This chapter provides for the administration
and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and
Building Code (the Uniform Code) and the State Energy Conservation
Construction Code (the Energy Code) in this Town. This chapter is
adopted pursuant to § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, other state law,
or other section of this chapter, all buildings, structures, and premises,
regardless of use or occupancy, are subject to the provisions of this
chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
BUILDING PERMIT
A permit issued pursuant to §
124-4 of this chapter. The term "building permit" shall also include a building permit which is renewed, amended or extended pursuant to any provision of this chapter.
ENERGY CODE
The State Energy Conservation Construction Code, as currently
in effect and as hereafter amended from time to time.
OPERATING PERMIT
A permit issued pursuant to §
124-10 of this chapter. The term "operating permit" shall also include an operating permit which is renewed, amended or extended pursuant to any provision of this chapter.
PERMIT HOLDER
The person to whom a building permit has been issued.
PERSON
An individual, corporation, limited-liability company, partnership,
limited partnership, business trust, estate, trust, association, or
any other legal or commercial entity of any kind or description.
TOWN
The Town of Chatham.
UNIFORM CODE
The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code,
as currently in effect and as hereafter amended from time to time.
[Amended 5-15-2014 by L.L. No. 2-2014]
A. Building permits required. A building permit shall be required for
any work which must conform to the Uniform Code and/or the Energy
Code, including, but not limited to, the construction, enlargement,
alteration, improvement, removal, relocation or demolition of any
building or structure or any portion thereof and the installation
of a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue in any
dwelling unit. No person shall commence any work for which a building
permit is required without first having obtained a building permit
from the Code Enforcement Officer.
B. Applications for building permits. Applications for a building permit
shall be made in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable
to the Code Enforcement Officer. The application shall be signed by
the owner of the property where the work is to be performed or an
authorized agent of the owner. The application shall include such
information as the Code Enforcement Officer deems sufficient to permit
a determination by the Code Enforcement Officer that the intended
work complies with all applicable requirements of the Uniform Code
and the Energy Code. The application shall include or be accompanied
by the following information and documentation:
(1) A description of the proposed work;
(2) The Tax Map number and the street address of the premises where the
work is to be performed;
(3) The occupancy classification of any affected building or structure;
(4) Where applicable, a statement of special inspections prepared in
accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Code; and
(5) At least two sets of construction documents (drawings and/or specifications)
which:
(a)
Define the scope of the proposed work;
(b)
Are prepared by a New York State registered architect or licensed
professional engineer where so required by the Education Law;
(c)
Indicate with sufficient clarity and detail the nature and extent
of the work proposed;
(d)
Substantiate that the proposed work will comply with the Uniform
Code and the Energy Code; and
(e)
Where applicable, include a site plan that shows any existing
and proposed buildings and structures on the site, the location of
any existing or proposed well or septic system, the location of the
intended work, and the distances between the buildings and structures
and the lot lines.
C. Construction documents. Construction documents will not be accepted as part of an application for a building permit unless they satisfy the requirements set forth in Subsection
B(5) of this section. Construction documents which are accepted as part of the application for a building permit shall be marked as accepted by the Code Enforcement Officer in writing or by stamp. One set of the accepted construction documents shall be retained by the Code Enforcement Officer, and one set of the accepted construction documents shall be returned to the applicant to be kept at the work site so as to be available for use by the code enforcement personnel. However, the return of a set of accepted construction documents to the applicant shall not be construed as authorization to commence work, nor as an indication that a building permit will be issued. Work shall not be commenced until and unless a building permit is issued.
D. Issuance of building permits. An application for a building permit
shall be examined to ascertain whether the proposed work is in compliance
with the applicable requirements of the Uniform Code and the Energy
Code. The Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a building permit if
the proposed work is in compliance with the applicable requirements
of the Uniform Code and the Energy Code.
E. Building permits to be displayed. Building permits shall be visibly
displayed at the work site and shall remain visible until the authorized
work has been completed.
F. Work to be in accordance with construction documents. All work shall
be performed in accordance with the construction documents which were
submitted with and accepted as part of the application for the building
permit. The building permit shall contain such a directive. The permit
holder shall immediately notify the Code Enforcement Officer of any
change occurring during the course of the work. The building permit
shall contain such a directive. If the Code Enforcement Officer determines
that such change warrants a new or amended building permit, such change
shall not be made until and unless a new or amended building permit
reflecting such change is issued.
G. Time limits. Building permits shall become invalid unless the authorized
work is commenced within six months following the date of issuance.
Building permits shall expire 12 months after the date of issuance.
A building permit which has become invalid or which has expired pursuant
to this subdivision may be renewed upon application by the permit
holder, payment of the applicable fee, and approval of the application
by the Code Enforcement Officer.
H. Revocation or suspension of building permits. If the Code Enforcement
Officer determines that a building permit was issued in error because
of incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete information or that the work
for which a building permit was issued violates the Uniform Code or
the Energy Code, the Code Enforcement Officer shall revoke the building
permit or suspend the building permit until such time as the permit
holder demonstrates that all work then completed is in compliance
with all applicable provisions of the Uniform Code and the Energy
Code and all work then proposed to be performed shall be in compliance
with all applicable provisions of the Uniform Code and the Energy
Code.
I. Fee. The fee specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in §
124-16, Fees, of this chapter must be paid at the time of submission of an application for a building permit, for an amended building permit, or for renewal of a building permit.
The chief of any fire department providing fire-fighting
services for a property within this Town shall promptly notify the
Code Enforcement Officer of any fire or explosion involving any structural
damage, fuel-burning appliance, chimney or gas vent.
Unsafe structures and equipment in this Town shall be identified and addressed in accordance with the procedures established by the Town Code of the Town of Chatham, Chapter
127, Buildings, Unsafe, as are now in effect or as hereafter may be amended or enacted from time to time.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall review and
investigate complaints which allege or assert the existence of conditions
or activities that fail to comply with the Uniform Code, the Energy
Code, this chapter, or any other local law, ordinance or regulation
adopted for administration and enforcement of the Uniform Code or
the Energy Code. The process for responding to a complaint shall include
such of the following steps as the Code Enforcement Officer may deem
to be appropriate:
A. Performing an inspection of the conditions and/or
activities alleged to be in violation, and documenting the results
of such inspection;
B. If a violation is found to exist, providing the owner of the affected property and any other person who may be responsible for the violation with notice of the violation and opportunity to abate, correct or cure the violation, or otherwise proceeding in the manner described in §
124-15, Enforcement; penalties for offenses, of this chapter;
C. If appropriate, issuing a stop-work order;
D. If a violation which was found to exist is abated
or corrected, performing an inspection to ensure that the violation
has been abated or corrected, preparing a final written report reflecting
such abatement or correction, and filing such report with the complaint.
[Amended 2-21-2019 by L.L. No. 1-2019]
A fee schedule shall be established by resolution
of the Town Board at its organizational meeting or thereafter. Such
fee schedule may thereafter be amended from time to time by like resolution.
The fees set forth in, or determined in accordance with, such fee
schedule or amended fee schedule shall be charged and collected for
the submission of applications, the issuance of building permits,
amended building permits, renewed building permits, certificates of
occupancy/certificates of compliance and completion, temporary certificates,
operating permits, fire safety, property maintenance inspections,
residential structures, residential accessory buildings and miscellaneous,
including solar systems, industrial or business construction, swimming
pools and ponds, demolition permits, farm buildings, administrative
action on violations, mobile home park inspections and licenses, mobile
homes, zoning enforcement fees, subdivision fees, site plan fees,
and other actions of the Code Enforcement Officer described in or
contemplated by this chapter.
The Town Board may, by resolution, authorize
the Town to enter into an agreement, in the name of the Town, with
other governments to carry out the terms of this chapter, provided
that such agreement does not violate any provision of the Uniform
Code, the Energy Code, Part 1203 of Title 19 of the NYCRR, or any
other applicable law.