1. Required. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to repair, add to, alter, relocate, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or to repair, install, add, alter, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this Code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall not do so without first securing a permit from the Community Development Department.
2. Issuance. After proper application on forms provided by the Community Development Department, permits shall be issued in the name of the property owner or of a firm or corporation registered with the State Division of Labor Services, according to their rules and standards. The property owner or authorized representative of the firm or corporation named on the registration shall sign all applications for permits. Permits are not transferable unless a new application is provided and signed by the new applicant. No permits shall be issued to any person, firm, or corporation who has fees outstanding or who has outstanding violations of any ordinance of the City.
3. Fees. There shall be a fee paid for the issuance of permits. Permit fees, fees for other inspections, temporary certificate of occupancy application fees, temporary CO extension fees, work without a permit fees, and permit reissuance fees shall be set forth in a fee schedule established and approved, from time to time, by the Council. Fees on all buildings or structures constructed by any unit of the government or nonprofit organization may be waived by the Council. No fees shall be collected on buildings or structures constructed by or for the City.
4. Expiration:
A. Every permit issued under the provisions of this Code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 90 days from the date of issuance of such permit, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 60 days. Expired permits are subject to permit re-issuance fees as set forth in the adopted fee schedule.
B. All permits shall expire after 365 days unless an extension is requested in writing to the Construction Services Administrator 14 days prior to expiration of said permit. The Construction Services Administrator may refuse any extension, but shall do so in writing within seven days of receipt of the extension request. Expired permits are subject to permit re-issuance fees as set forth in the adopted fee schedule.
C. In addition, any time work is suspended or abandoned for more than 10 days, the permit shall expire due to neglect if the site is not properly secured, including:
(1) Removal of all construction debris, materials, weeds, etc., that makes the area unsightly and creates a public nuisance.
(2) A fence to protect any excavation, including open basement foundations, in order to prevent the creation of an attractive nuisance in the neighborhood.
(3) Ground cover, silt fencing, etc., shall be provided to help prevent erosion and damage to surrounding properties. Consideration may be given to proximity of the construction site, as described in Chapter 11 of this title.
5. Revocation. Any permit required by the provisions of this Code may be summarily revoked by the Construction Services Administrator upon the violation of any provision of this Code.
6. Outstanding Permits. If a permit is outstanding on the effective date hereof, the provisions of this chapter, the International Building Code, 2021 edition, and the International Residential Building Code, 2021 edition, adopted hereby, shall apply to the work authorized by such permit, except to the extent that the Construction Services Administrator shall determine that the application of such provisions to said work would be unreasonable. The burden shall be upon the holder of such permit to show the unreasonableness of such provisions.
7. Work without Permit. If any repairs, additions, alterations, or demolitions to any building or portions of any building or any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this Code, the work having been completed without first obtaining a permit, the owner shall have the responsibility to certify that the work has been completed in accordance with the applicable codes. The Construction Services Administrator shall determine the appropriate level of special inspection necessary to ensure that the work was completed in accordance with the applicable codes. Special inspections shall be performed by an approved inspector who is qualified or licensed to inspect work similar to that which is being performed. Work without a permit, other than minor work initiated for plan execution, will be subject to fees as set forth in the adopted fee schedule.