A. Permit Required: Except as otherwise expressly stated in the building code, no person, firm, or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish any building or structure in the city, except an "agricultural building", as that term is defined in Minnesota statutes section 16B.60, subdivision 6, or cause the same to be done without first obtaining an appropriate permit from the code enforcement officer. (1981 Code 502 § 3; amd. 2003 Code)
B. Approval Of Plans: All building construction plans submitted with an application for a building permit shall be signed as being approved by a registered architect or engineer. Single- and two-family structures (including detached garages or accessory structures) are excepted from this requirement.
C. Investigation Of Applicant; Payment Of Fees; Issuance Of Permit:
1. The application, plans and specifications filed in support of a permit shall be reviewed by the code enforcement officer to assure conformance to the requirements of the building code and compliance with other laws and ordinances of the city.
2. Upon payment of the permit fee and state surcharge provided therefor, the code enforcement officer shall formally endorse the submitted plans and specifications as "Approved" and shall issue a permit therefor to the applicant.
3. Approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified, or altered during construction or installation without authorization from the code enforcement officer.
4. The code enforcement officer may issue a partial permit for the construction or installation of a part of a building or system before the complete plans and specifications have been submitted; provided, that adequate information and detailed statements have been submitted complying with pertinent requirements of the building code. The issuance of such a partial permit shall not represent unqualified assurance that a permit for the entire building or system will be issued.
5. The issuance of a permit shall under no circumstances be construed as a license to violate any of the provisions of the building code. The issuance of a permit based upon erroneous or ambiguous plans and specifications shall not be deemed to constitute approval to violate provisions of the building code or of any other ordinances of the city. (1981 Code 502 § 3)
D. Expiration Of Permit:
1. Every permit issued by the code enforcement officer under the provisions of the building code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of such permit, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a consecutive period of one hundred eighty (180) days at any time after the work is commenced.
2. Building permits issued under the building code for any type of construction in residentially zoned districts within the city shall expire one year after issuance. This time limit may be extended in six (6) month intervals by the city council; provided, that application for such extension of time has been made in writing previous to the expiration of said permit, but in no event shall the permit be effective unless the work covered by the permit is completed within twenty four (24) months of the date on which the original permit was issued.
E. Suspension Or Revocation Of Permit: The code enforcement officer may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of the building code whenever the permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in the case of violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of the building code. (Ord. 328, 2-2-1999)