"Start of construction" means the date the building permit was issued, for purposes of determining exemptions to Title 16 under Section 16.12.010, provided the actual commencement of physical construction activities occurs within one hundred eighty calendar days of the permit date. This applies to building permits for a new building or the substantial improvement of an existing building, including the actual commencement of construction, repair, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, placement or other improvement. The actual start means the first placement of permanent construction of a structure on a site, such as the pouring of slab or footings, the installation of piles, the construction of columns or any work beyond the stage of excavation including those improvements intended for the placement of a manufactured home. For a substantial improvement, the actual start of construction means the first alteration of any wall, ceiling, floor or other structural part of a building, whether or not that alteration affects the external dimensions of the building.
(Ord. 2010-FC5 § 1 (part), 2010; Ord. 2005 FC-2 § 2 (part), 2005)