§ 4-204 BUILDING OFFICIAL; POWERS; DUTIES.

   (a)   This and other articles of the city relating generally to building and structures shall be administered and enforced by the person designated by the city. The person designated by the city shall act as Chief Building Official and may assume the responsibilities of or with the consent and approval of the governing body appoint a Building Inspector and such other assistants as may be advisable for the issuance of building permits and the inspection of building work.

   (b)   The person designated by the city shall prepare such application, permit, inspection and record forms as may be required for the purposes of the article. The person designated by the city may make and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to obtain conformity with this article pertaining to the making of applications for building permits, issuing of building permits, and inspecting of buildings and building works.

§ 4-205 BUILDING INSPECTOR; APPOINTMENT.

   The person designated by the city may assume the responsibilities of or appoint some qualified officer or employee of the city to be and perform the duties of Building Inspector as may be required, subject to the consent and approval of the governing body.

§ 4-206 SAME; DUTIES.

   The Building Inspector shall have the following duties:

   (a)   To enforce all regulations relating to construction, alteration, repair, removal and demolition of building and structures;

   (b)   May permit, with the approval of the governing body, on the basis of duly authenticated reports from recognized sources, the use of new materials or modes of construction, not provided for in this article, and may, for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this article adopt an accepted standard of material or workmanlike practices of federal or state bureaus, national, technical organizations or fire underwriters;

   (c)   To examine all buildings in the process of erection, construction, alteration or relocation in the city for the purpose of determining whether the work is in compliance with the permit given and in compliance with the regulations of the city pertaining to such work, including zoning regulations; and

   (d)   To keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits or certificates issued, of inspections made, of reports rendered, and of notices or orders issued. All such records shall be open to public inspection during stated office hours, but shall not be removed from the office of the Building Official without his or her written consent.

§ 4-207 SAME; POWERS.

   The Building Inspector shall have the following powers:

   (a)   To enter any building or structure or premises at any reasonable hour, whether complete or in the process of erection, to perform the duties contained in this article;

   (b)   To adopt and enforce all such prudent emergency measures as he or she may deem necessary and expedient for the public safety under the laws of the city; and

   (c)   May cause any work done in violation of this article to be discontinued until he or she shall have satisfactory evidence that the work will be done in accordance with the building regulations of the city, subject to the right of any builder or owner to appeal to the governing body.

§ 4-208 SAME; RIGHT OF ENTRY.

   The Building Inspector, or his or her agent, upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour to perform his or her duties as set out in this article.

§ 4-209 CLARIFICATION; MODIFICATION.

   (a)   The governing body shall be the final determiner of the scope and meaning of all provisions of the Building Code which may be unclear, ambiguous or requiring interpretation.

   (b)   The Building Inspector shall have power to modify any of the provisions of the Building Code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee or his or her authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code. In approving modifications, the Building Inspector shall see that the spirit of the code is observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of a modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the Inspector thereon shall be entered upon the records of the Building Inspector and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant.

§ 4-210 BUILDING PERMIT REQUIRED; APPLICATION; APPROVAL.

   It shall be unlawful for any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done within the city without a building permit being first obtained therefor from the City Clerk, after approval by the Chief Building Official or his or her duly authorized assistant. The application for such permit shall be made and the permit obtained before work is commenced upon any building or structure or the foundation thereof, or before the removal of any building begins.