Building permits shall be required before any
construction or development is undertaken within any area of the borough.
A copy of all applications and plans for any
proposed construction or development in any identified floodplain
area to be considered for approval shall be submitted by the Building
Permit Officer to the County Conservation District for review and
comment prior to the issuance of a building permit. The recommendations
of the Conservation District shall be considered by the Building Permit
Officer for possible incorporation into the proposed plan.
A copy of all plans and applications for any
proposed construction or development in any identified floodplain
area to be considered for approval may be submitted by the Building
Permit Officer to any other appropriate agencies and/or individuals
(e.g., Planning Commission, Municipal Engineer, etc.) for review and
comment.
After the issuance of a building permit by the
Building Permit Officer, no changes of any kind shall be made to the
application, permit or any of the plans, specifications or other documents
submitted with the application without the written consent or approval
of the Building Permit Officer. Requests for any such change shall
be in writing and shall be submitted by the applicant to the Building
Permit Officer for consideration.
In addition to the building permit, the Building
Permit Officer shall issue a placard which shall be displayed on the
premises during the time construction is in progress. This placard
shall show the number of the building permit, the date of its issuance
and be signed by the Building Permit Officer.
Applications for a building permit shall be
accompanied by a fee, payable to the municipality based upon the estimated
cost of the proposed construction as determined by the Building Permit
Officer at the following rates:
Estimated Cost
|
Fee
|
---|
$0 to $2,000
|
$20
|
Each additional $1,000 or part thereof
|
$10
|
[Amended 4-4-2017 by Ord.
No. 17-04]
A. Notices. Whenever the Building Permit Officer or other authorized
Municipal representative determines that there are reasonable grounds
to believe that there has been a violation of any provisions of this
chapter, or of any regulations adopted pursuant thereto, the Building
Permit Officer shall give notice of such alleged violation as hereinafter
provided and all work in connection therewith shall cease. Such notice
shall be in writing; include a statement of the reasons for its issuance;
be served upon the property owner, the contractor or an agent of either
as the case may require; provided, however, that such notice or order
shall be deemed to have been properly served upon such owner, contractor
or agent when a copy thereof has been served with such notice by any
other method authorized or required by the laws of this state; and
contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect
compliance with the provisions of this chapter and allow for the continuation
of work.
B. Violations and penalties.
(1) Fines.
(a)
Any person who fails to comply with obtaining a building permit
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of an offense
and, upon conviction, shall be subject to the following fine plus
the costs of prosecution:
[2]
Second offense within one year of first offense: $1,000.
[3]
Third offense within one year of second offense: $1,000 and
a suspension of the right to work within the Municipality of Norristown
for one year commencing with the payment of the fine of $1,000 for
the third offense.
(b)
Said fines shall be applicable to the contractor and all subcontractors
working on the same job.
(2) Any person who fails or refuses to comply with any notice, order
or direction of the Building Permit Officer or any other authorized
employee of the Municipality to stop work pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter, except such work as that person is directed to perform
by the building, plumbing and/or electrical inspector to remove a
violation or unsafe condition, shall be guilty of a separate offense
and, upon conviction shall be subject to a fine of $1,000 plus the
costs of prosecution.
(3) The owner of a building, structure or premises where anything in
violation of these building regulations shall be placed or shall exist
and an architect, builder, contractor, agent, person or corporation
employed in connection therewith and who may have assisted in the
commission of such violation shall each be guilty of a separate offense
and upon conviction thereof shall be liable to a fine of not more
than $1,000 for each offense.
(4) Each day during which any violation of this chapter continues shall
constitute a separate offense. In addition to the above penalties,
all other actions are hereby reserved, including an action in equity
for the proper enforcement of this chapter. The imposition of a fine
or penalty for any violation of, or noncompliance with, this chapter
shall not excuse the violation or noncompliance or permit it to continue,
and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations
and noncompliance within a reasonable time. Any development initiated
or any structure or building constructed, reconstructed, enlarged,
altered or relocated in noncompliance with this chapter may be declared
by the Council to be a public nuisance and abatable as such.