RedVector JCOM-00197

Working Effectively with Building Officials and Inspectors

Working Effectively with Building Officials and Inspectors

1 hr. Online Course

Level: Fundamental

Item#: JCOM-00197

SME: Ryan Jackson

Building code compliance is only half the battle—the other half is mastering the art of working effectively with the building officials, inspectors, and regulatory authorities who hold the keys to your project's success. This course equips design professionals, contractors, and project managers with practical strategies for navigating modern permitting processes, communicating professionally with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and building productive relationships that support efficient reviews and successful inspections. Participants will learn essential skills including code verification techniques, digital permitting workflows, inspection readiness protocols, conflict resolution strategies, and decision-making frameworks for managing challenging interactions and unfavorable rulings.
Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Define the roles and responsibilities of various Authorities having jurisdiction involved in construction projects
  • Explain how AHJs enforce adopted codes and regulations to protect public health, safety, and welfare
  • Recall adopted codes, edition years, amendments, and project requirements before discussing code interpretations with an AHJ.
  • Demonstrate professional conduct during emails, meetings, inspections, public hearings, and plan-review activities.
  • Discuss how to prepare project documentation and worksites to support efficient reviews and successful inspections.
  • Select communication methods that align with urgency, documentation requirements, and AHJ preferences.
  • List documentation practices that preserve project records and clarify verbal direction.
  • Explain how to manage difficult interactions, conflicting interpretations, and unfavorable rulings professionally.
  • Recall when to comply, seek clarification, propose alternate methods, challenge interpretations, or pursue formal appeals
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: Ryan Jackson
Ryan Jackson Photo
Ryan Jackson is a combination inspector in the Salt Lake City, Utah, area. He began his career as a carpenter while in high school, and began doing electrical work at the age of 18. At the age of 23 Ryan landed his first job as an electrical inspector, and subsequently became certified in building, plumbing, and mechanical inspection, as well as building and electrical plan review. Two years after becoming an inspector, he was approached by a friend in the area asking him to fill in at an electrical seminar for him. After his first class he was hooked, and is now a highly sought after seminar instructor. Ryan has taught in several states, and loves helping people increase their understanding of the Code.

 

He has been involved in writing and editing over 25 books on the National Electrical Code, and has taught the subject in multiple states and for multiple colleges and universities. He is self-employed as an NEC® consultant and inspector.

 
When Ryan isn’t working, he can often be found in his garage turning wood on his lathe, in his basement exercising, or any quiet place where he can dive into a book. He is also a rabid University of Utah football fan. Ryan married his high school sweetheart, Sharie, and they have two beautiful children together: Kaitlynn and Aaron.
State Licenses
AK - Engineer (General)
AK - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
AL - Engineer (General)
AL - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
AR - Engineer (General)
AR - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
CT - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
DE - Engineer (General)
DE - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
FL - Engineer (General - 0000271)
Accreditation: This course provides practical strategies for navigating permitting processes, communicating effectively with building officials and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and building productive regulatory relationships. Participants will learn code verification, digital permitting, inspection readiness, conflict resolution, and decision-making strategies for handling challenging project interactions.
GA - Engineer (General)
GA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2028)
IA - Engineer (General)
IA - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
ID - Engineer (General)
IL - Engineer, Professional (General)
IL - Engineer, Structural (General)
IL - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
IN - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
KS - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare)
KS - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
KY - Engineer (General)
KY - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
LA - Engineer (General)
LA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2028)
MD - Engineer (General)
MD - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
ME - Engineer (General)
MI - Engineer (General)
MI - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
MN - Engineer (General)
MN - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
MO - Engineer (General)
MO - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
MS - Engineer (General)
MS - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
MT - Engineer (General)
NC - Engineer (General)
NC - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
ND - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare)
NE - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
NE - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2028)
NH - Engineer (General)
NH - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
NJ - Engineer (General - 24GP000006300)
NM - Engineer (General)
NM - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2028)
NV - Engineer (General)
NV - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
NY - Engineer (General)
Accreditation: Vector Solutions is authorized by IACET to offer 0.1 CEUs for this program.
NY - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
OH - Engineer (General)
OH - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
OK - Engineer (General)
OK - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
OR - Engineer (General)
OR - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
PA - Engineer (General)
PA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2028)
PR - Engineer (General)
PR - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
SC - Engineer (General)
SC - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
SD - Engineer (General)
SD - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
TN - Engineer (Health, Safety & Welfare)
TN - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
TX - Engineer (General)
TX - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
TX - Registered Accessibility Specialists (RAS) (General)
UT - Engineer (General)
UT - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
VA - Engineer (General)
VA - Landscape Architect (General - Approved LA CES-2028)
VT - Engineer (General)
VT - Land Surveyor (General)
WA - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
WI - Engineer (General)
WI - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
WV - Engineer (General)
WV - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare (max 6 hrs online) - Approved LA CES-2028)
WY - Engineer (General)
WY - Landscape Architect (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
Professional Organizations
American Academy of Environmental Engineers - AAEES - Member (General)
American Institute of Constructors - AIC - Professional Constructor (General)
American Society of Landscape Architects (LA CES) - ASLA - Member (Health, Safety & Welfare - Approved LA CES-2028)
Association for Facilities Engineering - AFE - Certification (General)
Canada - Alberta Engineer (General)
Canada - British Columbia Engineer (General)
Canada - Manitoba Engineer (General)
Canada - New Brunswick Engineer (General)
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Engineer (General)
Canada - Northwest Territories and Nunavut Engineer (General)
Canada - Nova Scotia Engineer (General)
Canada - Ontario Engineer (General)
Canada - Prince Edward Island Engineer (General)
Canada - Quebec Engineer (General)
Canada - Saskatchewan Engineer (General)
Canada - Yukon Engineer (General)
National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies - NICET (General)
Transportation Professional Certification Board - TPCB - Professional Traffic Operations Engineer - PTOE (General)
Transportation Professional Certification Board - TPCB - Professional Transportation Planner - PTP (General)