[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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
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.
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:
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.
