Photos for a building permit or photo inspection — what the city wants
Most of the photo checklists we reviewed start in the same place: the front of the building with the address number readable. After that come the shots that document the specific work — every roof plane, the equipment data plate, the fasteners — and, for photo inspections, proof the pictures were taken at the job site. Missing a required shot is a common written reason for a failed photo inspection.
Photos show up in two places in the permit process. Some applications need photos of existing conditions — most often in historic districts. And a growing number of departments let contractors pass certain inspections by uploading photos or joining a video call instead of waiting for an inspector. Below is what real departments write in their checklists.
Photo and virtual inspections
In Florida, state law lets building departments do virtual inspections at their own discretion, but not structural inspections on threshold buildings (Fla. Stat. § 553.79(6)). Work inspected by a private provider can be inspected "in person or virtually," and local agencies may not stop private providers from using virtual inspections where codes allow it (§ 553.791). Outside Florida, it's up to each city or county.
Departments run these two ways: a live video call with the inspector (City of Miami uses Teams or WhatsApp; Arlington County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County use similar calls), or a photo set uploaded through an app or the permit portal (Tampa, Sarasota County and Lee County in Florida; Centennial and Westminster in Colorado).
What the checklists ask for
| Work | Required shots (from published checklists) |
|---|---|
| Every inspection | Front of the house with the address number readable — usually the first photo or the first thing on the video call (Sarasota, Lee, Okaloosa, Centennial, Westminster, Stillwater MN, Arlington VA, LA County, Broward guidelines); Tampa asks for the front elevation |
| HVAC changeout | Items vary by county. Tampa: manufacturer's data plate on the condenser, air handler and heat strip; disconnect without cover showing wire type and size; breaker size and labels; anchors and attachments; a level placed on the condenser. Sarasota: a close-up, legible label with model, serial, heater size and maximum overcurrent protection. Okaloosa: data plate with required breaker size; outdoor unit anchoring |
| Re-roof, final | Each plane of the completed roof; penetrations and flashings; vents (Lee County, max 15 photos or 2 videos). Material labels showing ASTM classification; measured curb heights and crickets (Westminster). Ridge caps showing nail heads (Centennial) |
| Re-roof, in progress | Ice and water shield on all roof planes (Stillwater); roof 25–75% complete, plus the packaging label of the roofing material (Centennial); permit number marked on the roof deck in photos of each plane (Fellsmere, FL roof affidavit) |
| Windows and doors | Attachments on all sides; screw size; stickers with the design pressure and Florida product approval number (Okaloosa) |
| Paperwork on site | The permit card and the Notice of Commencement (Sarasota) |
Why photo inspections fail
These are the reasons departments put in writing:
- A required shot is missing. Centennial: if any listed photo is missing, the set is "deemed insufficient and result in a failed Photo Inspection." Sarasota: missing photos "could also result in a partial result or failure."
- The photos weren't taken at the job site. Lee County: "You must take the photos at the installation on site for location verification. Failure to do so will result in a failed inspection." Sarasota checks "geo location verification."
- Uploaded too late. Westminster fails the inspection if photos aren't on the permit before the inspection date.
- Not clear enough. Westminster: photos "must be clear and of high resolution." Broward's guidelines: "All features applicable to the required inspection must be visible during the inspection. These features must be captured sufficiently and clearly for the inspector to evaluate." Clean the lens first.
- The work can't be seen remotely, the connection drops, or the site is unsafe. City of Miami lists all three as reasons to switch to an in-person inspection; Broward's guidelines let the inspector require one whenever the remote process doesn't allow a proper assessment.
- Too many or unrelated files. Lee County: only photos of the permitted scope of work, 15 maximum.
Is a date stamp required?
Usually not on the photo itself. Of the checklists above, only one small Florida city's remote-inspection policy asks for "time-stamped photographs." What departments check instead is where the photos were taken (location verification) and that they were submitted on time; dates go on the waiver or affidavit form. A visible date, address and location on each photo still helps when the same pictures later go to a homeowner, an insurer or a dispute — but for the inspection, the checklist rules.
Photos with the permit application
Most ordinary permits don't need photos at application. Historic districts are the big exception:
- Miami-Dade County, certificate of appropriateness: "All applications must include at least one color photo of the building." For a new roof, color photos of the front and the existing roof; for windows or doors, a photo of each side of the house; for fences, walls, pools or driveways, the proposed location.
- Pittsburgh, certificate of appropriateness: photos of existing conditions of the structure, site and work areas, including neighboring context — and "do not submit screenshots from mapping websites."
A shot list that passes
- Get the department's checklist first. Search "[your city or county] photo inspection" or "virtual inspection." Shoot to the list, in its order.
- Address first. Stand at the street, house number readable, building in frame.
- Take every photo at the site, with location turned on for the camera, so location checks pass.
- Wide, then close. A shot that shows where on the building, then the detail.
- Labels legible. Data plates, ASTM labels, product approval stickers — fill the frame and check focus before you leave.
- A level or tape in frame where the inspector needs to see slope or dimensions.
- Write the job address and permit number where the department asks: on the form, in the upload, in the email subject, or on the photos.
- Upload before the deadline and keep the originals.