What inspections are required for a new foundation in New Brunswick?

A new foundation in New Brunswick requires multiple mandatory inspections at specific stages of construction — and crucially, you must NOT pour concrete before receiving approval at each stage. Pouring ahead of inspection can result in orders to expose or remove work, which is an expensive and avoidable mistake.

The required inspections are set by your local building inspection authority when they issue your building permit. While the exact stages can vary slightly by municipality, the standard sequence for a new poured concrete foundation in NB involves the following inspections.

Footing excavation and layout inspection is the first and most critical. Before any concrete is poured for footings, the building inspector must confirm that the excavation has reached below the frost line (minimum 1.2 metres / 4 feet in southern NB, up to 1.5 metres in northern areas like Bathurst and Edmundston), that the footing dimensions match the approved drawings, that reinforcement (rebar) is correctly placed and supported on chairs, and that the footing bears on undisturbed soil or properly engineered fill. This inspection protects against one of the most common and costly failures in NB construction — footings set too shallow that heave and crack in the first winter.

Foundation wall forming inspection is typically required after the walls are formed and reinforced but before the concrete is poured. The inspector checks wall thickness, height above grade (foundations must extend at least 150 mm / 6 inches above finished grade), reinforcement placement, window and door buck locations, and any required anchor bolt placements.

Damp-proofing and drainage inspection occurs after the foundation walls are stripped but before backfilling. The inspector verifies that damp-proofing compound (or waterproofing membrane for below-grade living space) has been applied to the exterior of the walls, that perimeter drainage tile (weeping tile) is correctly installed at the footing level, and that the drainage connects to an approved outlet. This inspection is required before any backfilling covers the exterior of the walls.

Backfill inspection in some municipalities confirms that compactable fill is being used and that backfilling is done in lifts to avoid lateral pressure damaging the fresh foundation walls. Concrete foundation walls should not be backfilled until they have reached adequate strength, typically 7 days after pouring in NB summer conditions.

At every stage, call the building inspection office to book your inspection well in advance — in busy seasons (May through September), inspectors in Moncton, Fredericton, and Saint John can be booked 3-7 business days out. Keep the inspection record card on site and ensure the inspector signs off before proceeding. New Brunswick Concrete can connect you with experienced local foundation contractors who manage the inspection process as part of their service.