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Free checklist

Electrical final inspection checklist

Electrical final inspection is where the punch list is either short or expensive. This checklist walks the finished work the way an owner or AHJ will see it — devices on, systems running, everything labeled — with the photos that close the item instead of reopening it. Work is commonly verified against NEC (NFPA 70) — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Items
9
Photos required
14

Who runs it

The electrical foreman at trim-out, then the GC or owner's representative at final acceptance.

When in the schedule

After devices and fixtures are installed and the system is energized, before the AHJ final and owner turnover.

The checklist

Every item, and the photo that proves it

The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as-is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.

01

Devices and finishes

  • Devices straight, flush and undamaged

    Receptacles and switches plumb with plates seated; no paint in slots, no cracked plates.

    2 photos
  • GFCI and AFCI protection tested at each required location

    Test and reset each device with a tester, not just the button; record per room.

    2 photos
  • Fixtures lamped, aimed and operating

    Every fixture lights, dimmers sweep their range, no flicker or dead lamps.

    2 photos
02

Panels and labeling

  • Panel directories typed and matching the field

    Each breaker identified by the actual room or load served — verified by operating the breaker.

    2 photos
  • Disconnects, panels and equipment labeled

    Nameplates on every disconnect and panel, with source and load identified where required.

    2 photos
  • Torque and termination check documented

    Lug torques marked or logged per panel after the final torque pass.

    1 photo
03

Energization and closeout

  • Receptacle polarity and grounding verified

    Tester reading at a sample of receptacles per circuit, including at the end of each run.

    1 photo
  • Spare conduits and unused openings capped or sealed

    No open knockouts, no uncapped stub-ups left above ceilings or in slabs.

    1 photo
  • As-built panel schedules and test records turned over

    Final directory, megger or continuity results where taken, and O&M data in the turnover package.

    1 photo

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

  • Panel schedules handwritten, missing, or not matching what is actually in the panel.
  • Devices energized and photographed before cover plates are on — the plate damage shows up at turnover.
  • GFCI/AFCI devices claimed tested with no record of which devices were actually exercised.

Run it with the Photo Gate

A checklist nobody can submit half-finished

Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 14 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.

Submission state

Mandatory items answered9 of 9
Photos attached11 of 14
Submit locked — 3 photos missing

The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.

Verified against

Common questions

What does this electrical final checklist cover?
9 items across 3 sections — devices and finishes, panels and labeling, energization and closeout. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
Who should run this inspection?
The electrical foreman at trim-out, then the GC or owner's representative at final acceptance.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?
After devices and fixtures are installed and the system is energized, before the AHJ final and owner turnover.
Why does every item ask for a photo?
14 of the 9 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
What most often fails a electrical final inspection?
Panel schedules handwritten, missing, or not matching what is actually in the panel. Devices energized and photographed before cover plates are on — the plate damage shows up at turnover. GFCI/AFCI devices claimed tested with no record of which devices were actually exercised.
Can I use this checklist in RTI?
Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.