What does this electrical rough-in checklist cover?

15 items across 3 sections, covering boxes and devices, raceways and conductors, grounding and panels. 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 walking their own rough-in, or the GC's superintendent at the pre-cover hold point.

When in the schedule should this walk happen?

After the raceways and boxes are set and conductors are pulled, before insulation and drywall, and before the AHJ's rough-in inspection is called.

Why do these items ask for a photo?

14 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 18 photos in all. 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 an electrical rough-in inspection?

Boxes photographed from across the room, with no close-up of the fill, the clamps or the conductor condition. Conductor damage from the pull discovered after the walls are closed. Grounding and bonding connections buried with no photo of how they were made.

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.

Free checklist

Electrical

Electrical rough-in inspection checklist

Electrical rough-in is the last time the work is fully visible. Once the cover inspection passes and the walls, ceilings and slabs close, every defect left behind becomes a demolition bill. This checklist walks the rough-in in the order the work goes in, with the photo each item needs before it gets buried. Work is commonly verified against NEC (NFPA 70). Confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.

Start free with this checklist Download as PDF

The checklist

Every item, and the photo evidence it needs

The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Work the list here and watch the gate hold, or load it into RTI and let it enforce the real thing.

Boxes and devices

Boxes secured, square and at the right depth
Box flush or proud to match the finished wall surface, firmly mounted to framing, no crushed or cracked boxes.
Box fill within capacity
Conductor count and device yokes match the box size stamped on the box.
Nail plates where conductors pass near the face of a stud
Steel plates on any bored hole closer than the required setback from the stud edge.
Boxes in rated walls offset or protected per the listing
Boxes on opposite sides of a rated wall separated by the listed distance or stud cavity, or wrapped with listed putty pads where they can't be.
Box locations and circuiting match the current drawing set
Device locations, mounting heights and homerun circuit numbers checked against the latest issued power and lighting plans, not a superseded set.
No photo

Raceways and conductors

Conduit and cable supported at the required intervals
Straps and hangers within the supported spacing, no runs resting on ceiling grid or ductwork.
Conductor insulation undamaged from the pull
No nicks, scrapes or stretched insulation at pulls through conduit bodies and boxes.
Cable protected where it enters boxes and panels
Listed clamps or bushings at every entry; no cable jacket stripped back beyond the clamp.
Homeruns and circuits identified at both ends
Panel and circuit marked on the cable or in the box, matching the panel schedule.
Conductor size and insulation type match each circuit
Gauge and insulation marking printed on the jacket match the breaker size and the circuit shown on the panel schedule.
Power wiring separated from low-voltage cabling
Line-voltage conductors not sharing a box or raceway with data, alarm or control cable unless a listed barrier divides them.

Grounding and panels

Grounding electrode conductors landed and protected
Connections to electrodes accessible or exothermic, conductor protected from physical damage.
Bonding jumpers at metallic piping and structural steel
Clamps listed for the pipe material, paint removed under the clamp.
Panel locations clear with working space preserved
Nothing stored or framed into the required working clearances in front of each panel.
Equipment grounds spliced and bonded in every box
Grounds joined with a listed connector and bonded to metal boxes by a ground screw or listed clip; none left folded back loose.

What usually sends this back

The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work

Boxes photographed from across the room, with no close-up of the fill, the clamps or the conductor condition.
Conductor damage from the pull discovered after the walls are closed.
Grounding and bonding connections buried with no photo of how they were made.

Verified against

NEC (NFPA 70)

Common questions

6 answers

What does this electrical rough-in checklist cover?: 15 items across 3 sections, covering boxes and devices, raceways and conductors, grounding and panels. 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 walking their own rough-in, or the GC's superintendent at the pre-cover hold point.
When in the schedule should this walk happen?: After the raceways and boxes are set and conductors are pulled, before insulation and drywall, and before the AHJ's rough-in inspection is called.
Why do these items ask for a photo?: 14 of the 15 items call for photo evidence, 18 photos in all. 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 an electrical rough-in inspection?: Boxes photographed from across the room, with no close-up of the fill, the clamps or the conductor condition. Conductor damage from the pull discovered after the walls are closed. Grounding and bonding connections buried with no photo of how they were made.
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.

Related checklists

Electrical Pre-coverElectrical pre-cover inspection checklistThe hold-point walk before insulation and drywall bury the rough-in13 items18 photos Electrical FinalElectrical final inspection checklistDevices, terminations, labeling and energization before turnover15 items19 photos Electrical PMElectrical preventive maintenance checklistRecurring walk of panels, devices and life-safety circuits in an occupied building14 items12 photos

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 18 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper evident record behind every line.