§ 151.15 ADOPTION; COPIES.

   (A)   The 1975 edition of the Standard Excavation and Grading Code, as adopted by the Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc., is hereby enacted and adopted as law for the city to the same extent as if the same were duly set out and printed herein.

   (B)   Copies of such Code shall be on file in the office of the City Recorder for the inspection and use of the general public and sufficient additional copies of such Code shall be kept for distribution to the public on demand.

(Prior Code, § 1725.01) (Ord. 186, passed 3-15-1977)

ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

§ 151.30 OFFICE OF BUILDING INSPECTOR ESTABLISHED; APPOINTMENT.

   (A)   The office of Building Inspector is hereby established, which shall be headed by the Building Inspector and shall have such other personnel as may from time to time be authorized by Council.

   (B)   The Building Inspector shall be appointed or designated by the Mayor, and he or she shall have the powers and perform the duties prescribed for him or her or for his or her office by the codified ordinances or other ordinances, resolutions or orders of Council, and as prescribed by the State Code for municipal officers charged with the administration and enforcement of building, plumbing, gas, electrical and other technical codes which municipalities are authorized to adopt pursuant to W. Va. Code 8-11-4.

   (C)   The Building Inspector may delegate powers to and require performance of duties by such deputies, assistants and other personnel as may from time to time be assigned or detailed to his or her office by the Mayor or Council.

(Prior Code, § 1705.01)

§ 151.31 BUILDING INSPECTOR’S POWERS AND DUTIES.

   (A)   The Building Inspector or his or her authorized representative shall receive all applications required to be submitted to him or her; make or cause to be made all inspections required to be made by him or her; and issue all permits and certificates required to be issued by him or her by the codified ordinances or by any technical code adopted by this Building Code. He or she shall examine premises for which permits have been issued and make necessary inspections to see that the provisions of law are complied with and that construction and other work is prosecuted safely. He or she shall enforce all provisions of the technical codes. He or she shall, when requested by proper authority, or when the public interest so requires, make investigations in connection with matters referred to in the technical codes and render written reports thereon. 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, he or she shall issue such notices or orders as may be necessary.

   (B)   Inspections required under the provisions of the technical codes shall be made by the Building Inspector or his or her duly authorized agents. The Building Inspector may accept reports of inspectors of recognized inspection services, after investigation of their qualifications and reliability. No certificate called for by any provision of any technical code shall be issued on such reports unless they are in writing and certified to by a responsible officer of such service.

   (C)   The Building Inspector shall keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits issued, of certificates issued, of inspections made, of reports rendered and of notices or orders issued. He or she shall retain on file copies of required plans and all documents relating to building work 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 Building Inspector without his or her written consent.

   (E)   The Building Inspector shall make written reports to his or her immediate superior once each month, or more often if requested, including statements of permits and certificates issued, and orders promulgated.

(Prior Code, § 1705.02)

§ 151.32 DUTY OF OTHER OFFICERS TO COOPERATE.

   The Building Inspector may request and shall receive, so far as may be necessary in the discharge of his or her duties, the assistance and cooperation of the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief and other city officers and employees.

(Prior Code, § 1705.03)

§ 151.33 LIABILITY OF VIOLATOR.

   Any person violating any provision of this chapter, including the technical codes which constitute part of this chapter, shall, in addition to either or both any fine or imprisonment which may be adjudged by reason of such violation, be liable to the city for any costs or expenses incurred by reason of such violation or by reason of abatement of any nuisance or hazard thereby created or by reason of rectifying any condition on any premises found to be in violation of this chapter. Any liability so incurred shall be enforceable in the same manner as the collection of other debts and taxes due the city.

(Prior Code, § 1705.04)

§ 151.34 REMOVAL OF DEBRIS AND LITTER.

   (A)   In every case where a building permit is required, such permit shall provide that all rubbish, waste materials and substances, debris and litter shall be disposed of or removed from the premises upon the substantial completion of such work. SUBSTANTIAL COMPLETION, for the purpose of this section, is defined to mean 90% of the actual work to be done and performed as contemplated by the valuation set forth in the building permit.

   (B)   To secure compliance herewith, such applicant for a building permit shall post with the Building Official a cash bond in the form of a cashier or certified check payable to the city in an amount not greater than 10% of the amount designated on the building permit submitted to the Building Inspector relative to the work to be performed thereunder, the amount assessed hereunder to be determined by the reasonable discretion of the Building Inspector.

   (C)   After the work has been completed and all rubbish, waste materials and substances, debris and other litter have been satisfactorily disposed of or removed from the premises, the certified or cashier check shall be returned to the holder of the permit; however, should the holder of the permit fail to comply with the provisions hereof and fail to remove all rubbish, waste materials and substances, debris and other litter so as to leave the premises clear thereof, then the Mayor or City Recorder may, upon recommendation of the Building Inspector, order such bond forfeited and such certified or cashier check cashed by the City Recorder, and shall direct and order that such premises be cleared of any rubbish, waste materials and substances, debris or other litter and the cost thereof to be paid out of such fund so provided. After deducting the cost of any removal and other expenses related thereto to the city, the remainder of any of the money shall be returned to the holder of the permit.

(Prior Code, § 1705.05) (Ord. 79-6, passed 7-17-1979)

§ 151.35 PERMIT FEES.

   The following permit fees shall be collected by the Building Inspector prior to the issuance of a building permit for any construction within the city.

   (A)   Permit fees.

Total Valuation	Fee
$100 and less	No fee, unless inspection required, in which case a $10 fee for each inspection shall be charged.
$101 to $2,000	$10 per thousand or fraction thereof.
$2,001 to $15,000	$18 for the first $2,000 plus $6 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $15,000.
$15,001 to $50,000	$101 for the first $15,000 plus $5 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000.
$50,001 to $100,000	$271 for the first $50,000 plus $4 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000.
$100,001 to $500,000	$471 for the first $100,000 plus $3 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000.
$500,001 and up	$1,671 for the first $500,000 plus $2 for each additional thousand or fraction thereof.

 

   (B)   Moving of buildings or structures. For the moving of any building or structure, the fee shall be $100.

   (C)   Demolition of buildings or structures. For the demolition of any building or structure, the fee shall be $50.

   (D)   Double fees. Where work for which a permit is required by this code is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining the required permit, the fees herein specified shall be doubled, but the payment of such double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this code in the execution of the work nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.

   (E)   Plan-checking fee. When the valuation of the proposed construction exceeds $1,000 and a plan is required to be submitted by the city, a plan-checking fee shall be paid to the Building Inspector at the time of submitting plans and specifications for checking. Such plan-checking fee shall be equal to one-half of the building permit fee as hereinabove set forth.

(Prior Code, § 1705.06) (Ord. 01-06, passed 4-3-2001)

§ 151.36 BUILDING DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL ADOPTED.

   The City Building Department Administrative Manual, attached to Ordinance 91-8, shall be adopted and the Building Department shall hereby enforce the State Building Code as provided for in W. Va. Code 15A-11-5, as amended.

(Prior Code, § 1705.07) (Ord. 91-8, passed 8-20-1991)