(a) When Required. No person shall alter, repair, remove or demolish a building or structure, or commence the construction, alteration, removal, or demolition of a building or structure, without first filing with the Building/Zoning Inspector an application in writing and obtaining a formal permit therefore.
(b) Form. An application for a permit shall be submitted in such form as the Building/Zoning Inspector may prescribe. Such application shall be made by the owner or lessee, or agent of either, or the architect, engineer, or building contractor employed in connection with the proposed work. If such application is made by a person other than the owner in fee, it shall be accompanied by a duly verified affidavit of the owner in fee or the person making the application that the proposed work is authorized by the owner in fee and that the person making the application is authorized to make such application. Such application shall contain the full names and addresses of the applicant and of the owner and, if the owner is a corporate body, of its responsible officers. Such application shall describe briefly the proposed work and shall give such additional information as may be required by the Building/Zoning Inspector for an intelligent understanding of the proposed work. Such application shall be accompanied by payment of such fees as Council may determine from time to time.
(c) Plans. An application for a permit shall be accompanied by such drawings of the proposed work, drawn to scale, including such floor plans, sections, elevations and structural details, as the Building/Zoning Inspector may require.
(d) Plot Diagram. There shall also be filed a plot diagram in a form and size suitable for filing permanently with the permit record, drawn to scale, with all dimensions figured, showing accurately the size and exact location of all proposed new construction or, in the case of demolition, of such construction as is to be demolished, and of all existing buildings, prepared and signed by a registered surveyor, engineer or architect.
(e) Amendments. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the filing of amendments to an application or to a plan or other record accompanying the same, at any time before the completion of the work for which the permit was sought. Such amendments, after approval, shall be filed with and be deemed a part of the original application.
(f) Action on Application. It shall be the duty of the Building/Zoning Inspector to examine applications for permits within a reasonable time after filing. If, after examination, he finds no objection to the same and it appears that the proposed work will be in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable thereto, he shall approve such application and issue a permit for the proposed work as soon as practicable. If his examination reveals otherwise, he will reject such application, noting his finding in a report to be attached to the application and delivering a copy to the applicant.
(g) Approval in Part. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Building/Zoning Inspector from issuing a permit for the construction of part of a building or structure before all plans and detailed statements of such building or structure have been submitted or approved, if adequate plans and detailed statements have been presented for the same and have been found to comply with this Zoning Code.
(h) Conditions of Permit. All work performed under a permit issued by the Building/Zoning Inspector shall conform to the approved application and plans and the approved amendments thereof. The location of all new construction as shown on the approved plot diagram, or an approved amendment thereof, shall be strictly adhered to. No person shall reduce or diminish the area of a lot or plot for which a plot diagram has been filed and used as the basis for a permit unless a revised plot diagram showing the proposed change in conditions has been filed and approved. However, this shall not apply when the lot is reduced by reason of a street opening or widening or other public improvement.
(i) Signature on Permit. Every permit issued by the Building/Zoning Inspector under the provisions of this Zoning Code shall have his signature affixed thereto, but this shall not prevent him from authorizing a subordinate to affix such signature.
(j) Limitations.
(1) A permit under which no work is commenced within three months after issuance shall expire by limitation. The fee for a permit which has expired and under which no work has been or will be done shall not be refunded.
(2) All permits expire one year from the date of issuance. However, for good cause, an extension of time not to exceed six months may be allowed, in writing, by the Building/Zoning Inspector when applied for by the person to whom the permit was issued, and upon payment of a fee in an amount equal to seventy-five percent of the original permit fee. The request for an extension of time shall be filed prior to the expiration of the initial permit. Only one such extension may be granted.
(3) Permits that have expired require a new application, and payment of the full permit fee.
(4) The fee for work started without a permit shall be three times the regular fee. If it is found that any person is in violation of any provision of this chapter or any other ordinance requiring a permit, the Building/Zoning Inspector shall issue a stop work order. The owner and/or contractor named in such stop work order shall cease all further work on the building or structure placed under a stop work order until such time as all requirements of this chapter or any other ordinance listed in the order which is being violated have been resolved to the satisfaction of the Building/Zoning Inspector or any other official charged with the responsibility of enforcing this or any applicable ordinances.
(k) Posting of Permit. A copy of the permit shall be kept on the premises open to public inspection during the prosecution of the work and until the completion of the same. The Building/Zoning Inspector may require a certified copy of the approved plans to be kept on the premises at all times from the commencement of the work to the completion thereof.
(l) Revocation. The Building/Zoning Inspector may revoke a permit or approval issued under this Zoning Code when he finds there has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to a material fact in the application or plans on which the permit or approval was based.
(Ord. 1775. Passed 10-22-73; Ord. 3-2010. Passed 4-12-10.)