(A) When required. It shall not be lawful to construct, alter, repair, remove, or demolish or to commence the construction, alteration, removal, or demolition of a building or structure without first filing with the City Clerk an application, in writing, and obtaining a formal permit. However, no permit shall be required for any remodeling on any structure so long as the height or area of the structure is not altered.
(B) Form.
(1) An application for a permit shall be submitted in such a form as the Building Inspector may prescribe.
(2) Such application shall be made by the owner’s contractor or builder employed in connection with the proposed work where the owner has a contractor or builder, otherwise by the owner or lessee or agent of either or the architect or engineer. If such application is made by a person other than the owner in fee, it shall be accompanied by a duly verified affidavit of the owner in fee or the person making the application that proposed work is authorized by the owner in fee and that the person making the application is authorized to make such application.
(3) Such application shall contain the full names and addresses of the applicant and of the owner and, if the owner is a corporate body, of its responsible officers.
(4) Such application shall describe briefly the proposed work and shall give such additional information as may be required by the Building Inspector for an intelligent understanding of the proposed work.
(C) Plans. Application for permits shall be accompanied by such drawings of the proposed work, drawn to scale, including floor plans, sections, elevations, and structural details as the Building Inspector may require.
(D) Plot diagram. There shall also be filed a plot diagram in a form and size suitable for filing permanently with the permit record, drawn to scale, with all dimensions figured, showing accurately the size and exact location of all proposed new construction or, in the case of demolition, of such construction as is to be demolished and of all existing buildings and structures that are to remain.
(E) Amendments. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the filing of amendments to an application or to a plan or other record accompanying same, at any time before the completion of the work for which the permit was sought. Such amendments, after approval, shall be filed with and be deemed a part of the original application.
(F) Completion of existing buildings. Nothing is this section shall require changes in the plans, construction, or designated use of a building for which a lawful permit has been heretofore issued or which has been otherwise lawfully authorized and the construction of which shall have been actually begun within 90 days after this section becomes effective and which entire building shall be completed, as authorized, with two years thereafter.
(G) Action on application. It shall be the duty of the City Council to examine applications for permits within a reasonable time after filing. If, after examination, there is found no objection to the same and it appears that the proposed work will be in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable thereto, the Council shall approve such application and issue a permit for the proposed work as soon a practicable. If examination reveals otherwise, the Council will reject such application, noting their findings in a report to be attached to the application and delivering a copy to the applicant.
(H) Approval in part. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the City Council from issuing a permit for the construction of part of a building or structure before the entire plans and detailed statements of said building or structure have been submitted or approved, if adequate plans and detailed statements have been presented for the same and have been found to comply with this section.
(I) Conditions of the permit.
(1) All work performed under a permit issued by the City Council shall conform to the approved application and plans and approved amendments thereof.
(2) The location of all new construction, as shown on the approved plot diagram or an approved amendment thereof, shall be strictly adhered to.
(3) It shall be unlawful to reduce or diminish the area of a lot or plot of which a plot diagram had been filed and has been used as the basis for a permit, unless a revised plot diagram showing the proposed change in conditions shall have been filed and approved; provided, this shall not apply when the lot is reduced by reason of a street opening or widening or other public improvement.
(J) Signature to permit. Every permit issued by the City Council under the provisions of this section shall have the Building Inspector’s signature affixed thereto, but this shall not prevent him or her from authorizing a subordinate to affix such a signature.
(K) Limitation. A permit under which no work is commenced within one year after issuance shall expire by limitation, except a demolition permit which shall expire 90 days after issuance, subject to being extended an additional 30 days upon payment of a $250 fee for such extension.
(L) Posting of permit.
(1) A copy of the permit shall be kept on the premises, open to public inspection during the prosecution of the work, and until the completion of the same.
(2) The City Council may require a certified copy of the approved plans to be kept on the premises at all times from the commencement of the work to the completion thereof.
(3) The Building Inspector shall be given at least a 12-hour notice of the starting or work under a permit.
(M) Revocation. The City Council may revoke a permit or approval issued under the provisions of this section in case there has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to a material fact in the application or plans on which the permit or approval was based.
(Prior Code, Chapter 24, Article 19) (Ord. 3 (Series 1998-1999), passed 5-18-1998; Ord. 19 (Series 1991-1992), passed 1-6-1992; Ord. 9 (Series 2009-2010), passed 8-3-2009)