Create & Manage Checklists

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This guide explains how to create a checklist. It also shows how to link the checklist to an inspection type or a specific planning or zoning project.

Checklists are available for the following:

  • Checklists are added as attachments in inspection records. This includes inspections for permits, code enforcement, fire, licenses, and planning or zoning projects. Each checklist is linked to an inspection type. The inspection type must exist before you can link a checklist to it.

  • Fire Safety System checklists have a separate area for creation, but the process is the same.

  • Checklists also appear as a tab in project records for planning and zoning. Staff use them to make sure all required items are completed for each project.

Create a Checklist

  1. Sign in to your site

  2. Navigate to Admin Tools and select Database Management:Database management in left navigation.

  3. Select the Inspections Module:Inspections module option.

  4. Click Inspection Checklists in the right column:Inspection checklists option on the right column.

  5. Ensure Add New Checklist is selected:Add New Checklist needs to be selected.

    Note:

    You can also copy an existing Fire or Building Checklist and select Append to edit content:
    Copy checklist.

  6. Enter the Name of the checklist being added:Enter the Name of the checklist you're adding.

  7. Click the Add Checklist Section link:Add checklist Section link.

    Note:

    Checklists consist of sections and items. A checklist must have at least one section.

  8. Change the Section Name, as needed:Changing the Section name.

  9. Add data to the remaining fields:Section fields open for adding data.

    • Question: The question column is where the standard, question, or item-to-track description is entered. Enter the required checklist item question.

    • Values: This is used to create a dropdown list for a specific checklist question. Each question can have its own list of values. Some questions use yes/no, pass/fail, complete/not complete, or received/open. You can add as many values as needed. We recommend using N/A (Not Applicable) as the first value. If you don’t, all checklist items will default to the first value entered. If that value is pass or yes, it may wrongly suggest the item is complete or compliant.

      • The format for entry is:

        • No spaces.

        • The first value will appear first. Each value should be followed by a comma.

        • Example: To create a list of N/A, Yes, No, and Maybe we would type: N/A, Yes, No, Maybe

    • Deadline: The deadline is used if staff want to alert on specific checklist items. These alerts of dates past due will appear in the status tab of the associated record.

    • Pass/Fail Value: Staff can choose to track and print documents that only show failed or negative checklist items. This is instead of showing all items or only those marked as passed or similar. To do this, the user must set which value counts as a pass or a fail.

      • Example: One of our checklist values is "not received". We want to create a document that only lists required items marked as not received. Because "not received" is not clearly a failed value, we need to type it into the fail value column. This lets the system run a failed checklist report and only show items tagged as "not received".

    • Max Result: This field is used in very specific examples where customers have to track a score associated with a checklist. It is most commonly used in food service inspection operations. This feature is still under development.

  10. (Optional) Select the Add link to add additional items to the section:Choose the Add link.

  11. (Optional) Repeat steps 6 to 9 to add additional checklist sections

  12. Click the Save Checklist button:Save checklist button.

  13. You can now associate the checklist with Permitting, Code Enforcement, or Licensing Inspection Types, Fire Safety Inspections, or the Project System

Associate a Checklist to an Inspection Type (Permitting, Code Enforcement, & Licensing)

  1. Sign in to your site

  2. Navigate to Admin Tools and select Database Management:Admin Tools and Database management in left navigation.

  3. Select the Inspections Module:Select the Inspections module.

  4. Click Insp Type Checklists Relation in the right column:Inspection Checklists Relation button.

  5. Select the Inspection Type to link the checklist to:Select the Inspection Type.

    Note:

    Only inspection types for permits, projects, licenses, and code enforcement will appear on the list.

  6. Click the Add Checklist link:Use the Add Checklist link.

  7. Select a Checklist to link to the inspection type:Select your checklist type.

  8. Click the Save Checklists button:Save checklists button.

Associate a Checklist with a Fire Safety Inspection

  1. Sign in to your site

  2. Navigate to Admin Tools and select Database Management:Admin Tools and Database management in left navigation.

  3. Select the Inspections Module:Choose the Inspections module.

  4. Click Fire Insp Checklists Relation in the right column:Fire Inspection Checklists Relation button.

  5. Select the Inspection Type to link the checklist to:Choose the Fire inspection type.

    Note:

    Only inspection types for fire safety will appear on the list.

  6. Click the Add Checklist link:Add checklist link.

  7. Select a Checklist to link to the inspection type:Link checklist to inspection type.

  8. Click Save Checklists:Save checklists button.

Associate a Checklist for Use in the Project System (Planning/Zoning)

The project system is the only one with a checklist tab inside a project application. This lets you use checklists to track required steps and items. Setting up and linking checklists to project records works the same as in other modules. However, there is one extra step. You must mark the inspection type for use with a checklist, not a regular inspection record.

  1. Sign in to your site

  2. Navigate to Admin Tools and select Database Management:Database management in left navigation.

  3. Select the Inspections Module:Inspections module.

  4. Select Projects from the Select Module for Managing Inspection Types dropdown menu:Projects selected in Inspection Type dropdown.

  5. Ensure there are inspection types created for each checklist that needs to be created and used in projects:Inspection types for checklists.

    Note:

    This area is used for two things. First, it handles regular inspection types, like permit inspections. It also creates placeholders to attach checklists. The third column shows whether the inspection type is for regular inspections or for showing a checklist in the project application's Checklist tab. In the example image, "01 Subdivision/Site Plan" is used in the project system. It appears under the inspection tab because "Show on inspections" is selected. "Applicant Checklist for subdivision" does not appear as an inspection type. It shows in the Checklist tab because "Show on checklist" is selected.

  6. Ensure those inspections used for projects have the second column set to Hide in Portal:Second Column settings set to Hide in Portal.

  7. Scroll to the bottom and click the Save Inspection Types button:Save Inspection Types button.

  8. Follow the instructions to Associate the Checklist with an Inspection Type:Associate the Checklist with an Inspection Type.

  9. Link the checklist to the project type and use:

    1. Click the Case Type, Insp Type, Relation button:Case Type Inspection Type Relation button.

    2. Select Projects from the Case Code dropdown menu:Case Code dropdown menu.

    3. Click the Load Inspection Types button before clicking a dropdown list in type or use:Load inspection types button.

    4. If needed, set the checklist to only be used for specific project Types or Uses:Checklists can be set to specific Types or uses.

    5. Click the Add Inspection Type link:Add inspection type link.

    6. Select the Inspection Type (checklist) to apply to the project application type and use:Select the inspection type checklist.

    7. Click the Save Relationships button to make the checklist available within the identified project application type/use:Save relationships button.

  10. Add the checklist to a project application:

    1. Navigate to Projects System and then Search and select a record:Projects System and search for selecting records.

    2. Click the Edit button:Edit record button.

    3. Select the Checklist tab:Choose the Checklist tab.

    4. Click Add New under the Actions column:Add new checklist.

    5. Select the checklist under the Checklist Type dropdown menu:Checklist type dropdown menu.

    6. Click the Save Checklist button:Save checklist button.

Supporting Articles