Efficient Inspections Benefit All

Building just about anything in Los Angeles is difficult--sometimes tougher and more expensive than it ought to be. But a pilot program in the West San Fernando Valley aims to reduce delays and costs associated with commercial projects by streamlining the inspection process. It’s a good step toward making the city bureaucracy easier to navigate.

In most cases, builders have to call in separate inspectors to sign off on work such as plumbing and electrical wiring. No work can proceed until each inspector certifies that each section meets city codes. Even short delays waiting for an inspector can add up on a big project.

The new program trains a single inspector to examine a range of common plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems. That way, one visit can address most of a builder’s needs. Officials picked eight of the city’s best inspectors and put them through 600 hours of training to prepare them for the one-year pilot project. Faster, more efficient inspections need not mean shoddier work. Inspectors are still expected to enforce city building codes to ensure safe construction that adheres to the blueprints.

Ideally, the savings realized by quick inspections can be passed on to consumers. If an apartment builder finishes a project early and saves interest payments on a construction loan, the difference could translate into cheaper rent for tenants.

The pilot program should be watched to see if it could be broadened citywide. Obviously, such an expansion would require more training for inspectors. The money for that training could perhaps come from the building community, which is the prime beneficiary of inspectors with broader knowledge.