Who is responsible for protecting public health, safety and welfare?

• A. Owner
• B. AHJ
• C. Design Team
• D. Contractor Team

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that the Authority Having Jurisdiction is the regulator responsible for protecting public health, safety, and welfare by enforcing codes and standards. This body—often the local building department or code official—has the legal authority to adopt and enforce the applicable codes, review drawings for code compliance, issue permits, and perform inspections throughout construction. They can require corrections, approve or deny work, and stop unsafe activity. While the owner funds and hires the project, and the design team and contractor contribute to meeting the requirements, the AHJ is the entity that ultimately ensures safety by validating that plans meet codes and that the executed work complies through inspections and enforcement.