(a) The City Planner or his authorized agent shall receive applications required by the Building Code and Housing Code of the City of Martinsburg, issue permits and furnish the prescribed certificates. The City Planner shall examine premises for which permits have been issued and shall make necessary inspections to see that the provisions of law are complied with and that construction is prosecuted safely. The City Planner shall enforce all provisions of the Building Code. The City Planner shall, when requested by proper authority or when the public interest so requires, make investigations in connection with matters referred to in the Building Code and Housing Code and render written reports on the same. To enforce compliance with law, to remove illegal or unsafe conditions, to secure the necessary safeguards during construction, or to require adequate exit facilities in buildings and structures, the City Planner shall issue such notices or orders as may be necessary.
(b) Inspections required under the provisions of the Building Code and Housing Code shall be made by the City Planner or his duly authorized agents. The City Planner may accept reports of inspectors of recognized inspection services, after investigation of their qualifications and reliability. No certificates called for by any provision of the Building Code or Housing Code shall be issued on such reports unless the same are in writing and certified to a responsible officer of such service.
(c) The City Planner shall keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits issued, of certificates issued, of inspections made, of reports rendered, and of notices or orders issued. The City Planner shall retain on file copies of required plans and all documents relating to building works so long as any part of the building or structure to which they relate may be in existence.
(d) All such records shall be open to public inspection for good and sufficient reasons at the stated office hours, but shall not be removed from the office of the City Planner without his written consent.
(e) The City Planner shall make written reports to his immediate superior once each month, or more often if requested by the Martinsburg City Manager, including statements of permits and certificates issued and orders promulgated.
(f) It shall be the duty of the City Planner to see to the enforcement of all ordinance provisions relating to zoning and to inspect all buildings and structures being erected or altered, as frequently as may be necessary to ensure compliance with city ordinances. The City Planner and inspectors within the Planning Department may issue citations for violations of the City's Building Code and Housing Code. Each and every day during which any such violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense, unless otherwise set forth in said Codes.
(Ord. 99-07. Passed 6-10-99.)
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