I'm doing a job and have to run PVC underground which should be 18" deep, and metal ridgid with pipe wrap at the ends where it comes out of the ground. I have seen jobs where the PVC was run up from the underground to above ground level which should be against code, even though the PVC is marked schedule 40 ridgid. I don't believe this is legal. Correct?

The Golden Rule - "The man with the gold makes the rule"