A construction inspection is a regulatory review by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (typically the local building department) to verify that completed work complies with applicable codes. Most projects require multiple inspections at specific milestones: footing, framing, plumbing rough, electrical rough, mechanical rough, drywall (sometimes), and final inspections in each trade plus a building final.
Specialty inspections may include fire protection, health department (food service, medical), elevator, accessibility, and energy compliance. Inspections gate the project schedule: work cannot proceed past certain points until the relevant inspection passes. Coordinating inspection windows is one of the highest-leverage scheduling activities on commercial TI work, where inspector availability and re-inspection delays can extend the schedule by weeks.