Yes, walls (including non-load bearing) still need to be checked for safety. While not as critical as load-bearing, they still need checks for things like proper materials, stud spacing, and that a hallway is wide enough for firefighters to get in with their equipment. Speaking of firefighters, fire blocking is also required.

I dunno what else to say here. I’ve done plenty of home improvement projects and have had many inspections by my city, including a basement finish (which takes framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC…). My city even has a workshop to teach homeowners what’s needed per code (at a high level) and emphasizes pulling a permit. My dad did plenty of projects in another state growing up, and all that took permits as well. So it’s not like my court is just being weird.