Starting Labor Day, builders and remodelers must have the fruits of their labor inspected at least three times, if the project does not require inspection by a city building official.

House Bill 1038, passed by the 2007 Legislature, created a County Inspection program for all homes built or remodeled if the work was performed in unincorporated areas or in cities that do not offer municipal inspections. In anticipation of the program’s Monday start date, the Texas Residential Construction Commission has been designing the program rules and signing up fee inspectors.

The three new inspections include a foundation inspection before concrete is poured, a framing and mechanical systems assessment before wallboard is installed and a final inspection upon completion.

The inspections must be performed by a fee inspector that is either a licensed engineer, a registered architect, a professional Texas Real Estate Commission inspector or a third party inspector certified by the Texas Residential Construction Commission. To access a list of fee inspectors that have already registered with the commission, visit http://cics.trcc.state.tx.us/login.aspx.

Commission Executive Director Duane Waddill said the new program works toward providing quality construction for Texans by bridging an oversight gap that, until now, existed for new homes or remodeling jobs where the home had no city inspector obligated to evaluate the work.

“This program will ensure that inspections are performed throughout the state of Texas, leveling the playing field for consumers. These inspections will provide homebuyers in unincorporated areas or in cities that do not offer municipal inspections with the protection that their home was constructed with the same standards as a home within city limits,” Waddill said.

For more information about the county inspections program visit the commission’s website at www.texasrcc.org or contact us at 877-651-8722 (TRCC).