Construction Inspection Log: What to Record for Every Jobsite Inspection
A construction inspection log is a running record of every inspection on the job: date, inspection type, inspector and agency, area and scope, result, corrections required, responsible trade, and re-inspection date. The superintendent keeps it, summarizes each day's inspections in the daily report, and checks it before anything gets covered up. It is how you prove work was inspected and approved, and how you avoid tearing out finished work later.
Inspections are a constant on any commercial job: building department, fire marshal, special inspectors, utilities, elevator, owner's testing lab, insurer. When they are tracked in five places, something gets missed, usually right before drywall or a pour. This guide covers what to record and how to keep it with your daily reports.
Types of inspections to track
| Inspection | Who performs it | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
| Building department | Building official or inspector | Footings, underground, framing, rough MEP, insulation, final |
| Special inspections | Approved agency per the statement of special inspections | Structural concrete, reinforcing steel, structural steel bolting and welding, soils, fireproofing |
| Fire | Fire marshal or fire department | Sprinkler hydro, fire alarm, fire lanes and hydrants |
| Utility | Utility company | Service connections, meter sets |
| Elevator | State or local elevator inspector | Elevator and lift acceptance |
| Owner or lender | Owner's rep, lender's inspector | Progress verification for pay apps |
| Insurer or safety | Carrier, safety consultant | Site safety walks |
Under the International Building Code, Section 110 covers inspections by the building official, and Chapter 17 covers special inspections by approved agencies for specific work listed in the statement of special inspections (IBC Section 110). Your local jurisdiction adopts its own edition and amendments, so check the permit card and the approved statement of special inspections for your project.
What to record for each inspection
- Date and time
- Inspection type and permit or reference number
- Inspector name and agency
- Area, level, gridlines and scope inspected
- Who from the general contractor and subs attended
- Result: approved, approved with comments, failed, partial
- Corrections required, in the inspector's words
- Responsible trade for each correction
- Re-inspection requested date and result
- Inspection report or tag received and where it is filed
- Photos of the inspected work before it is covered
A sample inspection log
| Date | Type | Inspector / agency | Area and scope | Result | Corrections | Trade | Re-inspect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/14 | Rough plumbing | City building dept. | Level 2, units 201 to 208 | Approved | None | Plumbing | n/a |
| 10/14 | Rebar, slab on grade | Special inspection agency | Area C, grids 4 to 7 | Approved with comments | Add chairs at 2 locations, fixed same day | Concrete | n/a |
| 10/15 | Rough electrical | City building dept. | Level 1 east corridor | Failed | Missing bonding at 3 boxes | Electrical | 10/17 |
| 10/17 | Rough electrical re-inspect | City building dept. | Level 1 east corridor | Approved | None | Electrical | n/a |
How the inspection log ties to the daily report
The inspection log is the running list. The daily report records what happened that day. Each day's report should include:
- Inspections performed, with results
- Inspections requested for upcoming days
- Failed inspections and their effect on other work
- Any work held because an inspection was not done
A failed inspection that stops drywall on a floor is a delay. Record it in the delay section with cause, time, impact and the responsible trade. See daily reports for delay claims and the superintendent daily log guide for the full routine.
Before you cover anything up
The most expensive inspection mistake is covering work that was never approved. Build a cover-up check into the daily routine:
- Before drywall, insulation, backfill, a pour or a ceiling close-in, check the log for every required inspection in that area.
- Confirm approvals are in hand, with tags or reports, and photos taken.
- Record the check in the daily report: "Level 2 units 201 to 208 cleared for drywall, rough MEP and framing inspections approved, photos 1 to 24."
- If anything is missing, hold the work and note it.
Photos of inspected work before it is covered are cheap insurance. See construction photo documentation.
Special inspections and pours
Concrete and steel special inspections often happen on the same day as the work. Coordinate the inspector's arrival with the pour or the erection sequence, record arrival and departure times, and attach the inspector's field report when you get it. For pours specifically, the concrete pour log covers truck tickets, tests and cylinders.
Common mistakes
- Inspection results kept only in the inspector's portal or on a tag that gets lost
- Subs scheduling trade inspections without telling the superintendent
- Failed inspections not tied to a responsible trade, so nobody fixes them
- No record of who attended
- Re-inspections never logged as closed
- Cover-up done before approval because the schedule was tight
How Cascade helps
Cascade Technology is SMS-first field intelligence for general contractors and subcontractors. Superintendents and foremen text in their day, along with their subs, and Cascade builds the daily report, including inspections and photos. A foreman can text "rough elec L1 east failed, bonding at 3 boxes, reinspect Thursday" with a photo, and it lands in the record. Later, a PM can ask in plain English for every failed inspection on the project and when each was cleared. Scope: Daily reports, manpower and hours by sub, photos, toolbox talks, pre-task plans (JHA), safety incidents and corrective actions, project + schedule planning, automatic sub reminders, analytics and plain-English answers.
General contractors using Cascade see 95%+ sub daily report compliance. Subcontractor access is free, onboarding and integration are free, and the general contractor plan starts with a one-month pilot with no contract lock-in. We beat Raken, Procore, and ACC on price, guaranteed. Try the free daily report template or see why Cascade.
Frequently asked questions
What is a construction inspection log?
A running record of every inspection on a project: the date, type, inspector and agency, area and scope, result, any corrections required, and the re-inspection date. It is usually kept by the superintendent and summarized in the daily report.
What is the difference between a building inspection and a special inspection?
Under the International Building Code, building inspections in Section 110 are made by the building official on permitted work. Special inspections under Chapter 17 are additional inspections of specific work, such as structural concrete or steel, by approved agencies, as listed in the statement of special inspections.
Should failed inspections go in the daily report?
Yes. Record the failed item, the reason given, the responsible trade, the correction plan and the re-inspection date. A failed inspection that delays other work also belongs in the delay section of the report.
Who keeps the inspection log?
Usually the general contractor superintendent, with input from subs who schedule their own trade inspections. The key is one log for the whole job, so nothing is missed before work is covered.