(A) When required. No person shall alter, repair, remove, or demolish a building or structure, or commence the construction, alteration, removal, or demolition of a building or structure, without filing with the Zoning Administrator an application in writing and obtaining a formal permit therefor.
(B) Form. An application for a permit shall be submitted in such form as the Zoning Administrator may prescribe. Such application shall be made by the owner or lessee, or agent of either, or the architect, engineer, or building contractor employed in connection with the proposed work. If such application is made by a person other than the owner in fee, it shall be accompanied by a duly verified affidavit of the owner in fee or the person making the application that the proposed work is authorized by the owner in fee and that the person making application is authorized to make such application. Such application shall contain the full names and addresses of the applicant and of the owner and, if the owner is a corporate body, of its responsible officers. Such application shall describe briefly the proposed work and shall give such additional information as may be required by the Zoning Administrator for an intelligent understanding of the proposed work. Such application shall be accompanied by payment of such fees as Council may determine from time to time.
(C) Plans. An application for a permit shall be accompanied by such drawings of the proposed work, drawn to scale, including such floor plans, sections, elevations, and structural details, as the Building Administrator may require.
(D) Plot diagram. There shall also be filed a plot diagram in a form and size suitable for filing permanently with the permit record, drawn to scale, with all dimensions figured, showing accurately the size and exact location of all proposed new construction or, in the case of demolition, of such construction as is to be demolished, and of all existing buildings, prepared and signed by a registered surveyor, engineer, or architect.
(E) Amendments. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the filing of amendments to an application or to a plan or other record accompanying the same, at any time before the completion of the work for which the permit was sought. Such amendments, after approval, shall be filed with and be deemed a part of the original application.
(F) Completion of existing building. Nothing contained in this Zoning Code shall require any change in plans, construction, size, or designated use of building for which a valid permit has been issued or lawful approval given before the effective date of this Zoning Code. However, construction under such permit or approval must have been started within six months and the ground story framework, including structural parts of the second floor, must have been completed within one year and the entire building completed within two years after the effective date of this Zoning Code.
(G) Action on application. It shall be the duty of the Building Administrator to examine applications for permits within a reasonable time after filing. If, after examination, he or she finds no objection to the same and it appears that the proposed work will be in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable thereto, he or she shall approve such application and issue a permit for the proposed work as soon as practicable. If his or her examination reveals otherwise, he or she will reject such application, noting his or her finding in a report to be attached to the application, and delivering a copy to the applicant.
(H) Approval in part. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the Zoning Administrator from issuing a permit for the construction of part of a building or structure before all plans and detailed statements of such building or structure have been submitted or approved, if adequate plans and detailed statements have been presented for the same and have been found to comply with this Zoning Code.
(I) Conditions of permit. All work performed under a permit issued by the Zoning Administrator shall conform to the approved application and plans and the approved amendments thereof. The location of all new construction as shown on the approved plot diagram, or an approved amendment thereof, shall be strictly adhered to. No person shall reduce or diminish the area of a lot or plot for which a plot diagram has been filed and used as the basis for a permit unless a revised plot diagram showing the proposed change in conditions has been filed and approved. However, this shall not apply when the lot is reduced by reason of a street opening or widening or other public improvement.
(J) Signature on permit. Every permit issued by the Zoning Administrator under the provisions of this Zoning Code shall have his or her signature affixed thereto, but this shall not prevent him or her from authorizing a subordinate to affix such signature.
(K) Limitation. A permit under which no work is commenced within one year after issuance shall expire by limitation.
(L) Posting of permit. A copy of the permit shall be kept on the premises open to public inspection during the prosecution of the work and until the completion of the same. The Zoning Administrator may require a certified copy of the approved plans to be kept on the premises at all times from the commencement of the work to the completion thereof. The Zoning Administrator shall be given at least 12 hours notice of the starting of work under a permit.
(M) Revocation. The Zoning Administrator may revoke a permit or approval issued under this Zoning Code when he or she finds there has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to a material fact in the application or plans on which the permit or approval was based.
(Prior Code, § 154.11) (Ord. 95-3, passed 2-28-1995)