About Cherenkov Code Consulting and Dennis Cherenkov
Cherenkov Code Consulting LLC (C3) is owned and operated by Dennis Cherenkov. Dennis has spent about 20 years in construction, and through C3 he helps people understand the building code and get their projects through.
Dennis's background
Dennis started out in the field, working in his family's construction business. That is where he learned what a code requirement means for the people who have to build it.
In 2018 he began teaching ICC building code classes at Contractor State License Schools, and he still teaches there. In 2019 he joined ICC NTA as a quality auditor for modular and factory-built housing. He went on to work as a building inspector for a public agency, and as an inspector and later senior inspector at a consulting firm serving public agencies. Today he is an ICC-certified instructor with 22 ICC certifications.
C3's principal was first retained as a building code expert in 2025. An early, candid code assessment helped the matter resolve quickly, without going to trial.
Dennis started C3 in 2026 to bring all of that work together in one place: consulting, litigation support, training, and public-sector work as a certified DVBE.
C3 also holds California contractor license CSLB Lic. #1162681 (B, C-39).
Credentials
- ICC B1 (Residential Building Inspector), B2 (Commercial Building Inspector), B5 (Building Inspector), and M2 (Commercial Mechanical Inspector)
- 22 ICC certifications, plus one California HCD certification:
- Combination: ICC C8 Combination Inspector; C5 Commercial Combination Inspector; R5 Residential Combination Inspector
- Plans examiner: ICC C3 Combination Plans Examiner; B3 Building Plans Examiner; M3 Mechanical Plans Examiner; P3 Plumbing Plans Examiner; E3 Electrical Plans Examiner
- Building: ICC B1 Residential Building Inspector; B2 Commercial Building Inspector; B5 Building Inspector
- Mechanical: ICC M1 Residential Mechanical Inspector; M2 Commercial Mechanical Inspector; M5 Mechanical Inspector
- Plumbing: ICC P1 Residential Plumbing Inspector; P2 Commercial Plumbing Inspector; P5 Plumbing Inspector
- Electrical: ICC E1 Residential Electrical Inspector; E2 Commercial Electrical Inspector; E5 Electrical Inspector
- Specialty: ICC 21 Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner; ICC RF Residential Fire Sprinkler Inspector/Plans Examiner
- State: California HCD Factory-Built Housing Quality Assurance Inspector
- ICC building code instructor at Contractor State License Schools since November 2018
- Quality auditor, ICC NTA (2019 to 2021)
- Background in accounting and finance
Service
Dennis is a US Army infantry veteran. C3 is certified by the State of California as a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise and as a Small Business.
How C3 works
- Candid answers. C3 tells you what the code requires, where you have options, and where you don't.
- The code sections are cited. C3 shows its work so you can read the code yourself.
- Respect for the process. Building departments have a job to do. A clear, complete response makes their review easier and keeps your project moving.
- Services available in English and Russian.