(a) Before commencing or proceeding with the wrecking, shoring, razing or moving of any structure, a permit therefor shall be first obtained by the owner or his agent from the director, division of building inspection; and it shall be unlawful to commence or proceed with such work unless such permit shall have been obtained. However, no permit shall be issued sooner than three (3) working days after the application is filed in order that the notice provisions in section 5-24 and the historical study in section 5-20(b) may be completed. No work shall commence under a permit herein for a period of twenty-four (24) hours from the time of issuance of the permit.
(b) No permit required by subsection (a) above shall be issued until after the division of historic preservation is allowed to perform an initial examination of the structure and determine if the structure is at least fifty (50) years old and/or has any historic significance. Such examination is to be conducted on every proposed demolition regardless of whether the building or structure is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. However, under no circumstances shall such examination exceed three (3) working days in length. The time shall begin to run from the date that the application to demolish is filed with the division of building inspection.
(c) If the division of historic preservation determines that the structure is at least fifty (50) years old and/or has any historic significance, no permit shall be issued until after the division of historic preservation has completed a thorough study of the structure and documented for future generations the historical significance of the structure. However, under no circumstances shall such study exceed thirty (30) calendar days in length. The time shall begin to run on the date following the end of the initial three-day waiting period.
(d) Subsections (a), (b) and (c) above and section 5-24 shall not apply in any case where the division of building inspection, division of fire and emergency services, division of code enforcement, the board of health, or any officer or agency thereof, or any court orders or directs the demolition of any structure or building for the purpose of remedying emergency conditions determined to be dangerous to life, health or property.
(Ord. No. 4004, § 1, 1-28-60; Ord. No. 240-83, § 1, 12-15-83; Ord. No. 248-96, § 1, 12-12-96)