The International Code Council oversees building codes per the International Conference of Building Officials. The latest version was issued in the year 2000. Electrical standards are addressed by The National Electrical Code that is a massive outgrown of the National Fire Protection Association. Often houses are built in areas outside the city limits to avoid code local compliance. Sadly smaller towns or unincorporated areas, may not have an inspection department therefore few, if any, inspections are performed or permits issued for the house as it is built at the time of the original construction.
Building permits issued by local municipalities try to monitor code compliance.
The records for a property can be often found at the city or county permitting offices. Tony Balay is the current manager of the City of Houston's inspection division. The city of Houston will collect 25 percent of all preset inspection fees on properties requiring building permits. The city will not provide any indemnification of private inspectors. It is a very sweet deal for city bureaucrats but not for inspectors concerned with consumer rights issues such as those addressed by the Texas Real Estate Commission.