Construction: inspectors; third-party building inspections; allow. Amends secs. 12 & 13 of 1972 PA 230 (MCL 125.1512 & 125.1513) & adds sec. 12a.

HB 5597 allows building owners or their agents to hire third-party inspection companies to perform required building inspections instead of relying solely on government agency inspections. Third-party inspectors must be registered under Michigan's skilled trades regulations, and their reports must include compliance status, necessary corrections, conflicts of interest, and the inspector's credentials. The enforcing agency may issue a certificate of occupancy based on a satisfactory third-party report, which must be submitted to both the owner and the agency. This change directly affects building owners, third-party inspection companies, and local building enforcement agencies.