Remote construction inspections could play a critical role in helping California tackle its housing affordability crisis while accelerating progress toward ambitious clean energy goals, according to a new analysis from SPUR.
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In a Feb. 18, 2026 policy brief, SPUR argues that expanding Remote Virtual Inspections (RVI) for simple residential projects can shorten timelines, reduce unnecessary costs and relieve pressure on understaffed building departments — all without compromising safety or code compliance.
“Remote inspections combine lower costs, faster processing, and increased flexibility — a combination that can result in a significant increase in productivity for inspectors and contractors. Typically, inspectors performing remote inspections can complete 50% more inspections than those performing site visit inspections. Remote inspections save time, reduce miles driven, and provide quality inspections.” — Kelly E. Charles, DSD Deputy Director and Chief Building Official with the City of San Diego
California’s building departments continue to face staffing shortages that have led to permit backlogs and extended wait times for inspections. Although the state issued more than 56,000 single-family building permits and more than 38,000 multifamily permits in 2024, each project requires multiple inspections — pushing total annual inspections into the hundreds of thousands.
According to SPUR, long inspection windows and unpredictable scheduling often force contractors to pause work for hours. HVAC contractors interviewed for the brief reported waiting two to six hours for inspections that may take only five to 15 minutes.
In some jurisdictions, homeowners may incur $600 to $1,000 per inspection in standby and administrative costs. One Central Valley contractor told SPUR, “When a technician is stuck waiting for an inspector instead of completing revenue-generating work, the lost revenue can easily reach $1,000 or more.”
In cities like Palo Alto and Oakland, audits and local data show inspection delays ranging from two weeks to more than a month for relatively simple projects such as window replacements or small exterior improvements.
SPUR’s findings suggest that these cumulative delays quietly inflate the cost of home improvements, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and electrification upgrades.
Remote inspections allow contractors or homeowners to transmit live video, photos or recorded footage to building inspectors rather than requiring on-site visits. Initially expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, many cities have retained the programs after recognizing long-term efficiency gains.
SPUR identified at least 19 California jurisdictions offering some form of remote inspection, including:
In 2025, San Diego’s Development Services Department conducted more than 4,000 virtual inspections — roughly 10% to 12% of all single-family and duplex inspections. In Los Angeles County, remote inspections account for 20% to 40% of eligible inspections, particularly for water heaters, electrical work and solar tie-ins.
Building officials report that adoption rates increase once contractors become familiar with the process.
SPUR highlights the potential for RVIs to accelerate electrification projects such as heat pump installations, water heater replacements, electrical panel upgrades and rooftop solar systems.
Permitting delays have become a significant bottleneck in California’s climate transition. By eliminating travel time and scheduling inefficiencies, remote inspections can help speed installations and reduce costs at critical points in the clean energy pipeline.
The environmental benefits extend further. Reduced inspector travel lowers vehicle miles traveled and associated emissions — particularly impactful in rural areas where inspectors may drive long distances between job sites.
Some critics question whether remote inspections compromise quality. However, jurisdictions such as San Diego and Los Angeles County report similar pass/fail rates between remote and in-person inspections.
“We have generally found no meaningful difference in compliance or failure rates between in-person and remote inspections when RVIs are limited to appropriate inspection types,” said Karla Tovar, public information officer with the LA County Department of Public Works. “RVIs are treated as equivalent inspections, not a reduced standard. Inspectors retain full authority to fail work or require an on-site visit.”
Quality assurance measures often include:
In some cases, remote inspections also improve safety by reducing the need for inspectors to climb roofs or enter confined spaces.
SPUR recommends that local governments expand remote inspections for simple residential projects, particularly accessory dwelling units, to help ease California’s housing shortage. The organization also encourages broader use of RVIs for wildfire resilience retrofits and compliance with Wildland Urban Interface codes.
As housing affordability and climate pressures intensify, SPUR argues that remote inspections represent a practical, immediately deployable solution.
With thoughtful implementation, strong quality controls and statewide data tracking, virtual inspections could become a central strategy in making housing more affordable, accelerating clean energy adoption and modernizing California’s building departments — all while maintaining the safety standards residents rely on.
Originally reported by Colleen Corrigan, Sustainability and Resilience Policy Manager in Spur.
