(A) No person shall construct, install, alter, repair, expand or replace a private on-site sewage system without a valid construction permit issued pursuant to this subchapter. The owner of any real estate where a private on-site sewage system or privy is to be constructed or installed or where any alteration, repair, expansion or replacement of an existing private on-site sewage system is planned shall obtain a written construction permit before any construction begins. The construction permit issued by the Health Officer must be obtained prior to issuance of the building permit. The owner shall apply for a construction permit on a form provided by the county. The owner shall supplement the application form with plans, specifications and other information deemed necessary by the Health Officer and as required by the applicable state regulations. The applicant shall pay a construction permit and inspection fee as set forth in the Health Department Fee Schedule Ordinance to the Health Department at the time the application is filed. The issuance of a construction permit shall not be construed as authority to violate, cancel or set aside any of the provisions of this subchapter. Failure to obtain a construction permit prior to system installation will result in the assessment of a late fee as per the Health Department Fee Schedule Ordinance.
(B) A signed permit application by the owner or his or her agent will serve as an affidavit to affirm the total number of bedrooms the dwelling will have and must be confirmed with a complete corroborating set of floor plans for each floor of the structure including the basement.
(C) The owner shall post the construction permit in a conspicuous place at or near the dwelling or facility where the private on-site sewage system is under construction. The notice shall be plainly visible from the public thoroughfare nearest this structure.
(D) When a construction permit has expired or has been revoked, the work specified on the private on-site sewage system permit shall not commence, continue or resume unless a new application and fee have been submitted and a new construction permit has been obtained.
(E) Fees. Any fees paid by check or other means which is rejected or returned for insufficient funds will require payment of a $25 return fee, require the bearer to make any such future payments on a “cash only” basis and cause any permit to be suspended until full payment is made to the Health Department.
(F) Permit fees are not refundable. Transfer of ownership of the real estate for which a private on-site sewage system construction permit has been issued shall automatically void the permit for that property; provided, however, the transfer of ownership that occurs as a part of a contractual agreement between builder and/or developer and the buyer shall not void the permit if all other conditions of the permit remain the same.
(G) Construction permits for new construction issued under the provisions of this subchapter or under any predecessor ordinance by the Health Officer or the State Department of Health shall be valid for a period of two years from the date of issuance.
(H) Construction permits issued for repair and/or replacement private on-site sewage systems shall be valid for the period of one year.
(I) Construction permit expiration.
(1) Construction permits shall expire and become void upon satisfactory completion of the specified work authorized or upon the date of expiration specified by ordinance, specifically: one year from date of issuance for repair or replacement permits and two years from date of issuance for new construction permits.
(2) Construction permits may be authorized to be extended by the Health Officer beyond the expiration date due to soil conditions being adverse to typical installation methods, i.e., frost/frozen conditions, too wet, soil moisture demonstrated to be beyond plastic limit and any other conditions which might arise which would adversely affect system installation and/or functioning or longevity.
(Ord. 2012-153, passed 4-16-2012)