(A) Examination of application. The Director of Building shall examine or cause to be examined each application for a permit and the plans, specifications, and computations filed therewith and shall ascertain by such examination whether the construction indicated and described will not adversely affect the public safety, health, convenience, comfort, and general welfare of the residents of the city; is in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter and all other pertinent laws, ordinances, and deed restrictions; is in uniformity and harmony of exterior design with existing structures on the lot on which the work is proposed and surrounding lots; and is so located so as to not adversely affect adjoining structures, uses, and operations.
(B) Action on application.
(1) Approval.
(a) The Director of Building shall act upon an application for a permit without unreasonable or unnecessary delay. If such Director is satisfied that the work described in an application for a permit and the plans and specifications filed therewith will not adversely affect the public safety, health, convenience, comfort, and general welfare of the residents of the city; conforms to the requirements of this subchapter and all other pertinent laws, ordinances, and deed restrictions; is in uniformity and harmony of exterior design with existing structures on the lot on which the work is proposed and surrounding lots; and is so located so as to not adversely affect adjoining structures, uses, and operations, he or she shall so report to the Mayor or his or her designee which, if it concurs in such Director’s report, shall issue a building permit.
(b) When the building permit is issued, the Building Director shall endorse in writing or stamp on both sets of plans and specifications “approved”. Such approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified, or altered in any manner affected by this subchapter, or other pertinent laws, ordinances, and deed restrictions without authorization from the Mayor or his or her designee, and all work shall be done in accordance with the approved plans and specifications.
(2) Disapproval. If the application for a permit and the plans and specifications filed there with, describe work which does not conform to the requirements of this subchapter or other pertinent laws, ordinances, or deed restrictions, or does not contain sufficient information, the Director of Building shall so report to the legislative body, and, if the report of such Director is concurred in by such legislative body, no permit shall be issued. In such event. the pleas and specifications shall be returned to the applicant with the refusal to issue such a permit. When requested by the applicant, such refusal shall be in writing and shall contain the reasons therefor.
(C) Disposition of plans.
(1) One set of approved plans, specifications, and computations shall be retained by the City Clerk and one set of the approved plans and specifications shall be returned to the applicant. The latter set shall be returned to the applicant.
(2) The latter set shall be kept at the site of work at all times during which the work authorized thereby is in process and shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by the Director of Building or his or her authorized representative.
(D) Conditions of the permit.
(1) A permit issued shall be construed to be a license to proceed with the work and shall not be construed as authority to violate, cancel, alter, or set aside any of the provisions of this subchapter, or any other pertinent laws, ordinances, or deed restrictions, nor shall such issuance of a permit prevent the Director of Building from thereafter requiring a correction of errors in plans or in construction, or of violations of this subchapter or any other applicable laws, ordinances, or deed restrictions.
(2) Any permit issued shall become invalid unless the work authorized by it shall have been commenced within six months after issuance, or, if after the work is commenced, such work is not completed within six months; provided, that for cause, extensions of time may be allowed by re-applying for a permit.
(E) Posting of permit.
(1) No building operations requiring a permit shall be commended until the permit holder or his or her authorized agent shall have posted a building permit card, in a conspicuous place, near the front of the premises, protected from the weather, and in such a position as to permit the Director of Building to make entries thereon requesting inspection of the work.
(2) Such card shall be preserved and shall remain posted until completion of the work.
(1996 Code, § 15-3.04) Penalty, see § 150.999