(A) There is hereby created within the town government and administrative department to be known as the Department of Building Safety. Its purposes, powers and jurisdiction are:
(1) To administer, apply and enforce minimum construction standards and building safety requirements governing the design, materials and construction used in constructing, remodeling and repairing buildings and included electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and mechanical systems as provided under the town's building code, Chapter 150 of this code of ordinances;
(2) To administer, apply and enforce minimum housing standards as may now or hereafter be made applicable to dwellings;
(3) To administer, apply and enforce any other regulations and requirements governing the safety, physical condition or maintenance of buildings as provided by statute or ordinance, except when those responsibilities are expressly conferred on another department or office;
(4) To pursue and enforce abatement of buildings and premises found to be unsafe and dwelling units found to be unfit for human habitation; and,
(5) To review plans and specifications of proposed construction or regulated work, to issue and control building permits when required and to provide for and make inspections of buildings and work when required or when necessary to carry out the purposes of the Department as defined under divisions (A)(1) through (A)(4) above, or under other town ordinances, statutes or state and federal administrative regulations.
(B) The Department does not have responsibility and jurisdiction to administer and enforce regulations governing the height, area, bulk, location, lot area or setback of buildings; nor governing exterior design of buildings and related premises (except as to the structural or fire safety characteristics of exterior wall and roofing materials, specifications as to the number and characteristics of exterior exits, design and method of construction of exterior structural fixtures, such as balconies, overhangs, parapets and the like and structural design affecting accessibility of the building to handicapped persons as required by statutes and regulations); nor governing the use of buildings (except only insofar as any such particular use would, but its incidental nature, constitute a violation of any regulations otherwise under the jurisdiction of the Department). All other such matters described in the preceding sentence, subject to the exceptions noticed, shall be under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Department of Land Use and Zoning.
('85 Code, § 9-1-4) (Ord. 1985-C2, passed 9-16-85)