(A) Issuance.
(1) The application, plans, specifications, computations, and other data filed by an applicant for a permit shall be reviewed by the Building Official. Such plans may be reviewed by other departments of the city to verify compliance with any applicable local laws. If the Building Official finds that the work described in an application for a permit and the plans, specifications, and other data filed therewith conform to the requirements of this chapter and other pertinent laws and ordinances, and that the fees have been paid, the Building Official shall issue a permit therefor to the applicant.
(2) When the Building Official issues the permit where plans are required, the Building Official shall endorse in writing or stamp the plans and specifications “APPROVED”. Such approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified, or altered without authorization from the Building Official, and all work regulated by this chapter shall be done in accordance with the approved plans. Any modifications to the site plan or building occupancy shall require city approval.
(3) The Building Official may issue a permit for the construction of part of a building or structure before the entire plans and specifications for the whole building or structure have been submitted or approved, provided adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with all pertinent requirements of this chapter. The holder of a partial permit shall proceed without assurance that the permit for the entire building or structure will be granted.
(B) Retention of plans. One set of approved plans, specifications, and computations shall be retained by the Building Official for a period of not less than 90 days from date of completion of the work covered therein; and one set of approved plans and specifications shall be returned to the applicant, and said set shall be kept on the site of the building or work at all times during which the work authorized thereby is in progress.
(C) Validity of permit.
(1) The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans, specifications, and computations shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or of any other ordinance of the city or any other federal, state, or local law, statute, rule, regulation, or ordinance.
(2) The issuance of a permit based on plans, specifications, and other data shall not prevent the Building Official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans, specifications, and other data, or from preventing building operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this chapter or of any other ordinances of the city.
(D) Expiration of plan reviews. Applications for which no permit is issued within 180 days following the date of the application shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the Building Official. The Building Official may extend the time for action by the applicant for a period not exceeding 180 days on request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being taken. No application shall be extended more than once. In order to renew action on an application after expiration, the applicant shall resubmit plans and pay a new plan review fee.
(E) Permit expiration, extension, and reinstatement.
(1) Expiration. Every permit issued by the Building Official under the provisions of this chapter shall expire by limitation and become null and void in either of the following manners:
(a) Every permit issued by the Building Official shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 180 days from the date of such permit, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 180 days. The work shall not be considered suspended or abandoned where the permittee has pursued activities deemed by the Building Official to indicate the intent to start and complete the project. The Building Official may require the permittee to document these activities; or
(b) Every permit issued by the Building Official shall expire by limitation and become null and void 24 months after the date of permit issuance. If the building or work authorized by such permit has not received final inspection approval prior to the permit expiration date, all work shall stop until a new permit is obtained for the value of the work remaining unfinished; provided, however, at the time of permit issuance, the Building Official may approve a period exceeding 24 months for completion of work when the permittee can demonstrate that the complexity or size of the project makes completing the project within 24 months unreasonable.
(2) Extension. Any permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the time within which work is to be completed under that permit when the permittee is unable to complete work within the time required by this section for good and satisfactory reasons. The Building Official may extend the time for action by the permittee for a period not exceeding 180 days on written request by the permittee, showing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented work from being completed. No permit shall be extended more than once.
(3) Reinstatement.
(a) Where a permit has expired, the permit can be reinstated and the work authorized by the original permit can be recommenced, provided the following are met:
1. The building code under which the original permit was issued and other laws which are enforced by the city have not been amended in any manner which affects the work authorized by the original permit;
2. No changes have been made or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work; and
3. The original permit expired less than one year from the request to reinstate.
(b) The fee for a reinstated permit shall be one-half the amount required for a new permit. Where the request for reinstatement does not comply with the preceding criteria, a new permit, at full permit fees, shall be required.
(F) Work without a permit/investigation fees.
(1) Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this chapter has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.
(2) An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, may be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this chapter nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
(G) Not transferable. A permit issued to one person or firm is not transferable and shall not permit any other person or firm to perform any work thereunder.
(H) Suspension/revocation. The Building Official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of this chapter whenever the permit is issued in error on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or if its issuance (or activity thereunder) is in violation of any ordinance or regulation of any other provisions of this code.
(I) Inspections.
(1) It shall be the duty of the permit holder or authorized agent to request all inspections that may be necessary or otherwise required in a timely manner, provide access to the site and to provide all equipment as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Building Official. The permit holder shall not proceed with construction activity until authorized to do so by the Building Official. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Any expense incurred by the permit holder to remove or replace any material required for proper inspection shall be the responsibility of the permit holder or his or her agent.
(2) Work requiring a permit shall not be commenced until the permit holder or an agent of the permit holder has posted or otherwise made available an inspection record card such as to allow the Building Official to conveniently make the required entries thereon regarding inspection of the work. This card shall be maintained available by the permit holder until final approval has been granted by the Building Official.
(Ord. 03-2013, passed 11-5-2012) Penalty, see § 153.99