(a) The Chief Building Official or his or her duly authorized representative shall examine and approve all plans and specifications and authorize the issuance of a permit or certificate required by this Building and Housing Code and shall designate thereon the character and other legal data and requirements relating to the building, structure or other elements of construction or use covered by such permit or certificate. The Chief Building Official or his her duly authorized representative shall fix the nonrefundable permit or inspection fee to be paid prior to the issuance of a permit or certificate and shall advise the Finance Department of such fee for collection and so that a receipt may be given for the same. The fees to be paid shall be as set forth in this chapter.
(b) The Chief Building Official shall maintain an active membership in International Code Council (ICC), and shall utilize “Building Valuation Data Table”, which is a part of the Permit Fee Schedule, to determine the fees established by this chapter, except where specific fees are set.
(c) For purposes of this chapter, the Chief Building Official may utilize the following abbreviations to identify Codes:
Abbreviation | Meaning |
OBC | |
RCO |
(d) The Chief Building Official shall utilize the following formulas to determine fees under this chapter where indicated in the fee schedule(s) by the abbreviations for the applicable formula: The permit fee equals the gross area (GA) multiplied by square foot construction cost multiplied by permit fee multiplier (PFM).
(e) For purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended:
(1) “Gross area” or “GA” means the sum of the gross floor area of all floors in the proposed building or structure, including basements. Where an owner or applicant proposes an alteration or change of use, gross area shall be determined by the Chief Building Official, based on the actual area affected by the alteration or change of use, which may extend beyond the limits of construction.
(2) “Square foot construction cost” means the average cost per square foot for construction as determined by ICC Building Valuation Data, published in six-month intervals, and as adopted in Section 1442.02.
(3) “Permit fee multiplier” or “PFM” means a factor determined at the time of adoption of a particular fee by dividing the percentage of the actual or projected annual Building Department budget expected to be recovered from building permit fees by the estimated total annual construction value in the City based upon historical records and as adopted in Section 1442.04.
(f) The Chief Building Official is hereby authorized to require an affidavit of (accurate) estimated construction value from any owner or applicant for a construction permit.
(Ord. 12-99. Passed 3-8-99; Ord. 40-08. Passed 5-12-08; Ord. 111-10. Passed 12-20-10; Ord. 43-23. Passed 3-27-23.)