Can a home inspector tell me if the house is up to code?

Not as a determination. New York is explicit that a home inspector may not determine compliance with codes, laws or ordinances (19 NYCRR 197-4.4(d)). A home inspection reports on condition.

What the report can do is describe accurately what is actually there. If what is there does not match the certificate of occupancy, or a second kitchen has appeared, that mismatch becomes visible to you and your attorney before closing rather than after, which is the outcome you actually needed.

Permits are outside the inspection too. Lou's inspection agreement lists code and zoning compliance, permits and identification of alterations as outside the scope, so he does not check whether work on the house was permitted. Lou's position is that getting a permit for work an owner does is the owner's responsibility, not the inspector's.

A real photograph from one of Lou’s own inspections, chosen because it shows a building component and nothing that identifies a property or an owner.