Free checklist
Plumbing final inspection checklist
Plumbing 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 IPC / UPC family — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 9
- Photos required
- 12
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The plumbing foreman at trim-out, then the GC or owner's representative at final acceptance.
When in the schedule
After fixtures are set and water is turned on to the building, 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.
Fixtures and trim
- 2 photos
Fixtures set level, sealed and operating
Fixture level side to side, caulk bead continuous, no rocking when weight is applied.
- 2 photos
Supply lines and shutoffs run with no leaks
Shutoff valves operate fully, no moisture at the connection after running water for several minutes.
- 1 photo
Traps assembled correctly and holding water
Trap arm within the required distance to the vent, water standing in the trap after use.
Water heater and mechanical room
- 2 photos
Water heater set, strapped and connected
Seismic strapping where required, dielectric unions at dissimilar metals, no leaks at fittings.
- 1 photo
Temperature and pressure relief valve piped to a safe termination
Discharge line sized correctly, terminates within the required height above a drain or floor, not capped.
- 1 photo
Expansion tank and backflow devices installed and supported
Tank supported independent of the pipe, backflow preventer oriented and accessible for testing.
Exterior and closeout
- 1 photo
Hose bibbs and exterior fixtures operate without leaks
Each bibb run under pressure, checked at the wall penetration and the handle for drips.
- 1 photo
Cleanouts accessible and capped at finish grade or floor
Cover flush with finished surface, cap seated and not painted or grouted shut.
- 1 photo
Fixture count and water pressure verified at the last outlet
Static and running pressure checked at the fixture furthest from the meter or pump.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Fixtures caulked and photographed before the water is actually run to check for leaks under the trap.
- Water heater relief valve and pan installed but discharge routing never traced to termination.
- Hose bibbs and exterior fixtures left untested until the first freeze reveals a cracked line.
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 12 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
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 plumbing final checklist cover?
- 9 items across 3 sections — fixtures and trim, water heater and mechanical room, exterior 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 plumbing foreman at trim-out, then the GC or owner's representative at final acceptance.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- After fixtures are set and water is turned on to the building, before the AHJ final and owner turnover.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 12 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 plumbing final inspection?
- Fixtures caulked and photographed before the water is actually run to check for leaks under the trap. Water heater relief valve and pan installed but discharge routing never traced to termination. Hose bibbs and exterior fixtures left untested until the first freeze reveals a cracked line.
- 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.