[Amended by Ord. No. 75-17]
A. 
No wall, building or structure or any part thereof shall hereafter be built, repaired, enlarged, altered or moved within the City except as hereinafter provided, nor shall excavation of the site for any such building or structure be commenced unless a permit therefor shall have first been obtained by the owner or his agent from the Building Inspector. The responsibility for obtaining permits rests equally upon the owner and the contractor as an accessory.
B. 
The applicant shall keep any rubbish and debris controlled on the permit premises in such a way as not to cause a nuisance to adjacent properties.
Application for a building permit shall be made in writing upon a blank form furnished by the Building Inspector and shall state the name and address of the owner of the land on which the building is to be built, if different; the legal description of the land upon which the building is to be located; the name and address of the designer; the location of the building and the purpose for which it is to be used; and shall contain such other information as the Building Inspector shall require.
[Amended by Ord. No. 01-5; Ord. No. 08-32; Ord. No. 12-07]
With the application for permit there shall be submitted two complete sets of plans and specifications, including a plot plan drawn to scale showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon and the location of the proposed building with respect to adjoining streets, alleys, lot lines and buildings. Commercial building plans submitted to the City for review and approval shall follow the same submittal procedures required in § SPS 361.31, Wis. Adm. Code. Plans for buildings reviewed by the Department of Safety and Professional Services shall bear the stamp of approval from the Department of Safety and Professional Services and shall also be submitted in duplicate. One set of plans shall be returned to the applicant after approval, and the other set shall remain on file in the office of the Building Inspector. All plans and specifications shall be signed by the designer.
If the Building Inspector finds that the character of the work is sufficiently described in the application, he may waive the filing of plans for alterations, repairs or moving, provided that cost of such work does not exceed $1,000.
A. 
If the Building Inspector determines that the proposed building will comply in every respect with all ordinances of the City of Watertown and all applicable laws and orders of the State of Wisconsin, he shall officially approve and stamp one set of the plans and return it to the owner and shall issue a building permit therefor upon presentation of proof of payment of the indicated fees. The building permit shall be kept and displayed at the site of the proposed building. After being approved, the plans and specifications shall not be altered in any respect which involves any of the above-mentioned ordinances, laws and orders, or which involves the safety of the building or occupants, except with the written consent of the Building Inspector.
B. 
Plan approval fees. Fees for building plans, heating and ventilation plans and illumination plans for buildings up to 50,000 cubic feet shall be as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule
[Amended by Ord. No. 81-8; Ord. No. 00-22; Ord. No. 06-18; Ord. No. 12-07]
The Building Inspector may authorize minor repairs which do not change the occupancy area, structural strength, fire protection, exits, light or ventilation of the building without a building permit.
[Amended by Ord. No. 01-5]
A building permit shall have lapsed and be void after 12 months from the date of issuance; if at the time of original application it is apparent that the project cannot be completed within 12 months, the Building Inspector may issue the original permit for not more than 24 months, after which the permit may be extended by payment of 1/2 the original fee.
A. 
The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans and specifications shall not be construed to be a permit for or an approval of any violation of any provisions of this chapter. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this chapter shall be valid.
B. 
The issuance of a permit based upon plans and specifications shall not prevent the Building Inspector from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans and specifications or from preventing building operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of this chapter or of any other ordinance of the City of Watertown.
If the Building Inspector shall find at any time that the applicable ordinances, laws, orders, plans and specifications are not being complied with, and that the holder of the permit refuses to conform after a written warning or instruction has been issued to him, he shall revoke the building or moving permit by written notice posted at the site of the work. When any such permit is revoked, it shall be unlawful to do any further work thereunder until the permit is reissued, excepting such work as the Building Inspector may order to be done as a condition precedent to the reissuance of the permit or as he may require for the preservation of human life and safety or property.
[Last amended by Ord. No. 06-18]
A. 
A fee for each building permit shall be paid as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
B. 
Square footage shall be determined using the dimensions of the exterior walls of all floors including the basement (finished or unfinished), as well as any attached garages.
C. 
Where work for which a permit is required by this chapter is started or proceeded with prior to obtaining said permit, the fees specified shall be doubled (excluding plan review fee), but the payment of such double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this chapter in the execution of the work, nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.
D. 
All fees shall be paid to the City Clerk, and a permit shall not be issued until a receipt showing payment in full is presented to the Building Inspector.
[Amended 7-5-2022 by Ord. No. 22-63]
The Building Inspector shall keep a record of all permits issued and all inspections made. He shall keep a record showing the number, description and approximate cost of all buildings erected, enlarged or altered. He shall also keep a record of all buildings condemned by him. He shall make a monthly report, which will be kept on file in his office, and make an annual report to the Common Council.
[Amended by Ord. No. 97-32; Ord. No. 05-57]
A. 
Permit required. Any person who shall undertake the installation or replacement of a heating plant or central air conditioning or ventilating unit shall obtain a permit to install such unit. Permit applications will be furnished by the Building Inspection Division.
B. 
Permit fee. The fee for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning permits shall be as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule.
[Amended by Ord. No. 06-18[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
C. 
Miscellaneous provisions.
(1) 
All commercial and industrial buildings and buildings housing over two families shall have state approval before a permit is issued.
(2) 
Electrical wiring shall comply with the Watertown Electrical Code, Chapter 282, and be performed by a licensed electrical contractor for all original installations of commercial, industrial and residential locations, except for replacement of existing fixtures as allowed in the Electrical Code.
(3) 
If the heating contractor shall fail to obtain a permit before the installation has been started, except in emergency cases, the total fees for such permits shall be double the regular fee.
(4) 
In addition to § SPS 365.0400, Wis. Adm. Code, and NFPA 54-3.3.5, flexible gas piping used for building distribution, including seamless copper, aluminum alloy, or stainless steel tubing, shall not be allowed within six feet of any floor or where subject to physical damage.
[Amended by Ord. No. 12-07]
(a) 
Exception. This does not include flexible gas hose connectors not exceeding six feet in length intended to connect main line to gas-utilization equipment allowed by NFPA 54-5.5.2.
D. 
Inspection required; final inspection. Upon completion of any heating, ventilation or air-conditioning installation, the permit holder shall notify the City's Inspection Division to arrange for a final inspection for one- and two-family residences. For public buildings, the permit holder shall notify the State Department of Safety and Professional Services for final inspection.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
E. 
Reinspections. Reinspection of work which was found to be in violation of the applicable codes shall incur a fee as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule.[3]
[3]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
F. 
Wisconsin Administrative Code; Building and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Code. All buildings which fall under the jurisdiction of Chapter SPS 364, as amended from time to time, shall have the heating, ventilation and air conditioning installed in compliance with these chapters.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
G. 
Uniform Dwelling Code. All buildings under the jurisdiction of the Uniform Dwelling Code or any other building not mentioned shall have heating, ventilation and air conditioning installed according to the standards of Chapters SPS 320 through 324, Wis. Adm. Code.
[Amended by Ord. No. 12-07]
[Added by Ord. No. 05-46; amended Ord. No. 12-07[1]]
The following requirements are in addition to the requirement in IBC Section 901.
A. 
Application for permit; plans and specifications.
(1) 
General. No person may install, erect or construct any fire alarm system or fire suppression system or add to, enlarge, move, improve, alter, convert, extend or demolish any fire alarm system or fire suppression system, or cause the same to be done, or commence any work covered by this chapter on any fire alarm system or fire suppression system without first obtaining a fire alarm/fire suppression system permit therefor from the Inspection Division. Such permit shall be issued in the name of the owner/contractor.
(2) 
Applications for fire alarm/fire suppression system permits shall be filed with the Building Inspector in writing on a form to be furnished for that purpose. Such application shall describe the land and/or structure upon which the proposed installation or work is to be done by a general description which will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed installation or work and shall show the use or occupancy of all parts of the building and such other pertinent information as may be required by the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector or any inspector of the Inspection Division shall, as a condition of granting a fire alarm/fire suppression system permit, have the right to enter the premises for which said permit was issued at any reasonable time during and throughout the course of such work and until final approval thereof has been granted, for the purpose of inspecting said premises and its compliance as to construction or use with all statutory and ordinance regulations in reference to the installation, modification, construction, repair, use and location of fire alarm/fire suppression systems.
(3) 
Working plans and specifications showing the location of each component element of the proposed fire alarm system and/or fire suppression system, all drawings, manufacturer's cut sheet for devices, calculations, material approvals, manufacturer's listed installations and design manuals, pre-engineered design specifications, design specifications, and the manufacturer model and type of each component element of such systems shall accompany every application for a permit and shall be filed in duplicate with the Building Inspector. If the installation involves a building meeting the criteria in § SPS 361.30(3), Wis. Adm. Code, the submittal will require approved plans by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. However, the Building Inspector may authorize the issuance of a permit without plans or specifications for minor or inconsequential work.
(a) 
Plans submitted shall be drawn to scale on substantial paper. The submitted plans shall be working plans of sufficient clarity to indicate the nature and character of the work proposed and to show that the regulations which apply will be complied with. They shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and shall bear the name of the designer, professional engineer, contractor or other person who prepared them.
(b) 
Specifications shall be in detail. Any specifications in which general expressions are used to the effect that "work shall be done in accordance with the IBC and SPS 316" or "to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector" shall be deemed imperfect and incomplete, and every reference to the IBC and Ch. SPS 316, Wis. Adm. Code, shall be to the section or subsection applicable to the material to be used or to the method of construction proposed.
(c) 
Automatic fire sprinkler system projects involving the alteration, addition or removal of fewer than 21 sprinklers in an already existing automatic fire sprinkler system must comply with the requirements of NFPA 1.
(d) 
Alterations to and/or modifications of an existing fire alarm system and/or fire suppression system may not, at the discretion of the Building Inspector, require a complete set of plans as set forth above; however, each such application for a permit shall include appropriate supporting documentation establishing that the proposed alterations/modifications comply with all appropriate codes, ordinances and standards.
(e) 
For state-owned buildings, plans shall be approved by the appropriate state agency. A permit is required for said projects; a copy of the state plan approval letter is required as part of the permit application. The Building Inspector shall inspect the fire protection systems in state-owned buildings. When a state agency specifies plan review and inspection by the City, a complete submittal is required.
(4) 
The data specified in all applicable IBC and Ch. SPS 316, Wis. Adm. Code, standards adopted by this chapter shall be part of or shall accompany all plans submitted for approval.
B. 
Fire alarm/suppression system permit.
(1) 
When plans are required for approval, they shall be submitted in duplicate and work shall not be started until plans are approved, except by special permission to start work as issued by the Building Inspector. If the plans and specifications are in conformity with the requirements of this chapter and all other laws or ordinances applicable thereto, the Building Inspector, upon receipt of the required fee, shall grant a fire alarm/suppression system permit for said work and shall sign, date and endorse in writing or by rubber stamp all sets of submitted plans; if compliance with other conditions is required, the plans may be stamped as "conditionally approved." In all such cases of conditional approval the Building Inspector shall return, with the approved plans, written notification of the conditions that must be satisfied. Whenever a submitted application is incomplete, the Building Inspector may suspend any action on such application and shall notify the applicant of the information needed to process such application.
(2) 
Approved plans shall not be changed. The work shall be installed as shown on the plans, and there shall be no modifications or alterations made without written permission of the Building Inspector.
(3) 
Fire alarm/suppression system permits shall lapse and be void unless the work authorized thereby is commenced within one year from the date thereof and completed or resumed within one year from the date that construction begins, and in the event of further construction after either of the latter of these time periods, a new permit must be obtained pursuant to all the requirements of the code then in force. The fee for such new permit shall be based upon the area (square footage of protected area) remaining to be done.
(4) 
If the Building Inspector shall find at any time that any provisions of this chapter, any other chapter in the City's Code, laws, orders, plans and/or specifications are not being complied with, he or she may revoke the fire alarm/fire suppression system permit by written notice, stating the error or violation which has occurred. Said notice shall be served on the owner and on the general contractor or one of her/his representatives on the job or, if there is no general contractor, then on the person in charge of the work. Service of the notice shall be either personal or by mailing a copy of said notice to the address of said person as known to the Building Inspector. When any such permit is revoked, it shall be unlawful to do any further work until a new permit is issued, excepting such work as the Building Inspector shall order to be done as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new permit or which the Building Inspector may authorize as reasonably necessary to protect work already done on the job, existing property, adjoining property and the public. Additionally, the Building Inspector may pursue any other remedies for noncompliance with this chapter, as such remedies may be set forth in the City's Code and/or the Wisconsin Statutes.
(5) 
The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans or specifications shall not be deemed or construed to be a permit for or an approval of any violation of any of the provisions of this chapter. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or to fail to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall be valid except insofar as the work or use that it authorizes is lawful. If subsequent to the issuance of a permit errors are discovered in the application, plans, specifications or execution of the work, the Building Inspector may require the correction of said errors in said application, plans, specifications or construction and may rescind the permit and prevent installation/work operations from continuing when in violation of this chapter or of any ordinance of the City of Watertown.
C. 
Fee schedule.
(1) 
Scope. The fees fixed in this section shall be assessed and collected by the Inspection Division for the inspection of fire alarm systems and fire suppression systems. These fees also include the inspection of newly installed/remodeled fire alarm systems and fire suppression systems. These fees are collected in advance from the owner or agent. This fee schedule applies to inspections done on buildings and premises within the City of Watertown.
(2) 
Fee schedule. Penalty for failure to obtain a permit before starting work shall be double the fees. This shall be in addition to any other penalties provided elsewhere in the City's Code; in addition, a penalty of $100 shall be assessed for each day that any work requiring a permit progresses without a permit, calculated from the date the notice of violation is delivered to either the property owner or the contractor performing the work until the date the owner or contractor submits the proper plans in an approved format to the Building Inspector.
(a) 
New systems. Except as otherwise specified in this section, inspection fees for new systems shall be computed on a single flat fee as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule.
(b) 
Alterations/modifications to existing systems.
[1] 
The fee as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule shall be assessed for inspection of fire alarm systems and fire suppression system that have been submitted.
[2] 
The fee as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule shall be assessed for revisions to previously approved plans and plans that have been previously reviewed but not denied.
(c) 
Private fire service mains and fire hydrants. The fee for review of plans for private fire service mains and fire hydrants shall be as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule for each system submitted.
(d) 
Reinspections. This fee applies to any reinspections required because the inspected work failed to pass inspection. The fee for reinspection shall be as set by the Common Council and provided under separate fee schedule.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).
The Inspection Division shall be notified by the permit holder or his authorized agent prior to the occurrence of the following events so that the Building Inspector may make his inspection:
A. 
The laying of any concrete for footings or garage slabs.
B. 
Completion of foundation and before backfilling.
C. 
Building rough-in has been completed, insulation installed, and before wall is enclosed.
D. 
Final inspection prior to occupancy.
[Amended by Ord. No. 79-43]
It shall be the duty of all police officers to report at once to the Building Inspector any building work which is being carried on without a permit.
No new building or structure shall be used or occupied and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the Building Inspector has made the final inspection and issued a occupancy permit.