[Ord. No. 1914 §1(405.630), 5-6-2013]
This Section contains the regulations pertaining to administration and enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter, issuance of permits and certifications, inspection of property, and issuance of stop work, stop use orders, and enforcement of violations of the provisions of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 1914 §1(405.640), 5-6-2013]
A. 
This Chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Building Commissioner and the term Building Commissioner as used elsewhere in this Chapter shall include all designees who shall have the following duties with respect to this Chapter. The Building Commissioner:
1. 
Shall enforce the provision of this Chapter by means of the duties delineated herein. In addition, the Building Commissioner shall enforce all regulations and conditions governing development of any and all projects permitted by this Chapter either of right or following approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Aldermen, or Board of Adjustment pursuant to this Chapter.
2. 
May designate one (1) or more additional members of the department, as well as members of other City departments who have a particular skill or competence, to act for the Building Commissioner.
3. 
May determine the actual location of a boundary line between zoning districts, where such line does not coincide with a property line or district boundary line. Such determination shall be subject to appeal before the Board of Zoning Adjustment in accordance with Article XIII.
4. 
Shall approve building permits. Such approval shall be by approval of the building plans required by the Valley Park Building Code, except as otherwise provided by this Chapter.
5. 
Shall approve occupancy or other appropriate permits.
6. 
May cause the cessation of any erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, maintenance or use in violation of this Chapter by issuing a stop work or stop use order.
7. 
May refer any violation of the Zoning Code to the City Attorney for prosecution or other appropriate action when deemed necessary.
8. 
May adopt such administrative policies as he/she deems necessary to the carrying out of his/her enforcement responsibilities, which policies shall have general applicability to cases of similar character.
9. 
Certify whether any lot or parcel of land in the City lies within or outside of the "FP" Floodplain District, and shall collect a fee for the issuance of said certification as provided in this Chapter.
10. 
Shall act as administrative officer of the Planning and Zoning Commission, perform duties as are indicated in this Chapter. The Building Commissioner may designate one (1) or more members of the department who have particular skill or competence to act in the Building Commissioner's place, and the term "Building Commissioner", as used elsewhere in this Chapter, shall be deemed to include such designees.
[Ord. No. 1914 §1(405.650), 5-6-2013]
A. 
Building Permits.
1. 
It shall be unlawful to commence or to proceed with the erection, construction, reconstruction, conversion, alteration, enlargement, extension, razing, or moving of any building or structure or any portion thereof without first having applied in writing to the Building Commissioner for a building permit to do so and a building permit has been granted thereof. Primary responsibility for securing the necessary permits shall be the property owner's. However, if the property owner should contract part or all of the proposed work, it shall become the responsibility of the person or firm hired to ensure that all required permits and approvals have been secured prior to any work being initiated.
2. 
Blank forms shall be provided by the Building Commissioner for the use of those applying for permits as provided in this Chapter. Any permits issued by the Building Commissioner shall be on standard forms for such purpose. There shall be a separate permit for each building or structure to be constructed, altered, or erected except for accessory buildings which may be included in the permit for the principal building when construction is simultaneous.
3. 
Any building permit under which no construction work has been commenced within six (6) months after the date of issuance of said permit or under which proposed construction has not been completed within two (2) years of the time of issuance shall expire by limitation.
B. 
Voiding Of Building Permit. A permit may be revoked by the Building Commissioner at any time prior to the completion of the building or structure for which the same was issued, when it shall appear to him/her that there is departure from the plans, specifications, or conditions as required under terms of the permit, that the same was procured by false representation, or that any provisions of this Chapter are being violated. Written notice of such revocation shall be served upon the owner, his/her agent, or contractor, or upon any person employed on the building or structure for which such permit was issued via a stop work order, which shall be posted in a prominent location, and thereafter no such construction shall proceed.
C. 
Occupancy Permits. No building or structure or part thereof, other than single-family residential, shall hereafter be constructed or altered until issuance of a proper permit. No new use, extension or alteration of an existing use, or conversion from one use to another, shall be allowed in any building, structure or land or part thereof until issuance of a proper permit; except that no permit shall be required for the raising of agricultural crops, orchards or forestry. No occupancy permit shall be issued for any use or change in use unless such use or change in use is in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter.
D. 
Voiding Of Occupancy Permit. Any occupancy permit granted under this Chapter shall become null and void unless construction and/or use is commenced within one hundred eighty (180) days and construction completed within three hundred sixty (360) days of the date of issuance.
E. 
Stop Work Orders. The cessation of any erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, maintenance or use in violation of this Chapter may be effected by posting a stop work or stop use notice on the premises or by notice in writing to the owner of the property involved or to his/her agents or to the person doing the work, in the case of a stop work order, stating the nature of the violation.
F. 
Floodplain Certification. Applications for floodplain certification shall be upon the form designated by the Building Commissioner, and shall include the locator number of the parcel of land for which certification is sought.
G. 
Compliance With Permits And Certificates. Permits or certificates issued on the basis of approved plans and applications authorize only the use, arrangement, and construction set forth in approved plans and applications, and no other use, arrangement, or construction. Use, arrangement, or construction at variance with that authorized shall be deemed a violation of this Chapter and punishable as provided by Section 405.880 herein.
[Ord. No. 1914 §1(405.660), 5-6-2013]
A. 
The Planning and Zoning Commission or its authorized representatives are hereby empowered in the performances of their functions to enter upon any land in Valley Park for the purpose of making inspection, examinations, and surveys, or to place and maintain thereon monuments, markers, notices, signs, or placards effecting the provisions of this Chapter. The above authorized person or persons shall be required to present proper credentials upon demand when entering upon any land or structure for the purpose of this Chapter.
B. 
The Building Commissioner is authorized to inspect or cause to be inspected any building or other structure or any land on which work is in progress and report to the Director of Public Works any suggested stoppage of work.
[Ord. No. 1914 §1(405.670), 5-6-2013]
The Board of Aldermen shall establish a schedule of fees, charges, and expenses, and a collection procedure for building permits, certificates, appeals, and other matters pertaining to this Chapter. The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Building Commissioner and City Clerk and may be altered or amended only by the Board of Aldermen. No permit, certificate, conditional use, approval, or variance shall be issued unless or until such costs, charges, fees or expenses listed in this Chapter have been paid in full, nor shall any action be taken on proceedings before the Board of Aldermen, unless or until fees have been paid in full.
A. 
In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted, or maintained, or any building, structure, or land is used in violation of Sections 89.010 to 89.140, RSMo. or this Chapter or any other regulation made under authority conferred hereby, the proper local authorities of the City, in addition to other remedies, may institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, conversion, maintenance, or use, to restrain, correct, or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of such building, structure, or land, or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business, or use in or about such premises. Such regulations shall be enforced by an officer empowered to cause any building, structure, place, or premises to be inspected and examined and to order in writing the remedying of any condition found to exist therein or thereat in violation of any provision of the regulations made under authority of Sections 89.010 to 89.140, RSMo.
B. 
The owner or general agent of a building or premises where a violation of any provision of said regulations has been committed or shall exist, or the lessee or tenant of an entire building or entire premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist, or the owner, general agent, lessee, or tenant of any part of the building or premises in which such violation has been committed or shall exist, or the general agent, architect, builder, contractor, or any other person who commits, takes part or assists in any such violation, or who maintains any building or premises in which any such violation shall exist shall be guilty of an ordinance violation, punishable by a fine of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) and not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for each and every day that such violation continues, or by imprisonment for ten (10) days for each and every day such violation shall continue, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 82.300, RSMo. for the second and subsequent offenses involving the same violation at the same building or premises, the punishment shall be a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each and every day that such violation shall continue, or by imprisonment for ten (10) days for each and every day such violation shall continue, or by both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court.
C. 
Any such person who, having been served with an order to remove any such violation, shall fail to comply with such order within ten (10) days after such service or shall continue to violate any provision of the regulations made under authority of Sections 89.010 to 89.140, RSMo. in the respect named in such order shall also be subject to a civil penalty of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).
[Ord. No. 1914 §1(405.690), 5-6-2013]
The Building Commissioner shall prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit for a newly erected, reconstructed or structurally altered building cause tests to be made in conjunction with the Metropolitan Sewer District to determine if any illegal connections have been made between the surface water or storm water drainage system and the sanitary drainage system. If any such illegal connection shall be found, the Building Commissioner shall not issue said occupancy permit until he/she is satisfied that said illegal connection is removed. The Building Commissioner shall, immediately on finding of an illegal connection as stated above, by written notice give the offending party or parties thirty (30) days to correct said condition. If said condition shall not be corrected within said thirty (30) days, the Building Commissioner shall file a complaint in the Police Court of the City of Valley Park against the offending party or parties and each day of non-compliance after filing of said complaint shall be considered a separate offense.