No permit shall be required for minor repairs and maintenance. Minor repairs shall not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load bearing support, or the removal or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping; electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety. Exemptions from obtaining a permit required by this Building Code shall not be construed as to authorize any work to be performed in violation of any applicable codes or any other provision in this Part Thirteen - Building Code.
(a) Buildings or structures. No permit shall be required for maintenance and minor repairs of buildings or structures of all occupancies which do not affect structural stability, egress, or a change of use or occupancy. A certificate of appropriateness per Chapter 1103
will be required for work in an Historic District even if a permit is not required. See Section 1307.02
(a). Exempted from permits, but not limited to, are:
(1) One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, playground structures, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 200 square feet in occupancies of one-, two- and three-dwelling units and 120 square feet in all other occupancies.
(2) Fences not over 6 feet in height.
(3) Oil derricks.
(4) Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding classified liquids.
(5) Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.
(6) Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over any basement or story below and which are not part of an accessible route.
(7) Finishes not regulated by the OBC or RCO, such as painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.
(8) Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep.
(9) Swings and other playground equipment accessory to a one, two, or three-family dwelling.
(10) Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of Group R-3, which do not project more than 54" from the exterior wall and do not require additional support.
(11) Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.
(b) Electrical.
(1) Minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.
(2) Electrical equipment used for radio and television transmissions except equipment and wiring for power supply, and the installations of towers and antennas.
(3) The installations of any temporary system required for the testing or servicing of electrical equipment or apparatus.
(4) Electrical wiring, devices, appliances and apparatus of equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy, unless specially addressed in this code.
(5) Process equipment and the associated wiring on the load side of the power disconnect to the equipment.
(6) Electrical wiring equipment not connected to building services equipment in and adjacent to natural or artificially made bodies of water as defined in Article 682 of NFPA 70 as referenced in Chapter 35.
(Ord. 444-18. Passed 10-23-18.)
(c) Plumbing and Hydronics. No permit shall be required for the repair of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipes, the replacement of faucet assemblies or for work further defined as minor repairs. As applied to plumbing, minor repairs shall be defined as:
(1) Repair of leaks in faucets, valves or working parts of a plumbing fixture except as provided in subsection 1305.02(c)(3) hereof.
(2) The clearance of drain or waste stoppages except as provided in subsection (f)(3)C.
(3) Any defect (leak or stoppage) necessitating removal and replacement with new material shall constitute new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as required in this
Building Code.
(4) The removal and reinstallation of a water closet for cleanout openings or a new floor, or a kitchen sink for a new countertop provided the reinstallation does not require replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or new fixtures.
(5) Minor repair does not include the alteration, replacement, repair or relocation of any plumbing fixture, device, appliance, appurtenance, water supply, rain leader, soil, waste, vent or similar piping or any plumbing work which the Chief Building Official determines to affect the public health.
(6) Hydronics. No permit shall be required for minor repairs. As applied to hydronics, "minor repairs" means the repair or replacement of valves, circulating motors, mechanical controls, flue pipe and connectors, and expansion tanks with like material or material serving the same purpose, however, any defect necessitating removal and/or replacement of all or part of the system with new material shall constitute new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as required by this Building Code.
(d) Heating, venting and air-conditioning. No permit shall be required for the replacement of air filters and flue pipe in a warm air heating system or for work further defined as minor repairs. As applied to heating and air conditioning, minor repairs means the replacement of air filters, but does not include replacement of any mechanical controls, dampers, motors, fans or permanent wiring. No permit shall be required for the installation of refrigerating and air-conditioning systems in the following capacities and occupancies.
(1) One, two or three-family dwellings. Systems containing ten pounds or less of refrigerant and/or actuated by motors or engines of one horsepower or less.
(2) Other residential occupancies. Self-contained unit systems containing not more than six pounds of refrigerant when actuated by motors or engines of one horsepower or less with the exception of all systems of any rating which are so installed as to project over public sidewalks or thoroughfares.
(3) Commercial occupancies. New self-contained unit systems containing not more than six pounds of a Group 1 refrigerant when actuated by motors or engines of one horsepower or less, with the exception of all systems of any rating which are so installed as to project over public sidewalks or thoroughfares.
(4) Industrial occupancies. New self-contained unit systems containing not more than twenty pounds of a Group 1 refrigerant when actuated by motors or engines of one horsepower or less, with the exception of all systems of any rating which are so installed as to project over public sidewalks or thoroughfares.
(5) Portable vehicles. Units and/or systems installed on portable vehicles used on public thoroughfares for the purpose of producing refrigeration for trucks, trailers, buses and similar conveyances.
(1952 Code § 10-1-3.101; Ord. 122-15. Passed 3-31-15.)