(A) Wrecking Permits. Before proceeding with the wrecking or tearing down of any building or structure, in whole or part, a permit therefor shall first be obtained by the owner or his or her agent from the Building Commissioner, upon a form prescribed by the Commission. It shall be unlawful to proceed with the work unless the permit shall have been first obtained.
(B) Liability for property damage and bodily injury.
(1) All persons engaged in the demolition of a building or structure, including the property owner and his or her agent, shall be liable for any bodily injury or damage to public or private property occurring as a result of the demolition work. The persons shall indemnify and save harmless the town against any loss, damage, expense, claim, demand, action, judgment or liability of any kind whatsoever which may arise or result from the demolition work.
(2) Before any demolition permit is issued to any person, firm or corporation who offers to demolish a building or structure for another person and/or who engages in the business of demolition contracting, the person, firm or corporation shall furnish to the Building Commissioner a certificate of insurance, indicating the appropriate endorsement for wrecking or demolition work.
(3) The minimums of insurance shall be as follows:
Each Occurrence | Aggregate | |
Liability for bodily Injury | $100,000 | $300,000 |
Liability for property damage | $100,000 | $300,000 |
Or combined single limit coverage as follows:
Each Occurrence | Aggregate | |
Liability for bodily Injury and property damage | $300,000 | $300,000 |
(C) Minimum standards for demolition. All persons engaged in the demolition of a building or structure shall comply with the following minimum standards:
(1) Control shall be maintained over the site and operation to eliminate hazards to the public. Nails or other tire puncturing items shall not be dropped on streets, alleys and adjacent property. Public streets, curbs and sidewalks shall be protected from damage. The person engaged in the demolition work shall be liable for any and all damage to curbs, streets, sidewalks and other public or private property and for any bodily injury occurring as a result of the demolition work.
(2) Basement walls and all other concrete slabs and footings not intended or not able to be reused shall be removed two feet below finished grade. Material used for backfill shall be free of wood and compacted thoroughly.
(3) All sewer and drain lines shall be removed for a distance of two feet outside of the basement wall and shall be thoroughly plugged and sealed with cement. All water service shall be turned off at the service valve. Water lines shall be removed for a distance of two feet outside of the basement wall and shall be thoroughly plugged and sealed to prevent leakage.
(4) Basement floors shall be broken to provide positive drainage for a minimum 20% of the floor area uniformly distributed.
(5) All debris resulting from the demolition work shall be properly disposed of.
(6) All underground tanks present on the site shall be removed. Cisterns present on the site shall be filled in accordance with the requirements for basements.
(7) The demolition site shall be left with a uniform grade and shall be free of debris.
(D) The person engaged in the demolition work shall be responsible for requesting two inspections during the course of the work. The first inspection shall be made after the basement floor is broken and the water and sewer services are sealed. The second inspection shall be made after the backfill is completed, the site is uniformly graded, and all debris has been removed.
(Ord. 96-640, passed 3-11-96; Am. Ord. 96-644, passed 6-10-96; Am. Ord. 99-714, passed 4-12-99; Am. Ord. 2012-004, passed 3-26-12)