Except as provided below, any person, firm or corporation who performs work for which a permit is required by the Code without having first secured a permit therefore shall be deemed in violation of the Code and subject to the penalties provided by the Code. Filing of an application for a permit does not constitute approval of plans or permission to work.
(A) Emergencies.
(1) In case of emergency where there is actual and immediate risk of failure of collapse of a structure, or the existence of defective equipment or service facilities such as to endanger life or health, or such other condition as to require immediate action to make repairs necessary to prevent the occurrence of such dangers, and time available is not sufficient to allow the securing of a permit, as required by the Code, the person, firm or corporation required to perform such repairs may proceed to do so after having first attempted to notify the Building Official of such fact. In case the Building Official is unavailable, notice shall be given on the next business day. Even in such emergencies, the required permit shall be obtained without unreasonable delay after installation starts, and in no case more than three working days, or an additional fee as provided below shall be charged for the permit.
(2) Before issuing such permit, the Building Official shall take necessary steps to determine whether work performed prior to the date of permit and inspection conforms to the Code. Such steps may include but shall not be limited to directing the tearing out of sections of surface work for access to subsurface sections, digging for access to foundation, pipeline and other subterranean work, and the like. The applicant for the permit shall perform all such work as may be directed at his own expense.
(B) Failure to obtain permits before starting work. Any person, firm or corporation who shall commence any installation or work for which a permit is required by the Code, without first having obtained a permit therefore, shall, if legally authorized and subsequently allowed to obtain a permit, pay additional fees prescribed in Chapter 156 (Comprehensive Fee Schedule). This requirement shall not apply to emergency work or installation as provided above, when it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Building Official that a safety hazard existed and that such work or installation was urgently necessary and that it would have been impractical to take the time for application and issuance of the permit.
(Ord. 24-2019, passed 8-5-19)