No person, partnership, or corporation shall engage in any construction activity in the city unless a written building permit issued by the Building Commissioner describing the activity has been obtained by and is in force relative to the person, partnership, or corporation which is actually accomplishing, supervising accomplishment, or is contractually responsible for accomplishment of the construction activity allowed by the building permit; provided, however, that a building permit shall not be require for:
(A) Ordinary maintenance and repair of a structure or building equipment, except as provided below in the following divisions.
(B) Construction activity other than that described in division (A) above where the total value of labor and materials does not exceed $500 except as provided below in the following divisions.
(C) Erection of any sign in those categories of signs described in § 150.235(C).
(D) Installation of a single-phase electrical circuit not exceeding 60 amperes at a nominal 120/140 volts which is accomplished in a connection with work on an existing one-or two-family residential structure which involves the installation, modernization, replacement, service or repair of a heating system, space heating equipment, cooling system, space cooling equipment, a water heater or a food waste disposer for which a building permit has been issued.
(E) Construction of a structure which spans 120 square feet or less of base area, is less than 15 feet in height, is not placed on or attached to a permanent foundation and does not contain an electrical power distributive system, heating system, space heating equipment, cooling system, or space cooling equipment.
(F) Installation of household appliances such as window air-conditioners, refrigerators, refrigerators with automatic ice-maker, ranges, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dish washers, and trash compactors in one- or two-family residential structures or apartment buildings when such installation does not include the installation of an electrical circuit.
(G) Installation of thermal insulation.
(1) (a) Relative to divisions (A) and (B) hereof, building permits shall be required for construction activity on either a structure or building equipment where the activity, if done improperly would be a potential health or safety hazard include: the construction or alteration of a chimney or venting system; stripping and reapplication of roofing material; a change in exterior bulk or facade; the creation or cutting away of any load-bearing wall, partition or portion thereof; the creation, removal, or change of any required means of egress, rearrangement of parts and of any structure affecting the exit-way requirements; or a changes of the use, group occupancy or structure type.
(b) Examples of construction activity relative to building equipment which, if done improperly would be a potential health or safety hazard include: installation, alteration or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, water, vent, or similar piping; alteration or relocation of plumbing fixtures; installation or significant alteration of an electrical power distribution system; installation of heating system, space heating equipment, cooling system, or space cooling equipment; installation of water supply lines; installation of a hot water heater; or replacement of a hot water heater with one that is not identical as to temperature or pressure protection, venting arrangement, and type of fuel of energy input.
(2) Provided, further, construction activity for which a permit is required may be accomplished without a permit being then in force notwithstanding what is stated hereinabove in this section where an emergency need for such construction activity occurs on a day when the office of the Building Commissioner is not open for business and the person, partnership, or corporation which has accomplished such construction applies for a building permit on the first day the office of the Building Commissioner is open for business after the invitation of such construction activity.
Ord. 29-1977, passed 10-17-77) Penalty, see § 150.999