(A) Established as head of Division of Building Inspection and Permits.
(1) There is continued in the city the position of Building Commissioner of the city. The Building Commissioner shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.
(2) The Building Commissioner shall have at least five years of practical experience in the design, construction, and superintendence of buildings; provided, that the time spent in the study of architecture or engineering at a college or university of recognized standing shall, to the extent thereof, be credited as experience.
(3) He or she shall be under the supervision, direction, and control of the Board of Public Works and Safety, except when otherwise expressly ordered by the Mayor. He or she shall be head of the Division of Building Inspection and Permits and shall be in charge of its several bureaus, members, and employees.
(Prior Code, § 33.035)
(B) Powers and duties. It shall be the duty of the Building Commissioner to:
(1) Examine and approve or reject all building permits in accordance with the provisions of law and this code;
(2) Have charge of and enforce laws and all provisions pertaining to the building and zoning titles and to the erection, construction, alteration, repair, or removal of buildings or other structures;
(3) Perform other duties as may be imposed upon him or her by law, the provisions of this code or the orders of the Mayor and Board of Public Works and Safety;
(4) Cooperate at all times with the Department of Public Health and charities and other departments, divisions, or bureaus of the city;
(5) Keep a careful record of all permits approved and rejected by him or her for the erection or repair of any building or other structure and also keep a record of all actions of his or her office and make reports covering the work of the Department to the Mayor and Board of Public Works and Safety when requested, but not less than once a year. He or she shall incorporate in the reports a summary of his or her recommendations as to desirable amendments to this code;
(6) Examine all buildings and structures in the course of erection, alteration, or repair throughout the city, as often as practicable and see that there has been compliance with this code and other laws;
(7) Examine all public school buildings, public halls and churches, theaters, business houses, and all buildings used for manufacturing or commercial purposes, at least, once each year for the purpose of determining the safety of the building and structures, facilities for egress in case of fire, and the overloading of floors;
(8) Issue orders to repair or wreck, under penalty of condemnation, in the manner provided by law, all buildings and structures or parts thereof which for want of repairs or by reason of their age or their dilapidated conditions are unsafe and endanger life or property;
(9) Pass upon any question arising under any of the provisions relating to buildings contained in this code, subject to the conditions, modifications, and limitations contained in this code;
(10) Determine the value or valuation under any provisions of the code and for a purpose he or she shall be guided by approved estimated practices;
(11) Attend the meetings of and assist the City Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals;
(12) Recommend any necessary changes in the building code;
(13) Perform all other unspecified duties which fall within the scope and sphere of his or her activities;
(14) Review all applications for improvement location permits for new construction or additions to existing construction to ascertain as to whether the proposed construction lies in a flood hazard area as defined elsewhere by ordinance. If the proposed construction or addition is found in such an area, the Building Commissioner may require modifications to design and materials as a Building Commissioner may deem appropriate to prevent flotation, collapse, or lateral movement of the structure and minimize potential future flood damage; and
(15) Review proposed development to assure that all necessary permits have been received from those governmental agencies which approval is required by any and all federal and/or state law including but not limited to § 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.
(Prior Code, § 33.036)
(Ord. 3241, passed - -1979; Ord. 3256, passed - -1980)