Service inspection form), completed and signed by the licensed plumber, must be submitted to the Building Inspections Dept. prior to requesting the Building Final inspection.
2. Submit completed and signed Envelope Compliance Certificate, per the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code.
3. Electrical meter must be installed.
4. All receptacles must be wired properly and all light fixtures properly installed.
5. All GFCIs must be installed and properly working.
6. Permanent address must be installed on front and rear of house with numbers in contrasting color to background.
7. A solid floor twenty-four inches (24") wide must be installed from attic openings to equipment in attic. A 30-inch working platform is required at the equipment.
8. A permanent electrical outlet and lighting fixture controlled by a switch located at the required attic opening shall be provided at or near the equipment.
9. All gas lines must be connected and in operable condition.
10. A permanent electrical outlet and lighting fixture controlled by a switch located at the required attic opening shall be provided at or near the equipment.
11. A light fixture or a switched receptacle must be installed in each room.
12. All plumbing fixtures must be installed. Dishwashers are to be installed with an air gap at the sewer connection.
13. All hose bibb vacuum breakers must be installed.
14. Sewer cleanouts cut to grade.
15. Street, alley, and all flatwork must be clean and clear of mud and debris.
16. PVC vent stacks must be painted.
17. Chimneys must extend at least two feet (2')above any point on the roof within ten feet (10') of the chimneys.
18. Circuits must be labeled on breaker box.
19. Combustion air vents must be installed in the top and bottom 12-inch portion of closets enclosing gas appliances. Each vent must total a minimum of 100 square inches.
20. Hot water must correspond to the left side of fittings on plumbing fixtures.
21. Water heaters must be installed per the 2009 International Plumbing Code.
22. Unions must be installed within twelve inches (12") of regulating equipment, water heaters, conditioning tanks, or other similar equipment.
23. Yard must be clear of debris and final grade done.
24. Smoke detectors in each sleeping area and at all areas leading to sleeping areas. All detectors to be tied together and have battery back-up.
25 Safety glass must be installed as required in 2009 International Residential Code.
26. A fire separation must not have open areas between the house and an attached garage, except as listed:
a. Doors to the dwelling must be self-closing, solid core 1-3/8-inch wood or 20-minute fire-rated.
b. Construction on the garage side shall be 5/8-inch type X drywall or equal.
27 All utilities must installed and in working condition.
Flatwork
1. All flatwork must be inspected. This will include all walkways, drives, and patios.
2. All flatwork must be reinforced with steel and doweled into existing pavement, i.e. streets, sidewalks and driveways. City walks are required to have a minimum of 3/8-inch rebar at twenty-four inches (24") on center transversely and eighteen inch (18") on center longitudinally with ½-inch redwood expansion joints at 40', 0", on center. Other flatwork may have minimum #10 wire mesh with 6 x 6 squares.
3. Approaches off of alleys must have a depth of six inches (6") and be reinforced with #3 bars eighteen (18") on center to the property line. Alley approaches must have a turn radius of five feet (5'). The alley must be dowelled eighteen inches (18") on center. Do not install an expansion joint at the alley. An expansion joint will be required at the property line.
4. Approaches off of a street must have a depth of six inches (6") and be reinforced with #3 bars eighteen inches (18") on center to the property line. A turn radius of five feet (5') is required. The street must be dowelled eighteen inches (18") on center or existing street steel may be used. An expansion joint will be required at the sidewalk. Do not install an expansion joint at the street.
5. Expansion joints must be installed at all existing concrete (except streets and alleys).
6. Decorative concrete may be installed only on private property. Any concrete work done within a street or alley easement must be completed with a broom brush finish.
7. If more than three (3) flatwork inspections are requested (excluding re-inspections), a re-inspection fee will be assessed for each inspection thereafter.
8. All conduit sleeves are to be placed in the sub grade before placement of concrete.
9. All saw cuts of existing paving are to be a full depth cut.
10. Roll down and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramps shall be provided at all driveways.
11. All paving located in an easement or public right-of-way must be stabilized by lime, cement, or an alternative approved by the City.
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Residential Construction Requirements
