When the owner has complied with all requirements of this chapter, the city shall issue a commercial business/property occupancy permit to the owner for such commercial business/property.
(A) Expiration of occupancy permit.
(1) A commercial business/property occupancy permit for a commercial business/property shall be valid until the date of expiration as printed on the face of the issued permit, unless the unit, at any time, is found to be in violation of the requirements of this chapter.
(2) No new commercial business/property occupancy permit shall be issued with respect to such commercial business/property until the owner has complied with all requirements of this chapter.
(B) Location of occupancy permit. The owner shall cause the occupancy permit to be placed in each property/unit where it is readily available for examination by prospective tenants, current tenants and the Inspector at all times. If the permit is not available for examination during any inspection, the owner shall be required to immediately replace such permit.
(C) Effect of issuance of occupancy permit.
(1) The issuance of a commercial business/property occupancy permit for a commercial business/property shall not be construed to mean that the commercial business/property complies with the provisions of this chapter or with any of the provisions of any other chapters of this code, including, but not limited to, city zoning.
(2) After issuance of a commercial business/property occupancy permit for a commercial business/property, if it is determined that the commercial business/property, or the structure of which the commercial business/property is a part, fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter, the City of Newton may require the owner to bring said commercial business/property or structure into compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter. Failure to bring said commercial business/property into compliance shall result in the revocation of the commercial business/property occupancy permit.
(D) Temporary occupancy permit. The City of Newton may, but is not required to, issue a temporary commercial business/property occupancy permit under either of the following circumstances:
(1) Reasonable time to inspect. The Fire Chief or designee may determine that it is impractical to inspect a commercial business/property within a reasonable time after an owner makes application for occupancy permit, provided the owner has made application prior to expiration of said permit. In such case, the City of Newton may issue a temporary commercial business/property occupancy permit, which shall be valid for the minimum reasonable period of time which the Fire Chief or designee determines is needed in order to complete the inspection of the commercial property/business; or
(2) Previously issued permit. An occupancy permit previously issued with respect to a commercial property has expired, by reason of the next initial inspection of the commercial business/property having been conducted and if the commercial business/property does not then comply with all of the requirements of this chapter. In such case, the Fire Chief or designee may, but is not required to, issue a temporary occupancy permit for the minimum reasonable period of time which the Fire Chief or designee determines is needed by the owner to bring the commercial business/property into compliance with all of the requirements of this chapter, provided life and safety of tenants is not at risk.
(3) In either case, the expiration date of the temporary occupancy permit shall be stated on the face of the permit.
(Ord. 2449, passed 7-1-2024)