Who books the footing inspection on a Rothesay addition?

The Town of Rothesay issues building and development permits, and its building inspector enforces the National Building Code. That means the footing and foundation inspection is booked through the Town of Rothesay's building department. Ask them directly how to schedule it and how much notice they need.

Before the Concrete and Before the Backfill

Regulation 2021-2 under the Building Code Administration Act requires at least one inspection on completion of the footings and foundations, and that inspection must happen before any backfilling begins. This is not optional and it is not the contractor's call to skip. Make sure your contractor knows the inspection is booked and confirmed before the machine touches the spoil pile.

The same regulation requires the owner or their agent to give the local government written notice of the start date and the names of the constructors, engineers, designers and any inspection or testing agencies before work begins. Check with the Town of Rothesay on exactly how they want that notice submitted.

A few other things to have in order before the machine arrives on your lot:

• Info-Excavation (Click Before You Dig) requires three working days' notice; the locate is valid until the end date written on the request.
• NB Power runs its own separate underground locate service, which must be requested at least five business days before digging; it is valid for 60 days from the date on the locate form and covers only NB Power-owned lines.
• Any private lines, drains or tanks a past owner installed are yours to find and mark before digging starts.
• If the addition is within 30 metres of a watercourse or wetland, measured horizontally from the top of the bank, a Watercourse and Wetland Alteration permit from the province is required before any ground disturbance.

Ask the contractor to show you both locate tickets before the excavator moves, and ask your insurer whether your policy covers the construction period.

Before you sign the contract, ask the excavator exactly how rock will be priced if the machine hits it, where the spoil is going, and whether backfill material is included or billed separately.