Department Resources

Third-Party Inspections Program

The Third-Party Inspections Program allows private-sector inspections firms to perform the following inspections on residential projects that would otherwise be conducted by the county:

Placement of Concrete
Foundation Footings and Walls
Pier Footings
Concrete Basement Slabs
Structural Garage Slabs
Stoop Inspections
Concrete Encased Electrode (20' min.)
Post-pour Concrete Inspection
Helical Piers
Cured-in-Place Pipe Liner (CIPP) Installations

Waterproofing/Damp-proofing & backfill of concrete foundation walls
Any residential and commercial retaining walls in residential properties that are not subject to special inspections requirements
Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Concealments
Building, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Final
Mechanical Insulation
Electrical temp for perm and temp on pole
Plumbing groundworks

Third-Party Inspections Program Policy

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

Step 1: A project owner or developer hires a county-approved third-party inspections firm.

Step 2: The project owner or developer seeks approval from the county to have the project be inspected by a third-party inspections firm.

Step 3: The third-party inspections firm conducts inspections and submits their results to the county.

Step 4: All third-party inspection results must be submitted on the approved Fairfax County Residential Inspection Report:

Step 5: County inspectors will verify all required third-party inspections are approved and have been entered into the system prior to entering a final on the record.

INSPECTION GUIDELINES

Inspections shall not be conducted until third-party personnel have been approved by the county, construction permits issued and county-approved documents available on the job site.

Inspection reports shall include the following:

Street address to include floor and/or suite number when applicable.
The building, mechanical, electrical or plumbing permit number(s) as appropriate.
A description of the area inspected.
Inspection results (approved or rejected). If the inspection is rejected, deficiencies and the corresponding code sections violated shall be included.
Where appropriate, photographs should be attached.
A copy of the inspection report, digitally signed and sealed by the responsible professional principle, shall be uploaded to the Third-Party Inspections Program Submittal Portal by close of business on the date of the inspection.

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A COUNTY-APPROVED THIRD PARTY INSPECTOR?

Below you will find the criteria required to qualify as a third-party inspection firm.

Inspections firms must be employed directly by the project owner, be independent of project contractors and have no personal financial interest in the project.
Both the inspections firm and its personnel must be pre-approved by the building official on a project-by-project basis.
Inspections must be conducted under the direct supervision of, and certified by, a professional principle.
The responsible professional principle and their field personnel shall possess and maintain throughout the life of the project the certifications needed from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
Exception: The professional principle and their field personnel shall be permitted to obtain the required DHCD certifications within one-year of entering the Third-Party Inspections Program provided evidence of passing the corresponding exams from either the International Code Council (ICC) or National Certification Program for Construction Code Inspectors (NCPCCI) is provided to the building official prior to conducting inspections.

You will need to provide the following documentation for county review in order to qualify for the program:

The name of the responsible professional principle and their credentials to include resume and certifications.
The names of field personnel, their assigned inspection types and their credentials to include resume and certifications.

Please Note:

If the professional principle or their field personnel are to be replaced, the replacement personnel shall also require prior approval by the building official.
Any personnel from an inspections firm approving work not in conformance with this policy, county-approved plans and the applicable codes and standards will lose their ability to perform future inspections.
Staff from third-party inspections firms shall not suggest, direct or authorize the fabricator, erector or contractor to deviate from county-approved documents or the building code without written approval by the responsible architect, structural engineer or geotechnical engineer, and the building official, as appropriate.

Land Development Services

Land Development Services Alert:

Department Resources

Third-Party Inspections Program

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS

INSPECTION GUIDELINES

DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A COUNTY-APPROVED THIRD PARTY INSPECTOR?

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