Except as provided below, any person, firm or corporation who performs work for which a permit is required by this code without first having secured a permit therefore shall be deemed in violation of this code and subject to the penalties provided by this code.
(A) Emergencies. In case of emergency where there is actual and immediate risk of failure or collapse of a building or 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 failure or collapse or the occurrence of such danger and time available is not sufficient to allow the securing of a permit from the Building Official or his or her representative as required by this code, the person, firm or corporation required to perform such repairs may proceed to do so after having first notified the Building Official or his or her representative of such fact without obtaining a permit as required by this code. In case the Building Official or his or her representative is unavailable, notice shall be given to the Division of Police.
(B) Failure to obtain permits before starting work. Any person who shall commence any installation of work for which a permit is required by this code, without first having obtained a permit therefore, if legally authorized and subsequently allowed to obtain a permit, may be required to pay double the permit fees prescribed by this code provided; however, that this requirement shall not apply to emergency work or installation as provided by § 1301.14(A), when it shall be proved to the satisfaction of the Building Official or his or her representative that such work or installation was urgently necessary and that it would have been impractical to have awaited the normal time consumed in application for and issuance of the permit. Nevertheless, even in such emergencies the required permit shall be obtained without unreasonable delay after installation starts, and in no case more than three days in which the office of the Building Official or his or her representative is open shall be allowed for obtaining the permit. Before issuing such permit, the Building Official or his or her representative shall take necessary steps to determine whether work performed prior to the date of permit and inspection conform to this 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 foundations piping and other subterranean work and the like. The applicant for the permit shall perform all such work as may be directed at his or her own expense.