(a) Required. A permit shall be required of the owner or, in his absence, of the contractor, to construct, repair, add to, alter, remove or demolish or to commence the construction, addition, removal or demolition of a building or structure or to install equipment for the operation of a building or structure, including any and all plumbing, electrical work and other mechanical equipment. Such permit shall be posted in a conspicuous location on such property during such construction; provided, that residential homeowners shall be permitted to make repairs and adjustments to plumbing and heating apparatus and fixtures installed upon premises owned and occupied by such homeowners without obtaining a permit under this section; however, nothing contained herein is intended to or shall exempt any work performed or to be performed, in whole or in part, by any commercial contractor or by any workman for a consideration from the requirement to obtain a permit before commencing work.
(b) Work Commenced. Work shall be commenced within ninety days of the issuance of the building permit; otherwise, such building permit shall expire, unless extended as provided in subsection (c) of this section.
(c) Extension.
(1) All building permits shall expire no later than six months after issuance thereof. However, a permit may be extended for two additional periods of six months each by the Building Inspector; provided, that the work in accordance with the building permit is continuing. Each such extension shall be requested in writing by the permittee, which request shall set forth in detail the justification for such extension.
(2) For each period of extension of a permit in accordance with subsection (c)(l) hereof, the fee shall be ten dollars ($10.00).
(3) If further extensions are necessary beyond those provided for in subsection (c)(1) hereof, the permittee shall apply for a special permit through the Planning Commission, which application shall set forth in detail the justification for such permit. Appropriate public notice shall be given to those property owners surrounding the property in question.
(d) Updating Permits. The building permit required by subsection (a) hereof must be updated to reflect any increases in contract price or in scope of work to be done.
(e) Penalty. Except in the case of a bona fide emergency as determined by the City Engineer, if any work for which a permit is required by this section is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining such permit the following penalties shall be assessed:
(1) For work under $22,500. a fine of$100.00 will be assessed.
(2) For work over $22,500. the fine shall be double the fees specified in this Code.
but these penalties shall not relieve any person from complying fully with the requirements of this Code in the execution of the work, nor from the other penalties prescribed herein.
(f) Exemptions. A permit shall not be required for church facilities that are used for worship, governmental entities, or chemical and other manufacturing, research, production, processing, transportation, distribution and waste disposal structures, facilities and equipment located in industrial districts (designated as 1-2 Light Industrial District and 1-4 Industrial District); however, in order to qualify for the exemption in the preceding paragraph the owner or contractor in lieu of obtaining any permit(s) must provide to the City Treasurer a document or documents showing all contractors having contracts with the owner or the contractor relating to such exempt structures, facilities and equipment and all vendors to the owner, or to the contractor, of construction materials, equipment and supplies for use in the construction of such exempt structures, facilities and equipment. This document shall be provided by the owner with respect to all such contractors and vendors dealing directly with the owner; shall be provided by the contractor with respect to all such contractors and vendors dealing directly with the contractor; shall be submitted within thirty days after the end of the month in which a contract is entered into or a material, equipment or supply order is submitted; and shall include the name, address, and amount paid to each such contractor and vendor. This exemption in no way constitutes a waiver of any contractor to obtain a license to conduct business in the City.
A penalty of twice the amount of the permit fee which would be chargeable if this exemption were not available may be imposed by the City upon any owner or contractor claiming this exemption who does not comply with the requirements hereof.
(Ord. 2093. Passed 12-21-06.)