(A) Findings and intent. The city hereby finds that the men and women who gave their service in the Unites States Armed Forces are in need of our honor and respect. These men and women have paid for the country’s freedom by giving up their families, lives they knew, and their flesh and their blood to ensure the preservation of democracy. Many of these veterans have returned to their families, friends, and homes with special needs directly related to their performed duties. The city honors these individual sacrifices by waiving the permit fees for remodeling projects and building modifications needed to an existing structure.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
PERMANENT OR LONG-TERM DISABILITY. A physical disability that is medically expected to exist for a period of 12 months or longer.
QUALIFIED VETERAN. An individual that has received an honorable discharge from the United States Armed Forces and has served during a conflict of war, United Nations called action, or homeland security event, and has received a DD214 or FL-B02 and service-connected disability rating from the federal government.
QUALIFYING EVENT. An injury that is directly related to active duty in the Unites States Armed Forces, including training accidents, combat injuries, and other duties of service that may cause harm. Off duty injuries shall not qualify.
REMODELING PROJECT. A remodeling project to a pre-existing residential structure that is the primary residence of the individual requesting the waiver.
RESIDENTIAL DWELLING UNIT. A building or portion thereof, designated exclusively for residential occupancy, including one-family, two-family, and multiple-family dwellings, but not including hotels, motels, and boarding houses either owned or occupied by a qualified veteran.
(C) Waiver of permit fees. A qualified veteran that has a permanent or long-term disability as the result of a qualifying event may apply for and be granted a waiver of city building permit fees for a remodeling project to a residential dwelling unit that are necessary to allow for the general comfort and well being of the individual within his or her personal residence.
(D) Application and documentation.
(1) If the property is not owned by the applicant, a notarized statement from the fee owner(s) authorizing the modification must be included with the wavier application. The notarized statement shall include the address, parcel identification number, and legal description of the parcel.
(2) The waiver application shall be submitted within 48 months of discharge from active duty and shall state the purpose statement regarding the necessity of the remodeling project to a residential dwelling unit.
(3) An applicant must submit a written request 30 days before expiration of the building permit to extend the building permit fee waiver. The extension request shall state the reasons for not completing the building modifications or remodeling project within the required time period.
(4) Other documents as may be deemed necessary by the city’s Building Official with respect to issuance of the building permit.
(E) Issuance of the waiver of a building permit fee. The city’s Building Official shall issue the waiver upon receipt of a complete application provided that a determination has been made that the waiver complies with the applicable laws and provisions.
(Prior Code, § 4-1-9) (Ord. 483, passed 5-27-2008)