Qualified Inspector in The Woodlands
The Woodlands Township requires a Qualified Inspector for many building projects permitted through Covenant Administration. I can help.
I’m Brian Greul, an ICC-certified residential building inspector qualified to perform structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing inspections. I’ve worked with homeowners, builders, and contractors on projects throughout The Woodlands, and I personally perform each inspection. I look forward to helping you with your project.
GreenLight Inspections is a single-inspector company. I am not employed by or affiliated with The Woodlands Township or Covenant Administration, and I do not act on the Township’s behalf. When you hire GreenLight, you know who is inspecting your project. I personally perform the inspection, document the findings, and provide one-on-one professional attention to your project.
ICC Certified Residential Combination Inspector
ICC #10031662-R5
Building / Structural · Electrical · Mechanical · Plumbing
Permit code inspection — Requires selection of applicable trades/categories. Please contact me before scheduling to confirm that I can inspect your project.
What The Woodlands Township requires
The Woodlands Residential Development Standards define a Qualified Inspector as a third-party licensed architect, registered structural engineer, or building inspector certified by the International Code Council (or its successor). Third-party means someone other than the owner, the contractor and employees who performed the work, and certain related parties described in the Standards.
That inspector must inspect the improvements and certify on forms provided by the Plan Review Committee that work complies with the currently adopted Building Code, approved plans, and the Standards where applicable.
Official Township references:
- Residential Development Standards (PDF) — Section 1.5 IV B, Qualified Inspector
- Covenant Administration — Permitting Process
- Qualified Inspector List (PDF)
When a Qualified Inspector is required
Under the Standards, a qualified inspector is required when proposed plans include work such as:
- Construction of a dwelling, garage, or detached structure containing living area, or additions or attachments to them
- A structure with a roof area exceeding 200 square feet (measured at roof plate elevation within exterior walls)
- Construction of a swimming pool or swimming pool security barrier
- Remodeling or alteration with structural changes or work on electrical, gas, or plumbing facilities — including power generators, fire pits, fireplaces, and summer kitchens, and fuel supply systems
- Cofferdams, bulkheads, or similar water-retaining structures 3 feet 6 inches or more in height
- Conditions unique to a property requiring staff and/or Plan Review Committee interpretation
Your permit application and approved plans determine what applies to your project. Covenant Administration can clarify project-specific requirements.
How I qualify
The Woodlands allows an ICC-certified building inspector as one way to meet the Qualified Inspector requirement — along with a licensed architect or registered structural engineer.
I’m an ICC-certified Residential Combination Inspector. That certification covers residential building (structural), electrical, mechanical, and plumbing inspections under the adopted codes. My ICC credential is R5, certificate #10031662. GreenLight Inspections is listed on the Township's official Qualified Inspector List.
| Inspection category | Code discipline |
|---|---|
| Structural | Building / structural |
| Electrical | Electrical |
| Mechanical (HVAC) | Mechanical |
| Plumbing | Plumbing |
What I inspect
I perform permit code inspections by the trade categories your project requires. You select structural, electrical, mechanical, and/or plumbing to match your permit and what is ready for inspection. While an inspection is not code consulting, if corrections are required I will help you and your contractor understand the code requirement.
- Structural — framing, connections, and building-related items visible for the inspection type
- Electrical — rough-in or final electrical installations as applicable
- Mechanical (HVAC) — equipment, ducting, and mechanical installations as applicable
- Plumbing — supply, drain, vent, and related plumbing installations as applicable
Examples below are from actual construction inspections — they illustrate the kind of code-related conditions documented during rough-in work; they are not a substitute for this permit service description.
For buyer phase inspections during a new build, see pre-drywall and pre-pour — separate services from Township permit code inspection.
Reports and certification
I will inspect the agreed construction categories and issue a written report. I also complete the Inspection Report form issued by The Woodlands Township. When the project is completed, I return that form to the Covenant Administration department.
Reinspections, when needed, follow the same fee structure as the initial inspection for the applicable categories.
Pricing
Permit code inspection fees are separate from TREC home inspection pricing.
- Base inspection fee: $40.00
- Each selected category (Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing): $47.50
- Projects over 1,500 square feet: add $0.04 per square foot over 1,500
- Some projects may incur a travel charge based on the IRS mileage rates
| Categories selected | Total |
|---|---|
| 1 (e.g. Structural only) | $87.50 |
| 2 | $135.00 |
| 3 | $182.50 |
| 4 (all trades) | $230.00 |
Scheduling
Confirm your project address, permit scope, and which categories you need before we set a date. Call 713-324-7777, email [email protected], or use online scheduling once we have confirmed the inspection is appropriate for your job.
← New construction inspections overview · Pre-drywall phase inspection · Pre-pour phase inspection
FAQs
What is a Qualified Inspector in The Woodlands?
Under The Woodlands Residential Development Standards, a qualified inspector is a third-party licensed architect, registered structural engineer, or building inspector certified by the International Code Council (or its successor), independent of the owner, contractor, and others who performed the work. The inspector examines the work and certifies on Plan Review Committee forms that construction complies with the adopted building code, approved plans, and the Standards where applicable.
Who can perform the inspection?
The Township allows a third-party licensed architect, registered structural engineer, or ICC-certified building inspector who meets the Standards' independence requirements. I qualify under the ICC-certified building inspector option.
Is a TREC Professional Inspector license enough for this requirement?
No. A TREC Professional Inspector license is required for home inspections in Texas, but it does not by itself meet The Woodlands Qualified Inspector definition. For this work I am qualified as an ICC-certified residential combination inspector — ICC R5, certificate #10031662 — covering building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing.
What is an ICC R5 Residential Combination Inspector?
R5 is the International Code Council designation for a residential combination inspector — someone certified to inspect building (structural), electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work on residential projects. I hold that certification as ICC #10031662.
What projects require a Qualified Inspector?
The Standards require a qualified inspector when plans include, among other triggers: new dwellings, garages, or detached structures with living area (including additions); structures with roof area over 200 square feet; swimming pools or pool security barriers; remodeling with structural changes or work on electrical, gas, or plumbing facilities (including generators, fire pits, fireplaces, summer kitchens, and fuel supply systems); cofferdams or bulkheads 3 feet 6 inches or more in height; or conditions unique to a property requiring Plan Review Committee interpretation. Confirm your specific project with Covenant Administration and your approved plans.
Which inspection categories can you perform?
Permit code inspections are performed by applicable trade category: Structural (building), Electrical, Mechanical (HVAC), and Plumbing. You select the categories that match your permit and project scope. Contact me before scheduling so we can confirm the categories needed for your job.
How is this different from pre-pour or pre-drywall phase inspections?
Pre-pour and pre-drywall inspections are buyer-focused phase inspections documented under TREC Standards of Practice. They do not replace The Woodlands Qualified Inspector permit code inspections or PRC certification. This page describes third-party permit code inspection work aligned with Township requirements.
What report will I receive?
I inspect the agreed categories and issue a written report. I also complete The Woodlands Township Inspection Report form and return it to Covenant Administration when the project is completed. This is not open-ended code consulting or unlimited telephone, email, or text support beyond coordinating the inspection and explaining code requirements related to corrections.
How much does a permit code inspection cost?
Fees are $40.00 base plus $47.50 per selected category (Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, or Plumbing). Examples: one category $87.50, two $135.00, three $182.50, four $230.00. For projects over 1,500 square feet, add $0.04 per square foot over 1,500. Some projects may incur a travel charge based on the IRS mileage rates. Reinspections use the same base and category structure.
How do I schedule?
Permit code inspection requires selection of applicable trades and categories. Contact me by phone or email before scheduling to confirm I can inspect your project. Once confirmed, you can schedule online or continue by phone or email.
Contact me before scheduling to confirm project scope and inspection categories.