(a) Requirements Generally.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (g) hereof, no person, firm or corporation shall grade or excavate for construction of a building, or erect, construct, alter, repair, move or demolish a building or structure or erect, construct, install or move any equipment for operation of a building or structure which is regulated by the provisions of this Building Code, or cause the same to be done, without first making application to the Inspector of Buildings and obtaining a permit therefor, notwithstanding full compliance with all other provisions of this Building and Housing Code, and all other applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
(2) The following types of permits shall be required:
A. General construction, for clearing, excavation, concrete, masonry, carpentry, siding, roofing, grading, paving and specialty installations.
B. Electrical, for temporary electrical installations and new permanent installations, including remodeling, upgrading, relocation, alterations and repair.
C. Plumbing, for temporary plumbing installations and new permanent installations, including remodeling, upgrading, relocation, alterations and repair.
D. Heating, for temporary heating installations and new permanent installations, including remodeling, upgrading, relocation, alterations and repair.
E. Specialty, for all other construction operations requiring the contractor to be registered.
F. Zoning compliance, for all occupancies other than single-family dwellings. This permit shall be issued without fee by the Inspector of Buildings upon his or her approval of compliance with the Zoning Code and the applicable sections of this Building and Housing Code.
(3) The permits set forth in paragraphs (2)A. to D. and F. shall be valid for a period of one year. The permit set forth in paragraph (2)E. hereof shall be valid for a period of 120 days.
(Ord. 1993-23. Passed 9-7-93.)
(b) Water Supply. No permit shall be issued, or work started, for the erection or construction of any building for human occupancy until provision has been made for the furnishing of water thereto from a public water supply and until a record of approval of an application for a service connection to a public water supply has been certified to the Inspector by the Clerk. However, in cases where enforcement of this subsection would impose extreme or undue hardship, the applicant may appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals for permission to obtain water from a drilled well or a dug well approved by the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, such permission to be granted, in the sole discretion of such Board, only after a copy of the log of the driller of any well, as required by Ohio R.C. 1521.05, or other information as may be hereafter required, is certified to the Inspector by such well-driller.
(Adopting Ordinance)
(c) Septic Tanks. No permit shall be issued or work started for erection or construction of any building in which sanitary sewage will originate, and which sewage will not be conducted to a sanitary sewer operated under the authority of the Village, or of the County, until submitted plans, specifications and topographic detail of the land upon which such building is located and the surrounding drainage area shall reasonably indicate that any septic tank sewage system required to be constructed will not contaminate any water supply or create a nuisance, and until the owner, or his or her agent, has filed with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health a written feasibility application and has obtained a written permit for such septic tank system installation. No such permit shall be issued or work started for erection or construction of any building until a drainage system therefor has been approved by the Village, in accordance with the regulations of the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and the requirements of the Village, to carry away the effluent from such septic tank system installation in a manner approved by the Village and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
(Ord. 1965-28. Passed 12-21-65.)
(d) Drainage; Security Deposit. No permit shall be issued for the erection of any building or structure or work started until the contractor or builder installs drain pipe of at least twelve inches in diameter and twenty feet long in the drainage ditch or ditches of any public road from which access to construction operations is desired, with adequate covering of base material over such driveway to prevent damage to the road berm, and until such contractor or builder deposits with the Treasurer a certified check payable to the order of the Village of Walton Hills in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) to be used in whole or part by the Village to repair any damage or injury during construction operations.
(Ord. 1994-29. Passed 12-20-94.)
(e) Effective Period; Extensions. A permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance and invalid thereafter, except that for good cause one or more extensions of time for completion of work thereunder, not exceeding ninety days each, shall be authorized in writing by the Inspector if so authorized and directed as to specific permits by Council by motion entered upon its record of proceedings. Requests for an extension of time shall require the payment of a fee as set forth in Chapter 208 of the Administration Code (the General Fee Schedule), to the Inspector for each such request, which fee shall be in addition to other fees provided for in Chapter 208 of the Administration Code (the General Fee Schedule).
(f) Watercourses. No permit shall be issued or work started for the alteration or enclosing of any watercourse until plans and specifications therefor have been approved by the Village. (Adopting Ordinance)
(g) Exemption for Minor Construction and/or Repair. No general construction, electrical, plumbing, heating, specialty or other permit shall be required for construction and/or repair activities of a minor nature performed by a homeowner himself or herself on his or her own residence, such as replacement or repair of lighting fixtures, replacement or repair of faucets, installation of shelving units, replacement or repair of a toilet, and other similar activities which, in the judgment of the Inspector of Buildings, do not require the inspection and/or supervision of the Building Department to ensure and secure the health, safety and welfare of the owners or occupants of the building, dwelling or other structure in question or of the general public. Nothing in this subsection, however, shall be deemed to render the Village or any officer or employee thereof liable to any person for any damage or injury occasioned by negligent or faulty workmanship or faulty materials, equipment or facilities used in such minor construction and/or repair activities.
(Ord. 1993-16. Passed 6-1-93.)