For the purposes of the Codes, it is hereby determined that the following types of permits shall be established and shall be issued by the authority specified:
A. 
Building permit. This type of permit shall cover the physical structural design in connection with the erection, enlargement, addition, alteration, conversion, demolition or improvement of any building or structure within the City of Watertown. Such permit will be issued by code personnel, provided that all conditions are met as hereafter set forth in this chapter.
B. 
Maintenance or repair permit. This type of permit shall cover the physical structural work in connection with any and all repairs or major maintenance work on any building or structure within the City of Watertown. Such permit will be issued by code personnel, provided that all conditions are met as hereafter set forth in this chapter.
C. 
Plumbing permit. This type of permit shall cover all new work, alterations, rearrangements, repairs or replacements to the plumbing and drainage facilities inside of or connecting to any building or structure within the City of Watertown. Such permit will be issued by code personnel, provided that all conditions are met as hereafter set forth in this chapter.
D. 
Electrical permit. This type of permit shall cover all new work, alterations, rearrangements, repairs or replacements to the electrical system inside of or connecting to any building or structure within the City of Watertown. Such permit will only be issued by code personnel and/or an approved electrical inspection firm or agency who made the initial inspection, provided that all conditions are met as hereafter set forth in this chapter.
E. 
Heating permit. This type of permit shall cover all new work, alterations, rearrangements, repairs or replacements to any heating or heat-producing equipment inside of any building or structure within the City of Watertown. Such permit will be issued by code personnel, provided that all conditions are met as hereafter set forth in this chapter.
F. 
Sign permit. This type of permit shall cover the new installation, alterations, rearrangements, repairs or replacements to any outdoor sign, billboard or other advertising device within the City of Watertown. Such permit will be issued by code personnel, provided that all conditions are met as hereafter set forth in this chapter.
G. 
Operating permit. This type of permit shall be required for conducting the activities or using the categories of buildings specified at § 120-13.1. Such permit will be issued by code personnel, provided that all conditions are met as hereafter set forth in this chapter.
[Added 4-16-2007 by L.L. No. 6-2007]
No person, firm or corporation shall commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, demolition or conversion, including the excavation of soil, rock or any earth therefor, or change the nature of the occupancy of any building or structure without first applying for and obtaining a building permit from code personnel for each such building or structure.
A. 
Application for building permit. Application for a building permit shall be made to code personnel on forms provided and shall contain the information requested on such forms plus any additional information as may be determined necessary by code personnel for duly processing such application.
B. 
Applicant shall be owner. All applications shall be signed by the owner of the real property upon which such work is to be performed. Where such application is made by a person other than the owner, it shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the owner that the proposed work is authorized by the owner and that the applicant is authorized to make such application.
C. 
Plans required.
(1) 
Each application for a building permit shall be accompanied by at least two sets of plans and specifications, including a plot plan drawn to scale identifying the street address and Tax Map number and showing the location and size of all proposed new construction and all existing structures on the site and/or adjacent sites, the occupancy classification of any affected building or structures, the nature and character of the work to be performed and the materials to be incorporated, distance from lot lines, the relationship of structures to adjoining structures, widths and grades of adjoining streets, walks and alleys and, where required by code personnel, details of structural, mechanical and electrical work, including computations, stress diagrams and other essential technical data.
[Amended 4-16-2007 by L.L. No. 6-2007]
(2) 
Plans and specifications shall bear the signature of the person responsible for the design and drawings and, where required by § 7202 and § 7209 of Article 145 and/or § 7302 of Article 147 of the Education Law of the State of New York, the seal of a licensed architect or a licensed professional engineer.
(3) 
Code personnel may waive the requirement for filing plans and specifications for minor alterations to any building or structure, provided that such changes do not affect the structural safety thereof and/or public safety.
D. 
Changes or amendments in plans and/or application. Changes or amendments, if any, to the application or to the plans and specifications accompanying the same shall be filed and approval received from code personnel prior to the commencement of such change or work.
No person, firm or corporation shall commence repairs or major maintenance on any building or structure without first applying for and obtaining a maintenance or repair permit from code personnel, except in extreme emergency. Any work which does not alter the size or occupancy of a building shall be deemed as maintenance or repairs.
A. 
Application for maintenance or repair permit. Application for a maintenance or repair permit shall be made to code personnel on forms provided and shall contain a brief description of the work to be done plus any additional information code personnel deem necessary.
B. 
Applicant need not be owner. Applications for maintenance or repair permits need not be signed by the owner of the real property upon which such work is to be performed, provided that the estimated cost of such work shall not exceed $2,000.
C. 
Plans not required. In general, plans are not required for maintenance or repair work unless the estimated cost exceeds $2,000.
[Added 4-16-2007 by L.L. No. 6-2007]
A. 
Operating permit required.
(1) 
Operating permits shall be required for conducting the activities or using the categories of buildings listed below:
(a) 
Manufacturing, storing or handling hazardous materials in quantities exceeding those listed in Table 2703.1.1 (1), 2703.1.1 (2), 2703.1.1 (3) or 2703.1.1 (4) in the publication entitled “Fire Code of New York State” and incorporated by reference in 19 NYCRR 1225.1;
(b) 
Hazardous processes and activities, including but not limited to commercial and industrial operations which produce combustible dust as a byproduct, fruit and crop ripening, and waste handling;
(c) 
Use of pyrotechnic devices in assembly occupancies;
(d) 
Buildings containing one or more areas of public assembly with an occupant load of 100 persons or more; and
(e) 
Buildings whose use or occupancy classification may pose a substantial potential hazard to public safety, as determined by resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Watertown.
(2) 
Any person who proposes to undertake any activity or to operate any type of building listed in this Subsection A shall be required to obtain an operating permit prior to commencing such activity or operation.
B. 
Application for operating permit. An application for an operating permit shall be in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to code personnel. Such application shall include such information as code personnel deem sufficient to permit a determination by code personnel that quantities, materials, and activities conform to the requirements of the Uniform Code. If code personnel determine that tests or reports are necessary to verify conformance, such tests or reports shall be performed or provided by such person or persons as may be designated by or otherwise acceptable to code personnel, at the expense of the applicant.
C. 
Inspections. The Code Enforcement Supervisor or an inspector authorized by the Code Enforcement Supervisor shall inspect the subject premises prior to the issuance of an operating permit.
D. 
Multiple activities. In any circumstance in which more than one activity listed in Subsection A of this section is to be conducted at a location, code personnel may require a separate operating permit for each such activity, or code personnel may, at their discretion, issue a single operating permit to apply to all such activities.
E. 
Duration of operating permits. Operating permits shall remain in effect until reissued, renewed, revoked, or suspended.
F. 
Revocation or suspension of operating permits. If code personnel determine that any activity or building for which an operating permit was issued does not comply with any applicable provision of the Uniform Code, such operating permit shall be revoked or suspended.
G. 
Fee. The fee specified in, or determined in accordance with, the provisions set forth at § 120-14 of this chapter must be paid at the time of submission of an application for an operating permit, for an amended operating permit, or for reissue or renewal of an operating permit.
[Amended 8-15-2016 by L.L. No. 2-2016]
[Amended 4-16-2007 by L.L. No. 6-2007; 8-15-2016 by L.L. No. 2-2016]
A. 
Upon the filing of an application for a building permit and a maintenance or repair permit, the fees and charges as established by the Watertown City Council shall be payable. No application shall be accepted or processed nor any permit issued for which the prescribed fee has not been paid. Owners of one- and two-family dwellings shall not be required to pay any fee for a permit for maintenance or repair work to any such dwelling.
B. 
Fees and charges shall be as established at least annually by the Watertown City Council through a budget resolution that adopts a City Fees and Charges Schedule. Said schedule shall be available to the public at the office of the Watertown City Clerk.
C. 
Additional fee. In the event that an application for any required permit is not submitted prior to commencement of the applicable work, an additional fee of $50 shall be payable.
D. 
Partial refund of permit fee. In the event that an application for a building permit is not approved, the applicant shall be entitled to a refund of 50% of the fee paid, provided that no construction work has been started. The City's administrative officials are hereby authorized to pay such refunds from Expenditures Account 260, Judgments and Claims, upon application signed by the person or persons who paid the permit fee.
A. 
Approval of application.
(1) 
Code personnel shall examine or cause to be examined all applications for permits and the plans, specifications and documents filed therewith. He or she shall approve or disapprove the application within 30 days of receipt of said application.
(2) 
Upon approval of the application, he or she shall issue a building permit to the applicant. The permit shall carry his or her original signature or the original signature of his or her authorized deputy, agent or representative.
(3) 
Upon approval of the application, the plans and specifications shall be endorsed with the word "approved," and such approved plans and specifications shall be retained in the files of the Bureau of Code Enforcement. Any major changes or deficiencies shall be brought to the attention of the owner, and such changes will be made, and amended plans and/or specifications shall be resubmitted for final approval. Minor changes will be marked on the plans and duly noted in the appropriate place on the permit application. Such changes shall have the same effect as if the plans and/or specifications are actually amended.
B. 
Disapproval of application. If the application, together with plans, specifications and other documents filed therewith, describes proposed work which does not conform to all of the requirements of the applicable building regulations, code personnel shall disapprove the same and shall return the plans and specifications to the applicant. Upon the request of the applicant, code personnel shall cause such refusal, together with the reasons therefor, to be transmitted to the applicant in writing.
Code personnel may revoke a building permit in the following instances:
A. 
Where he or she finds that there has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to a material fact in the application, plans or specifications on which the building permit was based.
B. 
Where he or she finds that the building permit was issued in error and should not have been issued in accordance with the applicable law.
C. 
Where he or she finds that the work performed under the permit is not being prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the application, plans or specifications.
D. 
Where the person to whom a building permit has been issued fails or refuses to comply with a stop order issued by code personnel.
E. 
Where it is found that the person to whom the building permit was issued has falsified the application for the building permit to avoid paying the correct and proper permit fee required under § 120-14.
Whenever code personnel have reasonable grounds to believe that work on any building or structure is being prosecuted in violation of the provisions of the applicable building laws, ordinances or regulations or not in conformity with the provisions of an application, plans or specifications on the basis of which a building permit was issued, or in an unsafe and dangerous manner, he or she shall notify the owner of the property or the owner's agent or the person performing the work to suspend all work. Any such persons shall forthwith stop such work and suspend all building activities until the stop order has been rescinded. Such order and notice shall be in writing and shall state the conditions under which the work may be resumed. It may be served upon a person to whom it is directed either by delivering it personally to him or by posting it upon a conspicuous portion of the building under construction and by sending a copy of it by certified or registered mail.
A. 
No building hereafter erected shall be used or occupied in whole or in part until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by code personnel.
B. 
No building hereafter enlarged, extended or altered or upon which work has been performed which required the issuance of a building permit shall continue to be occupied or used for more than 30 days after the completion of the alteration or work unless a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by code personnel.
C. 
No change shall be made in the use or type of occupancy of an existing building unless a certificate of occupancy authorizing such change shall have been issued by code personnel.
The owner or his or her authorized agent shall make application for a certificate of occupancy. Accompanying this application there shall be filed an affidavit of the registered architect or licensed professional engineer who filed the original plans, or of the registered architect or licensed professional engineer who supervised the construction of the work, or of the superintendent of construction who supervised the work and who, by reason of his or her experience, is qualified to superintend the work for which the certificate of occupancy is sought. This affidavit shall state that the deponent has examined the approved plans of the structure for which a certificate of occupancy is sought, that the structure has been erected in accordance with approved plans and, as erected, complies with the law governing building construction, except insofar as variations therefrom have been legally authorized. Such variations shall be specified in the affidavit.
A. 
Before issuing a certificate of occupancy, code personnel shall examine or cause to be examined all buildings, structures and sites for which an application has been filed for a building permit to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, demolish or change the use or occupancy. He or she may conduct such inspections as often as he deems appropriate from time to time during and upon completion of the work for which a building permit has been issued.
B. 
There shall be maintained in the office of the Bureau of Code Enforcement a record of all such examinations and inspections, together with a record of findings of violations of the law.
C. 
Any inspection requested outside of normal business hours will be billed at a rate of the usual and customary rate of such code personnel (with a two-hour minimum charge) in addition to regular permit fees.
A. 
When, after final inspection, it is found that the proposed work has been completed in accordance with the applicable building laws, ordinances and regulations and also in accordance with the application, plans and specifications filed in connection with the issuance of the building permit, code personnel shall issue a certificate of occupancy. If it is found that the proposed work has not been properly completed, code personnel shall refuse to issue a certificate of occupancy and shall order the work completed in conformity with the building permit and in conformity with the applicable building regulations. A certificate of occupancy shall be issued, where appropriate, within 30 days after application therefor is made.
B. 
The certificate of occupancy shall specify the use or uses and the extent thereof to which the building or structure or its several parts may be put.
A. 
Upon request, code personnel may issue a provisional certificate of occupancy for a building or structure, or part thereof, before the entire work covered by the building permit shall have been completed, provided that such portion or portions as have been completed may be occupied safely without endangering life or the public welfare. A provisional certificate of occupancy shall remain effective for a period as specified in said certificate.
B. 
Fees. The fees for certificates of occupancy and provisional certificates of occupancy shall be as established at least annually by the Watertown City Council through a budget resolution that adopts a City Fees and Charges Schedule. Said schedule shall be available to the public at the office of the Watertown City Clerk.
[Amended 8-15-2016 by L.L. No. 2-2016]
[Added 4-16-2007 by L.L. No. 6-2007]
The chief of any fire department providing fire-fighting services for a property within the City of Watertown shall promptly notify the Code Enforcement Supervisor of any fire or explosion involving any structural damage, fuel-burning appliance, chimney or gas vent.
Whenever there are reasonable grounds to believe that any material, construction, equipment or assembly does not conform to the requirements of the applicable building laws, ordinances or regulations, code personnel may require the owner to cause the same to be subjected to certified laboratory or field tests in order to furnish proof of such compliance.
Any architect, builder, agent, corporation, owner, plumber or any person having in charge any building or premises in which there is to be any construction or installation of or any alteration of any plumbing or drainage, a plumber licensed by the City of Watertown shall procure a permit from code personnel for such work before beginning the same. Such permit must be kept and displayed upon the premises for which it was issued until the completion and final inspection of the work.