[Amended 10-3-2016 by L.L. No. 1-2016]
A. 
No person, firm, corporation, association or other organization shall commence the erection, construction, alteration, improvement, removal or demolition of any building or structure, except agricultural buildings or structures, or the installation of heating equipment without having applied for and obtained a building permit from the Code Enforcement Official.
B. 
Exemptions. No building permit shall be required for work in any of the following categories:
(1) 
Construction or installation of one story detached structures associated with one- or two-family dwellings or multiple single-family dwellings which are used for tool and storage sheds, playhouses or similar uses, provided the gross floor area does not exceed 144 square feet (13.38 square meters);
(2) 
Installation of swings and other playground equipment associated with a one- or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwellings;
(3) 
Installation of swimming pools associated with a one- or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) where such pools are designed for a water depth of less than 24 inches and are installed entirely above ground;
(4) 
Installation of fences which are not part of an enclosure surrounding a swimming pool;
(5) 
Construction of retaining walls unless such walls support a surcharge or impound Class I, II or IIIA liquids;
(6) 
Installation of window awnings supported by an exterior wall of a one- or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses);
(7) 
Installation of partitions or movable cases less than five feet nine inches in height;
(8) 
Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, or other similar finish work;
(9) 
Installation of listed portable electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation or cooling equipment or appliances;
(10) 
Replacement of any equipment, provided the replacement does not alter the equipment's listing or render it inconsistent with the equipment's original specifications; or
(11) 
Repairs, provided that such repairs do not involve:
(a) 
The removal or cutting away of a load-bearing wall, partition, or portion thereof, or of any structural beam or load-bearing component;
(b) 
The removal or change of any required means of egress, or the rearrangement of parts of a structure in a manner which affects egress;
(c) 
The enlargement, alteration, replacement or relocation of any building system; or
(d) 
The removal from service of all or part of a fire protection system for any period of time.
C. 
Exemption not deemed authorization to perform noncompliant work. The exemption from the requirement to obtain a building permit for work in any category set forth in Subsection B of this section shall not be deemed an authorization for work to be performed in violation of the Uniform Code.
Applications for building permits shall be available through the Village Clerk's office.
Applications for building permits shall be delivered in person to the Village Clerk's office.
[Amended 10-3-2016 by L.L. No. 1-2016]
Building permit application fees applicable under this chapter shall be adopted and amended from time to time by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Village.
[Amended 10-3-2016 by L.L. No. 1-2016]
A. 
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 Official. 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 Official deems sufficient to permit a determination by the Code Enforcement Official that the intended work complies with all applicable requirements of the Uniform 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
(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.
B. 
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 A(5). Construction documents which are accepted as part of the application for a building permit shall be marked as accepted by the Code Enforcement Official in writing or by stamp. One set of the accepted construction documents shall be retained by the Code Enforcement Official, 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 Official. 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.
[Amended 10-3-2016 by L.L. No. 1-2016]
The Code Enforcement Official shall examine or cause to be examined building permit applications and plans, specifications and documents filed therewith. The application shall be approved or disapproved. If the application, together with plans, specifications and other documents filed therewith, describes proposed work which does not conform to all the requirements of the applicable building code regulations, the Code Enforcement Official shall disapprove the same and shall return the plans and specifications to the applicant. Upon request of the applicant, the Code Enforcement Official shall cause such refusal, together with the reasons thereof, to be transmitted to the applicant in writing.
The Code Enforcement Official may revoke a building permit previously issued in the following instances:
A. 
Where it is found 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 it is found that the building permit was issued in error and should not have been issued in accordance with the applicable provisions of the code;
C. 
Where it is found that the work performed under the permit is not being completed in accordance with the provisions of the application, plans or specifications of the code; or
D. 
Where the person to whom a building permit has been issued fails or refuses to comply with a stop order issued by the Code Enforcement Official.
A building permit shall expire one year from the date of issuance or upon the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, whichever occurs first. A building permit may, upon written request, be renewed for successive one-year periods, provided that the permit has not been revoked or suspended at the time the application for renewal is made. The relevant information in the application for renewal must be up to date in order to obtain an extension.
[Added 10-3-2016 by L.L. No. 1-2016]
The chief of any fire department providing fire-fighting services for a property within the Village of Fort Edward shall promptly notify the Code Enforcement Official of any fire or explosion involving any structural damage, fuel-burning appliance, chimney or gas vent.