§ 151.009  BUILDING PERMITS AND CERTIFICATES OF OCCUPANCY.
   (A)   Building permit required.  No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a building permit issued by the administrative official. No building permit shall be issued for any building or structure except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.  No permit for the construction of a building or buildings upon any land shall be issued until a building site has been created by the land being a platted lot appearing on a plat properly approved by the town and filed in the records of the County Clerk of Tarrant County.
      (1)   Application for building permit.  All applications for building permits shall be accompanied by plans in triplicate, drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon; the exact sizes and locations on the lot of buildings already existing, if any; and the location and dimensions of the proposed building or alteration. The application shall include such other information as lawfully may be required by the administrative official, including existing or proposed building or alteration; existing or proposed uses of the building and land; housekeeping units or rental units the building is designed to accommodate; conditions existing on the lot; and such other matters as may be necessary to determine conformance with, and provide for the enforcement of, this chapter.  One copy of the plans shall be returned to the applicant by the administrative official, that has markings on the copy either as approved or disapproved and attested to same by his or her signature on such copy. The original and one copy of the plans, similarly marked, shall be retained by the administrative official.
      (2)   Expiration of building permit.  If the work described in any building permit has not begun within six calendar months from the date of issuance thereof, said permit shall expire, and work shall not proceed until a new building permit has been obtained.
   (B)   Certificate of occupancy required.  It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any non-residential building or premises, or both, or part thereof hereafter created, erected, changed, converted or wholly or partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the administrative official stating that the proposed use of the principal building or land conforms to the requirements of this chapter.
      (1)    No permit for erection, alteration, moving or structural repair of any non-residential building shall be issued until an application has been made for a certificate of occupancy, and the certificate shall be issued in conformity with the provisions of this chapter upon completion of the work.
      (2)   A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued by the administrative official for a period not exceeding six months during alterations or partial occupancy of a building pending its completion, provided that said temporary certificate may include such conditions and safeguards as will protect the safety of the occupants and the public.
      (3)   The administrative official shall maintain a public record of all certificates of occupancy.
      (4)   Failure to obtain a certificate of occupancy shall be a violation of this chapter and punishable under § 151.039.
   (C)   Conformance required.  Building permits or certificates of occupancy issued on the basis of plans and applications approved by the administrative official authorize only the use, arrangement and construction set forth in such approved plans and applications, and no other use, arrangement or construction. Use, arrangement or construction at variance with that authorized shall be deemed violation of this chapter, and punishable as provided by § 151.039.
(Ord. 312, passed 6-22-2010)