MG: Legislative
11%of exam
Code AdoptionsAlternative MethodsBoard of AppealsIBC Chapter 1
MG: Code Enforcement
50%of exam
Permits & OrdersRight of EntryTort LiabilityDue ProcessWarrants
MG: Human Resources
28%of exam
Anti-DiscriminationWorking ConditionsDiscipline & GrievancesCivil Rights Compliance
MG: Public Records
11%of exam
Reports & RecordsCode Enforcement RecordsPublic AccessRecord Retention
MM: Customer Service & Comm
30%of exam
Soft SkillsCommunicationInteragency CoopFeedback Strategy
MM: Financial Management
22%of exam
Budgets & FinancingCost & Revenue ControlAuditsFee Structures
MM: Personnel Management
30%of exam
Job DescriptionsSupervisionTime ManagementProfessional Development
MM: Records Management
18%of exam
Employment RecordsCode Enforcement RecordsPublic AccessRetention Schedules
BC: Architectural Plan Review
31%of exam
Use & OccupancyMeans of EgressAccessibilityFire Resistance
BC: Structural Plan Review
13%of exam
Design LoadsMaterial StandardsConstruction MethodsSpecial Inspections
BC: Building Systems Review
19%of exam
MechanicalPlumbingElectricalEnergy Code
BC: Field Inspection
37%of exam
FoundationStructural FrameFire ProtectionFinal Inspection
Quick Facts
- Exam
- ICC CBO (MG+MM+BC)
- Credential
- Certified Building Official
- Questions
- 230 total (75/75/80)
- Time
- 2 hrs per module (6 total)
- Pass score
- 75 scaled, each module
- Format
- Open-book, computer-based (Pearson VUE)
- Level
- Senior building official credential
- Window
- 18 months for all three
Three CBO Modules
MG Legal, MM Management, BC Building Codes
MG: law + liabilityMM: people + moneyBC: codes + inspection
Code Adoption Process
- Local adoption
- Amend + adopt locally
- Board of Appeals
- Reviews alternative methods
- IBC Ch 1
- Administration provisions
- Alternative materials
- Equivalent performance required
- Model code
- Base before amendments
MG/MM Reference Books
- Legal Aspects guide
- MG module reference
- Bldg Dept Admin guide
- MM/BC reference book
- Budgeting Guide
- Local govt finance ref
- HR Mgmt guide
- Nonprofit/public HR ref
Legal Module Weight Order
Enforcement 50, HR 28, Public 11, Legislative 11
Enforcement biggest chunkHR is secondLegislative + Public tie
Ministerial vs Discretionary Acts
Ministerial act
- No judgment involved
- Permit issued per code
- Higher liability exposure
Discretionary act
- Requires judgment call
- Board of Appeals ruling
- More legal protection
Judgment call reduces liability
Which Enforcement Action?
- Work without permit→Stop work order
- Unsafe/hazardous structure→Abatement order
- Need to inspect refused property→Administrative warrant
- Minor first violation→Notice of violation
- Continued noncompliance→Court prosecution
- Appeal alternative method denial→Board of Appeals
Permits, Orders & Entry
- Permit
- Required before construction
- Stop work order
- Halts unpermitted work
- Right of entry
- Needs consent or warrant
- Administrative warrant
- Court-authorized inspection
- Notice of violation
- First enforcement step
- Hazard abatement
- Unsafe structure order
Procedural vs Substantive Due Process
Procedural due process
- Notice required
- Hearing opportunity given
- Fair process steps
Substantive due process
- Law itself fair
- Not arbitrary rule
- Reasonable regulation test
Steps vs fairness of law
Tort Liability & Due Process
- Malfeasance
- Wrongful act performed
- Misfeasance
- Lawful act done wrong
- Nonfeasance
- Failure to act
- Ministerial act
- No discretion, higher liability
- Discretionary act
- Judgment call, more protected
- Procedural due process
- Notice + hearing
- Substantive due process
- Fair, reasonable law
Stop Work Order vs Notice
Stop work order
- Immediate halt
- Active unsafe condition
- Enforced on-site
Notice of violation
- Formal written warning
- Time to correct
- First-step documentation
Emergency vs standard process
Court Prosecution
- Statute of limitations
- Time limit to prosecute
- Burden of proof
- Preponderance, civil cases
- Evidence preparation
- Document before trial
- Witness standards
- Credible, factual testimony
HR & Anti-Discrimination
- Title VII
- Bans employment discrimination
- ADA
- Disability accommodation law
- ADEA
- Age discrimination ban
- OSHA
- Workplace safety law
- FLSA
- Wage and hour law
- Progressive discipline
- Escalating correction steps
Public Records & Access
- State public records law
- Public access to records
- Record retention
- Required storage period
- Exempt records
- Personnel, investigative files
- Inspection reports
- Generally public record
Customer Service & Comms
- Soft skills
- Decision making, integrity
- Feedback strategy
- Survey + improve service
- Interagency cooperation
- Coordinate other agencies
- Media communication
- Public safety messaging
- Performance reporting
- To governing authority
Budgeting & Financial Control
- Budget cycle
- Plan, adopt, execute, audit
- Fee structure
- Permit + plan review fees
- Cost recovery
- Fees fund department
- Revenue control
- Verify against projections
- Financial audit
- Ensures budget compliance
Management Module Weight Order
Customer Service 30, Personnel 30, Financial 22, Records 18
CS and Personnel tieFinancial mid-weight alwaysRecords smallest MM slice
Management vs Legal Module Focus
MM Module
- People + money
- Budgets and staff
- No statute citations
MG Module
- Law + liability
- Due process focus
- Court + code citations
Operations vs legal authority
Personnel Management
- Job description
- Defines duties, qualifications
- Recruitment
- Standard hiring procedure
- Performance evaluation
- Job scheduling + review
- Professional development
- Training + certification
- Time management
- Workflow efficiency goals
Records Management (MM)
- Employment records
- Personnel file management
- Records access policy
- Public vs confidential
- Code enforcement records
- Inspection/plan review logs
- Retention schedule
- State-mandated timelines
IBC vs IEBC Application
IBC
- New construction
- Full current code
- Ch 1-35 scope
IEBC
- Existing buildings
- Alterations + additions
- Work area method
New build vs existing work
Which Reference Book?
- Need occupancy/egress rule→IBC(Core building code)
- Existing building alteration→IEBC(Work area method)
- Property maintenance violation→IPMC(Occupied structures)
- Fire alarm/sprinkler question→IFC(Fire code)
- 1&2-family dwelling→IRC(Residential code)
- Budget/finance question→Budgeting Guide(MM module)
- HR/discipline question→HR Mgmt guide(MM module)
- Tort/due process question→Legal Aspects guide(MG module)
Architectural Plan Review
- Use & occupancy
- Classify per IBC Ch 3
- Construction type
- I-A through V-B
- Means of egress
- Ch 10 exit capacity
- Accessibility
- Ch 11 + ICC A117.1
- Fire resistance rating
- Table 601/602
- Light/vent/sanitation
- Ch 12 minimums
Open-Book Reference Set
- IBC
- Building code core
- IEBC
- Existing building alterations
- IPMC
- Property maintenance enforcement
- IFC
- Fire code provisions
- IRC
- One- and two-family dwellings
Structural Plan Review
- Design loads
- Wind, seismic, snow
- Soil bearing capacity
- Foundation design basis
- Material standards
- Concrete, masonry, steel, wood
- Special inspection
- IBC Ch 17 required
Building Systems Codes
- Mechanical code
- IMC HVAC systems
- Plumbing code
- IPC fixtures + drainage
- Electrical code
- NEC via IBC reference
- Fuel gas code
- IFGC piping + appliances
- Energy code
- IECC envelope + systems
Building Codes Module Weight Order
Field 37, Architectural 31, Systems 19, Structural 13
Field inspection biggest sliceArchitectural close second placeStructural smallest BC domain
Rough-in vs Final Inspection
Rough-in inspection
- Before wall cover
- Verify systems installed
- Mid-construction check
Final inspection
- Project fully complete
- Enables occupancy certificate
- Last code check
Mid-build vs completion check
Field Inspection Order
- Before excavation→Site inspection
- Before concrete pour→Foundation inspection
- Before cover/insulation→Frame + rough-in
- Before drywall close-up→Rough electrical/plumbing/mech
- Project complete→Final inspection
- After final pass→Certificate of occupancy
Field Inspection Sequence
- Site inspection
- Soil, excavation, safety
- Foundation inspection
- Before concrete pour
- Frame inspection
- Before cover/insulation
- Rough-in inspection
- Elec/plumb/mech pre-cover
- Final inspection
- Before occupancy issued
- Certificate of occupancy
- Issued after final pass
Common Traps
Ministerial ≠ Discretionary
Ministerial = no judgment ≠ Discretionary = judgment call
IBC ≠ IEBC
IBC = new construction ≠ IEBC = existing alterations
Stop Work Order ≠ Notice
Stop order = immediate halt ≠ Notice = time to fix
MG Module ≠ MM Module
MG = law and liability ≠ MM = people and money
Rough-in ≠ Final Inspection
Rough-in = before cover ≠ Final = before occupancy
Procedural ≠ Substantive Due Process
Procedural = notice and hearing ≠ Substantive = fairness of law
Last Minute
- 1.Three modules: MG, MM, BC
- 2.Pass each module at 75 scaled
- 3.75 questions each on MG, MM
- 4.80 questions on the BC module
- 5.All three exams are open-book
- 6.Complete all three within 18 months
- 7.Code Enforcement is half of MG
- 8.Field Inspection is largest BC domain
- 9.Personnel ties Customer Service in MM
- 10.Retake failed module up to 6x
- 11.Ministerial acts carry higher liability risk
- 12.Board of Appeals reviews alternative methods
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