Virtual inspections authorized

A bill authorizing virtual inspections of certain residential buildings received final approval from lawmakers Feb. 20.

Under LB441, introduced last session by Omaha Sen. Ashlei Spivey, any state agency, county, city or village that requires an inspection as part of a building permit may allow for virtual inspection by an authorized inspector under certain conditions.

The inspection must be of an area of a single-family or two-family residential building that is less than three stories in height and under 10,000 square feet.

The bill also requires the individual requesting or holding the permit to provide the name of the licensed or registered contractor who is completing the work to be virtually inspected.

In most cases, the inspection must be conducted live with both the individual requesting or holding the permit and the inspector. Inspections required for building permits of a nonstructural nature may be conducted using video or photo documentation for any reinspection.

LB441 passed on a vote of 47-1.