(A) Appointment; delegation of authority. The office of Building Inspector is hereby created to be headed by the Building Inspector who shall be appointed by the Council and who shall hold such office at the pleasure of Council and shall receive such compensation as Council may determine from time to time. He or she may delegate the authority vested in him or her to such deputies, assistants, inspectors and other personnel as may, from time to time, be assigned to his or her office or, with the approval of the Mayor, to other city officers and employees.
(B) Administrative duties. The Building Inspector shall receive applications for all permits and certificates required by this chapter, unless otherwise provided; and to enable him or her to enforce compliance with law, remove illegal conditions, secure the necessary safeguards during construction or require adequate exit facilities in buildings and structures, he or she shall issue such orders or notices as may be necessary. He or she shall keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits issued and of certificates, orders and notices issued. He or she shall retain, on file, copies of required plans and all documents relating to building work for as long as the work may continue and for a reasonable time thereafter. All such records shall be open to public inspection, for good and sufficient reason, at the office hours observed by the city, but shall not be removed from the City Hall.
(C) Duties as an inspecting officer. The Building Inspector shall examine premises for which permits have been issued and shall make necessary inspections to see that the provisions of law are complied with and that construction is prosecuted safely. He or she shall, when requested by proper authority or when the interest of the city so requires, make investigations in connection with matters referred to in this chapter or Chapter 152 of this code of ordinances and render written reports thereon. He or she shall make the inspections required under the provisions of the Building Code and other technical codes adopted by this chapter. He or she shall have the authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour, upon proper identification and in compliance with all applicable provisions of law.
(1991 Code, § 5-1.1) (Ord. passed 4-1-1982)
Statutory reference:
For state law as to authority of city to provide for entering and inspecting private premises in the enforcement of city ordinances, see W.Va. Code § 8-12-15