(A) Building permit. A building permit is a license to perform any work in accordance with the requirements of this subchapter. All applications for permits to be issued by the county shall state the tax code number assigned by the County Auditor to that parcel of real estate.
(B) Requirements.
(1) No building permit shall be issued by the Building Commissioner for a Class 1 structure unless and until a construction design release has been issued by the state.
(2) No person shall construct, reconstruct, extend, alter, repair, remodel or make an addition to any building or portion of a building, fireplace or chimney of any existing building, or perform any plumbing work, electrical work, heating work, ventilation work, air conditioning work or other work for which this subchapter establishes applicable codes, rules or standards governing such work before a written application on the prescribed form to do so is submitted to and approved by the Building Commissioner and a permit is issued by him or her for the proposed work.
(3) Permit applications for Class 1 structures must be accompanied by the plans and prints in paper format or in electronic/digital PDF format; provided, however, the Building Commissioner may require submission in both paper format and in electronic/digital PDF format.
(4) Interior or exterior painting and routine maintenance or repairs which do not affect electric, plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning or structural stability are specifically exempted from the requirements of obtaining a permit under this section.
(C) Permit issuance.
(1) Before issuing any permit, the Building Commissioner may require the applicant to file a set of detailed plans and specifications, a copy of which may be retained in the office of the Building Commissioner. In the case of any commercial or industrial building or structure, such set of detailed plans and specifications will be required to include a preliminary report or estimate from the County Health Department Environmental Health Division, based upon a soil scientist’s sample, setting forth the type of sewage disposal system most suitable for the proposed site. At the discretion of the Building Commissioner, a permit may be issued without all necessary sanitation, sewer and/or septic tank permits issued by the County Health Department Environmental Health Division to a commercial or industrial applicant who has received a positive or workable preliminary report from the County Health Department Environmental Health Division. Any changes from the approved plans or specifications shall be made only after a revised copy of them has been submitted to and approved by the Building Commissioner.
(2) Permits may not be issued to landowners who have real estate adjacent to subdivision streets which have not been opened or constructed in accordance with the County Zoning Ordinance and the county subdivision control regulations or who do not otherwise have legal access to the parcel of real estate.
(D) Use and occupancy. Irrespective of whether a permit has been issued, no building for which a permit is herein required shall be used or occupied by the owner or any other person (other than usage relative to completion of the work or construction at issue) unless and until the Building Commissioner has issued both an occupancy permit and a utility service hook-up authorization. No such occupancy permit or utility service hook-up authorization shall be issued by the Building Commissioner until all requirements of the permit process have been complied with, the work or construction contemplated has been carried out in accordance with the permit (and the plans and specifications approved as a part thereof), the provisions of this subchapter and any other laws and ordinances which are administered or enforced by the county have been satisfied, and the necessary formal sanitation, sewer and septic tank permits relative to the building or structure (if any) have been issued by the County Health Department Environmental Health Division and/or the State Board of Health as required by statute or regulation. After final inspection, when it is found that the building or structure complies with the provisions of this subchapter and any other laws and ordinances which are administered or enforced by the county, the Building Commissioner shall issue a certificate of occupancy.
(E) Term of permits. Permits shall expire one year after the date of issuance and shall be null and void if the construction has not reached final inspection within that one-year period; provided, however, extensions may be granted on residential permits for three months and on commercial permits for six months. At the conclusion of any extension granted, the permit shall then expire. Upon permit expiration, an extension or new permit is required. Construction thereafter, without an extension or a new permit, shall be considered a violation of this subchapter and be subject to enforcement action.
(Ord. 08-400, passed 11-3-2008; Ord. 2013-330, passed 8-5-2013)