Editor's Note — Ord. no. A-278 §1, adopted June 12, 1997, repealed ch. 500 in its entirety. Former ch. 500 derived from CC 1997 §§500.010 — 500.050. Ord. no. A-289 §1, adopted 11-10-1997 set forth the following provisions as ch. 500.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(1 — 9), 11-10-1997]
A. 
A person or persons, partnership, firm, corporation or other business association intending to construct or improve or alter the outside dimensions of a building or other structure shall, before proceeding with said work, or commencing excavation in connection therewith, file with the City Clerk, a written application designating the kind of building, structure or addition, or character or extent of alteration which he/she intends to erect or make, materials of which the same is to be composed, the legal description and location of the real estate, the part or portion of the real estate to be occupied by the building or improvements, the approximate costs thereof and a detailed description of type of construction and materials used therein, and together with such plans and specifications as may be required by the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen and shall obtain a permit therefore as hereinafter provided.
B. 
No enclosure wall of any building thereinafter constructed for residence purpose shall be nearer than twenty (20) feet to the street line right-of-way on the front of any lot, nor greater than ten (10) feet to the street line on the side of any corner lot, nor nearer than five (5) feet from any other side lot line, and along any street where one-half (½) or more of the lots between any two (2) cross streets are already improved by dwellings, no enclosure wall of any building hereafter constructed shall in any event be set nearer to the street than the average distance of the building already constructed.
C. 
No "nuisance or unsightly" buildings (see Section 500.020 — 500.030) without good cause, shall be erected or shall buildings on houses be allowed to remain in an unfinished condition in said City for a period of over nine (9) months for the purposes of this Section, a basement structure without living accommodations above it shall be considered an unsightly building and one in an unfinished condition, it shall be unlawful to allow buildings or houses to remain in an unsafe, demolished or damaged condition for a period of over sixty (60) days.
D. 
No building or premises in any part of the City shall be used for any trade, industry or purpose that is noxious or offensive by reason of emission of odor, smoke, gas, fumes or noise or that is detrimental to the public health, safety or welfare.
E. 
Upon filing of said application, the City Clerk shall refer the same to the Building Inspector and shall then determine whether the permit shall be issued, provided that should there be some doubt as to the advisability of issuing a permit the Building Inspector may, refer application to the Board of Aldermen at the next regular scheduled meeting.
F. 
At the time of filing of any application as aforesaid, the City Clerk shall charge and collect in advance of issuance of a building permit the following fees:
[Ord. No. A-562, 5-11-2020]
1. 
A twenty-five dollar ($25.00) fee for each inspection by the Building Inspector required; and
2. 
A fee based on the valuation of the costs of construction as provided in Subsection (A) above, and as corroborated by the Building Inspector, said fee to consist of twenty dollars ($20.00) for the first five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) cost of construction, increasing by two dollars ($2.00) for each additional one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) costs of construction up to a maximum fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
Said fees shall be the property of the City of Lockwood and shall be paid over to the City Treasurer for credit to the General Fund of the City.
G. 
Upon receiving the application as aforesaid, the Building Inspector shall determine if the structure conforms to grade, ordinances and regulations of this City, and that if no good cause of any nature exists why said work should not be done, then said Building Inspector shall approve the same with the provisions of this Chapter.
H. 
Where there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in the way of carrying out the provisions of this Chapter, the Board of Aldermen, by resolution, may prescribe in a specific case a variation in the application of any provisions, in harmony with the general purpose and intent of this Chapter so that the public health, safety and welfare may be conserved, and the Board of Aldermen may grant temporary and conditional permits, of nor more than one (1) year duration for structures and uses not permitted by this Chapter, but which are necessary for the development of said City.
I. 
It shall be unlawful for any contractor or other person to engage in the actual work of erecting any building or other structure within limits of this City or making any alterations on any such building or structure, to proceed with any work until he/she knows the owner has obtained a permit as in this Chapter provided. The fine for this shall be fifty dollars ($50.00).
[Ord. No. A-301 §1, 7-13-1998; Ord. No. A-497, 4-10-2017]
Under this Chapter 500, a building inspector shall be appointed by the Board of Aldermen from time to time to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(10), 11-10-1997]
Unsightly" as utilized in this Chapter shall be defined as a condition of premises that is unhealthy, dangerous to individuals public or private, as presenting harm to other property values in the area. Before a condition can be determined as unsightly there must be actual notice to the owner with opportunity for hearing before the Board of Aldermen. The determination of what is and is not unsightly can only be made by the City of Lockwood Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. A-505, 6-15-2017]
A. 
All residences, whether a single-family home, multi-family home (duplex) or multiple unit housing, such as apartments, be kept in good physical shape and not be a nuisance.
B. 
A house in disrepair includes any of the following:
1. 
Any attached fixtures such as: shutters, gutters or railings not securely attached to the residence.
2. 
Any window panes or glass that is broken and any doors that will not securely shut.
3. 
Dead, or dying diseased trees or landscaping causing imminent danger to the inhabitants of the house or any other citizen.
4. 
Structural problems, including, but not limited to: sagging roofs, sunken or broken driveways and sidewalks, holes in exterior walls or roof.
5. 
Aesthetics, including, but not limited to: peeling paint, missing roofing shingles, no yard (dead grass or plain dirt).
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation who is owning, occupying, renting or leasing any real estate to cause, create or maintain a nuisance as defined by this Section within the City of Lockwood.
D. 
Notice To Abate Nuisance. If a residence is found to be in violation of this Section, a written notice will be mailed to the residence giving the resident thirty (30) days to correct the nuisance stated in the violation letter. The Code Enforcement Officer may authorize a deadline or extension in excess of thirty (30) days if warranted due to the cost and/or time required to abate the nuisance. If the nuisance creates a dangerous situation that is imminent, the Code Enforcement Officer may set a deadline that is less than thirty (30) days. If a mailing address for the resident (out of town owners, etc.) is unable to be located, a copy of the notice will be prominently posted on the premises.
E. 
Unlawful To Comply With The Nuisance Violation Letter. Any property owner, or person occupying or in possession of real estate, whether he/she be the owner or not, who fails to correct the nuisance within the deadline in the written or posted notice shall be deemed guilty of this Section.
F. 
Penalty. Any person violating any provision of this Section shall upon conviction thereof, be fined in an amount not less than one dollar ($1.00) and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days. Each day the violation is not corrected after the specified timeframe, shall constitute a separate offense and shall be punishable as such hereunder.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(11), 11-10-1997]
When an existing building is damaged by fire or other cause or if alterations and repairs are made to an extent of fifty percent (50%) or more of the physical value of the building before such damage or alteration, the entire building or structure shall be made to comply with the requirements of this Chapter for new buildings. If the cost of such alterations or repairs is less than fifty percent (50%) of the physical value of the building, the building official shall determine to what extent the portions so altered or repaired shall be made to conform to the requirements of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(12), 11-10-1997]
When a structure is to be removed or demolished, the owner/agent shall notify the City Board of Aldermen and apply for a permit and get a bond before said work shall begin.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(13), 11-10-1997]
All buildings or structures shall have foundation walls, piers, piles, cassion continuous slabs or other approved foundations which shall be designed to resist frost action or shall be founded in the bed rock. All footings shall be designed to distribute the load as nearly uniformly as practicable. The frost line in the Lockwood, Missouri area shall be deemed to be eighteen (18) inches.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(14), 11-10-1997]
Footings shall be built of poured concrete reinforced with no less than two (2) one-half (½) inch reinforcing rods continuous with ends staggered and lapped not less than eight (8) inches.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(15), 11-10-1997]
Foundations shall be built upon natural solid ground where possible. Loam or other soil containing organic matter shall not be used. Where solid natural ground does not occur at the foundation depth, such foundations shall be extended down to the natural solid ground or piles shall be used.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(16), 11-10-1997]
All exterior walls and interior bearing walls shall be supported on continuous cured concrete footings reinforced with at least two (2) one-half (½) inch reinforced rods. Foundation wall, if built of concrete blocks, shall be reinforced with (block mesh) in every other course. Block mesh shall be continuous and lapped not less than six (6) inches.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(17), 11-10-1997]
Wall footings for all buildings where the surface of the ground slopes more than one (1) foot in ten (10) feet shall be level or shall be stepped so that both the top and the bottom of such foundation are level.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(18), 11-10-1997]
Foundation plates or sills shall be of lumber or timber that is sound, free of rot and large knots, and shall be of structural grade corresponding to the stresses used in design. Foundation plates or sills shall be bolted to the foundation with not less than three-eighths (⅜) inch bolts embedded at least six (6) inches into the masonry and spaced not more than four (4) feet apart.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(19), 11-10-1997]
Footings and foundations for all buildings and structure shall be at least twenty (20) inches wide and at least eight (8) inches deep.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(20), 11-10-1997]
The space between the bottom of the floor joist and the ground of any building (except as is occupied by a basement or cellar) shall be provided with a sufficient number of ventilating openings through the foundation wall or exterior walls to insure ample ventilation and such openings shall be covered with wire mesh not greater than one-fourth (¼) inch in any dimension.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(21), 11-10-1997]
The minimum between the bottom of the floor joist and the ground beneath shall be at least twenty (20) inches. The minimum clearance under girders or beams shall be not less than fourteen (14) inches.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(22), 11-10-1997]
All lumber or timbers used in construction of wood frame buildings or structures shall be of a grade three (3) or better, no wood floor beam, roof beam, joist, rafter or framing timber shall be less than two (2) inches in thickness.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(23), 11-10-1997]
All lumber used in sub-floor shall be of one (1) inch thickness, except plywood which shall be three quarters (¾) inches in thickness.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(24), 11-10-1997]
In all floor, attic and flat joist framing there shall be not less than one (1) line of bridging for each eight (8) feet of span and the material used shall be not less than one by three (1 x 3) lumber double-nailed at each end or equivalent metal bridging may be used.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(25), 11-10-1997]
In the construction of buildings for residential occupancy, the studs in walls and partitions may be placed where it faces parallel to the wall or partition, provided the studs are considered as columns and are designed accordingly. Stud walls shall have top and have bottom plates. Studs shall be no less than two by four (2 x 4) inches nailed on sixteen (16) inch centers.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(26), 11-10-1997]
Plates which are used in exterior walls to support ceiling joist and rafters shall be double of the same width as the supporting studs are, each not less than two (2) inches thick. In non-bearing walls, the studs shall be the same as for exterior walls, except where studs are more than two by four (2 x 4).
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(27), 11-10-1997]
Roof rafters shall be vertically supported at the ridge or shall be adequately trussed or tied together with not less than one by six (1 x 6) collar beams and shall be one-third (⅓) the distance from the top of rafter to the seat of the rafter and each rafter shall be fastened to the wall plate.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(28), 11-10-1997]
The joints of solid or built up beams or girders shall be made over a column or pier supports when constructed as simple spans.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(29), 11-10-1997]
All windows and door openings shall have double studs for the full height of the opening of the jam with double headers over the said opening.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(30), 11-10-1997]
Roof deck sheeting shall consist of not less than one (1) inch boards or of five-eights (⅝) inch plywood or of other approved materials of equivalent strength.
[Ord. No. A-289 §1(31), 11-10-1997]
Any structure for which a permit has been issued by the City of Lockwood, Missouri whether that structure be new construction or old construction shall be started ninety (90) days from the date of permit issuance unless good cause is shown to the Board of Aldermen by the permit holder that an extension should be granted. Likewise, any structure, or construction requiring any permit shall be completed within one (1) year of the date of issuance of the permit unless said permit holder appears before the Lockwood Board of Aldermen and for good cause requests an extension of time. Said extension of time may or may not be granted by the City of Lockwood with respect to the request for extension.