1. (a) In an area of a municipality that is subject to a declaration of disaster by the governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, or a declaration of local disaster under that chapter, a building inspection for compliance with this subchapter or related municipal regulations may, while the declaration is in effect, be performed by a person:

   1. (1) other than:

      1. (A) the owner of the building; or
      2. (B) a person whose work is the subject of the inspection; and

   2. (2) who is:

      1. (A) certified to inspect buildings by the International Code Council;
      2. (B) employed as a building inspector by the municipality in which the building is located;
      3. (C) employed as a building inspector by any political subdivision, if the municipality in which the building is located has approved the person to perform inspections during a disaster; or
      4. (D) an engineer licensed under Chapter 1001, Occupations Code.
2. (b) A municipality may not collect an additional inspection fee related to the inspection of a building performed under Subsection (a).

3. (c) A person who performs an inspection under this section must:

   1. (1) comply with the municipality's building inspection regulations and policies; and
   2. (2) not later than the 30th day after the date of the inspection, provide notice to the municipality of the inspection.
4. (d) The municipality may prescribe a reasonable format for the notice provided under Subsection (c)(2).

Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 427 (S.B. 877), Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 2021.