1440.04 BUILDING PERMITS GENERALLY.
   Except as otherwise specifically provided for, the following provisions shall prevail in the issuance of all types of building permits. All building plans, except plans for minor alterations or those plans judged to be exempt by the Building Inspector, shall be stamped by a licensed architect. The Building Inspector may, in his professional judgment, exempt those plans where, owing to a lack of complexity or degree of difficulty, or similar rationale, the Building Inspector determines that an architect’s stamp is unnecessary. The Building Inspector, before issuing any permit, is authorized to charge and collect the fees and deposits specified in this chapter. The fees prescribed herein shall be additive and, unless otherwise specifically provided, separate fees shall be paid for each of the items listed.
(Ord. 2003-19. Passed 7-14-03.)
   (a)   Calculating Aggregate Floor Areas. The aggregate floor area shall be the sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors, including basements, cellars and attics that are at least fifty percent habitable. All horizontal dimensions shall be taken from the exterior faces of walls, including enclosed porches and stoops.
   (b)   Establishing Costs. Where a permit fee is based upon the cost of the work done under the permit, such costs shall be the actual cost as certified by the owner or the authorized representative of the owner and as approved by the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector, may, at any time up to three months after the completion of the building, require the submission of authoritative estimates or actual cost data to substantiate the estimated cost stated in the application for a permit, and require the payment of additional fees when it is demonstrated that the actual cost of the work is in excess of the estimated cost upon which permit fees were based.
   (c)   Time Limitations. Any permit issued shall become invalid if the work authorized by it has not been commenced within six months after its issuance or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of one year after the time the work is commenced. All permits so issued shall expire twelve calendar months from the date of issuance. For cause, one extension not exceeding forty-five days may be allowed, in writing, by the Building Inspector.
The approval of plans or drawings and specifications for any building subject to the Ohio Building Code is invalid if construction, erection, alteration, or other work upon the building has not commenced within twelve months of the approval of the plans or drawings and specifications. One extension shall be granted for an additional twelve month period if requested by the applicant at least ten days in advance of the expiration of the permit and upon payment of a fee in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00). If in the course of construction, work is delayed or suspended for more than six months, the approval of plans or drawings and specifications or data is invalid. Two extensions shall be granted for six months each if requested by the applicant at least ten days in advance of the expiration of the permit and upon payment of a fee for each extension of one hundred dollars ($100.00). Before any work may continue on the construction, erection, alteration or equipment of any building for which the approval is invalid, the applicant shall resubmit the plans and drawings and specifications for approval pursuant to this section.
      (Ord. 1982-34. Passed 11-8-82; Ord. 1984-49. Passed 9-10-84.)
   (d)   No Refund of Permit Fees. Whenever the work for which a permit has been issued has been abandoned and is not to be done, such permit may be returned to the Building Inspector for cancellation and, if no construction has started, after a deduction of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for administrative expenses, one-half of the balance of the permit fee, if any, shall be refunded. If actual construction has commenced, no refund of any permit fee shall be allowed.
      (Ord. 1985-69. Passed 12-9-85.)
   (e)   Refund of Cash Deposits. Cash deposits shall be refunded only after the Building Inspector and the Street Commissioner have deducted all charges for all damages or inspections and after a determination is made that no further damages or inspections will be necessary or are reasonably foreseeable.
         Upon receipt and approval of as-built grade plans by the Village Engineer and upon the receipt by the Fiscal Officer or Fiscal Auditor, if one is appointed, of forms established by the Tax Administrator showing proof of filing of wage statement and withholding of income tax for income earned within the Village by all contractors, the Fiscal Officer or Fiscal Auditor, if one is appointed, shall authorize release of any remaining deposit.
      (Ord. 1982-34. Passed 11-8-82; Ord. 1984-20. Passed 3-26-84; Ord. 2022-74. Passed 9-12-22.)
   (f)   Certificates of Occupancy. The builder, owner or other person having control of a building under construction is prohibited from allowing such building to be occupied until it has been finally inspected and approved by the Building Inspector and a certificate of occupancy has been applied for, in writing, and has been issued by the Building Inspector.
   (g)   Deposits. All deposits shall be cash and subject to an increase if the nature of the work warrants or if damage during construction exceeds the deposit. Deposits for tree lawn, walk and road openings, tunneling, etc., depend upon the nature of the work and shall be estimated by the Village Engineer.
      (Ord. 1982-34. Passed 11-8-82; Ord. 1985-69. Passed 12-9-85.)
   (h)   Inspection Fees. Except as otherwise provided for, the following inspection fees are established. The inspection fees shall be charged and collected by the Building Inspector or deducted from the deposit when a deposit is required.
      (1)   Each additional inspection, when requested
         by the owner or made necessary by incomplete
         work, faulty construction, need of correction
         or inaccurate information, or a special
         inspection, when requested, which is not
         a routine inspection of work            $75.00
      (2)   Change of occupancy               25.00
      (3)   Extra inspections or inspected requested
         beyond those normal or special inspections
         made, each                  25.00
      (4)   Unsafe or unsanitary inspection caused by
         fire or abandoned structures which may or
         may not need to be demolished         30.00
          (Ord. 1992-18. Passed 3-23-92; Ord. 2023-48. Passed 9-11-23.)