9-2-2: REVIEW OF BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION; CONDITIONS:

   A.   Contents Of Application; Required Documents: Applications for building permits shall contain all applicable information required on the building permit form, and shall be accompanied by drawings of the proposed work (drawn to scale), showing floor plans, structural details, computations and such additional information as may be required of the applicant by the office of the city clerk-treasurer, the building inspector, this code or the city council. (1991 Code § 4-15)

   B.   Receipt Of Application And Fee; Ensure Compliance: Upon receipt of a complete building permit application and the required fee, the city clerk-treasurer shall immediately turn the application over to the building inspector, who shall review the application to ensure that:

      1.   The involved land is properly zoned for the proposed use;

      2.   Applicable zoning district provisions (including floodway and floodway fringe district provisions), and any applicable historic preservation provisions, have been met;

      3.   Legally dedicated roadway access is available, and proof of such dedication has been provided;

      4.   Adequate and sanitary provisions have been made for utilities, and fire protection is also adequate;

      5.   All easements and street right of way areas provided in the recorded plat, if any, are not encroached upon;

      6.   All other required city permits and/or licenses have been obtained. (1991 Code § 4-15; amd. 2013 Code)

   C.   Complete Review In Timely Manner: The building inspector and the office of the city clerk- treasurer shall complete all required review processes in an efficient and effective manner, without unreasonable or unnecessary delay. (1991 Code § 4-15)

9-2-3: DEVELOPMENT IN FLOOD HAZARD AREAS:

   A.   Review Application To Ensure Compliance: Building permit applications for development, location, demolition or alteration within delineated flood hazard areas (as shown on the community's official flood hazard boundary map (FHBM) and flood insurance rate map (FIRM), which are hereby adopted by reference as if set out fully herein), shall be reviewed by the building inspector to ensure that all of the following requirements are met:

      1.   All building sites shall be reasonably safe from flooding.

      2.   All new and replacement water supply systems within flood prone areas shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the systems.

      3.   All new and replacement sanitary sewage systems shall be designed to minimize or eliminate infiltration of floodwaters into the systems and discharges from the systems into floodwaters.

      4.   On site waste disposal systems within flood prone areas shall be located to avoid impairment to them, or contamination from them, during flooding.

      5.   Floodways, as designated on the city's official zoning districts map and flood hazard boundary map (FHBM) are hazardous areas due to: a) the velocity of floodwaters which carry debris and potentially damaging projectiles; and b) the creation of severe erosion problems. The following provisions apply within designated floodway areas:

         a.   Encroachments are prohibited, including fill, new construction, substantial improvements and other developments, unless certification by a professional registered engineer or architect is provided demonstrating that encroachments shall not result in any increase in flood levels during occurrence of the base flood discharge.

         b.   If the provisions of subsection A5a of this section are satisfied, all new construction and substantial improvements shall comply with all applicable flood hazard reduction provisions of this code.

   B.   Additional Responsibilities Of Building Inspector: The building inspector shall have the following additional responsibilities in the review of building permit applications for development, location, demolition or alteration within a delineated flood hazard area:

      1.   Building permit applications shall be reviewed to ensure that all necessary governmental agency permits required by state or federal law have been obtained.

      2.   In the case of building permit applications for alteration or relocation of a watercourse, the building inspector shall:

         a.   Notify adjacent communities and the state flood insurance coordinating office prior to such work (and submit copies of such notification to the federal flood insurance administrator); and

         b.   Obtain written assurances from the building permit applicant that the flood carrying capacity within the altered or relocated portion of the watercourse will be maintained.

      3.   For the purpose of determining future flood insurance risk premium rates, the building inspector shall maintain records of:

         a.   The elevation of the lowest habitable floor of all new or substantially improved structures; and

         b.   Floodproofing certificates (including the specific elevation to which the structures are floodproofed).

   C.   Permit Issuance; Nonliability Of City Officials: Issuance of a building permit for development within an identified flood hazard area shall not create liability on the part of any city official for any flood damages resulting from reliance upon the provisions of this chapter, or any administrative decision lawfully made thereunder. (1991 Code § 4-15)

9-2-4: CONSIDERATION; PERMIT ISSUANCE OR DENIAL:

   A.   Approval; Forward To Clerk-Treasurer: If the building inspector is satisfied that the proposed work described in the application and attached materials conform to the requirements of the zoning ordinance, building code and other regulations and requirements of the city, he shall authorize the issuance of the building permit by signing the application and forwarding it to the city clerk-treasurer, who shall return a copy to the applicant.

   B.   Denial: If the application or attached materials do not conform to pertinent city regulations, the building inspector shall not approve said application, but shall return the application to the city clerk-treasurer, along with written reasons for disapproval. The city clerk-treasurer shall return the application, with written reasons attached, to the applicant. The applicant may subsequently amend his application, if possible, and resubmit it, or initiate other action to correct the deficiencies.

   C.   Issuance Of Building Permit: A building permit, once approved and issued, shall be construed as a license to proceed with the work and shall not be construed as authority to violate, cancel, alter or set aside any city regulations, nor shall such issuance prevent the building inspector from thereafter requiring a correction of errors in plans, construction or a violation of this code. (1991 Code § 4-15)

9-2-5: CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY ISSUANCE; FEE:

   A.   Certificate Required; Inspection: No new building shall be occupied, and no change in the use of a building or part of a building or tract of land shall be made until the building inspector shall have issued a certificate of occupancy therefor. Issuance shall be conditioned upon passing an inspection for compliance with applicable provisions of this code.

   B.   Fee: The fee for such certificate, to be paid upon application, shall be set by resolution of the City Council.

(1991 Code § 4-16; amd. Ord. 23-04, 2-16-2023)

9-2-6: DISPLAY OF PERMIT:

Building permits shall be conspicuously displayed on the project or site, in a manner visible from the street.

(1991 Code § 4-15)

9-2-7: FAILURE TO INITIATE WORK:

If the work allowed under an issued building permit has not been initiated within one hundred eighty (180) days from the issuance date of said permit, such permit shall become null and void, unless a request for an extension is submitted to, and approved by, the building official. If said permit becomes null and void, a new permit must be obtained and the regular fee incident thereto collected, in order for the work to be initiated or resumed.

(Ord. 11-11-97A, 11-11-1997)

9-2-8: RECORD OF PERMITS AND FEES:

   A.   Permits: The building inspector shall keep a permanent and accurate accounting of all building permits. (1991 Code § 4-15; amd. 2013 Code)

   B.   Fees: The city clerk-treasurer shall keep a permanent and accurate record of all building permit fee payments. (1991 Code § 4-15)