[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Catawissa 5-10-1973 by Ord. No. 215 (Ch. 4, Part 1, of the 1983 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Unsafe buildings — See Ch. 141.
Sidewalk construction — See Ch. 287, Art. V.
[Amended 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. 232]
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, firm or corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, the construction, reconstruction, enlargement, alteration, repair or relocation of any building or structure or to remove or demolish or change the occupancy of a building so as to require greater strength on stairways or exitways, or change to a permitted use, unless an approved building permit has been obtained from the appointed Code Enforcement Officer, except to paint the interior or exterior, to put on a new or repair an old roof, lay new sidewalks or repair old sidewalks, install rain spouting and replace old or install new furnaces. A permit shall be required whenever a sidewalk is blocked. All such permits shall expire at the expiration of six months from date of issue unless work thereunder has commenced.
B. 
A building permit shall not be required for repairs to existing buildings or structures, provided that no structural changes or modifications are involved; and providing further that the costs of such alterations and repairs shall not exceed the sum of $300.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:
BUILDING
A combination of materials to form a permanent structure having walls and a roof. Included shall be all mobile homes and trailers to be used for human habitation.
PERSON
Any person, persons, partnership, business or corporation.
STRUCTURE
A combination of materials to form anything permanently affixed to or in the ground or to any other building or structure permanently affixed to or in the ground. Included shall be such things as driveways, carports, porches, swimming pools, etc.
Application for such a building permit shall be made, in writing, to the appointed Code Enforcement Officer on forms supplied by the Borough. Such application shall contain at least the following:
A. 
The name and address of the applicant.
B. 
The name and address of the owner of the land on which proposed construction is to occur.
C. 
The name and address of the contractor.
D. 
The site location.
E. 
A brief description of the proposed work and estimated cost.
F. 
A plan of the site showing the exact size and location of the proposed construction as well as any existing buildings or structures.
[Amended 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. 232]
The application for a permit shall be submitted to the appointed Code Enforcement Officer accompanied by a description or plan of work intended to be done, who shall issue the permit applied for upon ascertaining that the proposed work to be done thereunder shall be in conformity with all applicable requirements and regulations. No permit shall be issued without payment of the required fees.
After the issuance of a building permit by the appointed Code Enforcement 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 appointed Code Enforcement Officer.
In addition to the building permit, the appointed Code Enforcement 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 and the date of its issuance and be signed by the appointed Code Enforcement Officer.
Work on the proposed construction shall begin within six months after the date of issuance of the building permit, or the permit shall expire unless a time extension is granted, in writing, by the appointed Code Enforcement Officer. Construction shall be considered to have started with the first placement of permanent construction of the site, such as the pouring of slabs or footings or any work beyond the stage of excavation. For a structure without a basement or poured footings, the start of construction includes the first permanent framing or assembly of the structure or any part thereof on its pilings or foundation, or the affixing of any permanent framing or assembly of the structure or any part thereof on its pilings or foundation, or the affixing of any prefabricated structure or mobile home to its permanent site. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, land clearing, grading, filling; excavation for basement, footings, piers, or foundations; the erection of temporary forms; the installation of piling under proposed subsurface footings; or the installation of sewer, gas, and water pipes, or electric or other service lines from the street.
During the construction period, the appointed Code Enforcement Officer or other authorized official may inspect the premises to determine that the work is progressing in compliance with the information provided on the permit application and with all applicable municipal laws and ordinances. In the event the appointed Code Enforcement Officer discovers that the work does not comply with the permit application or any applicable laws and ordinances, or that there has been a false statement or misrepresentation by any applicant, the appointed Code Enforcement Officer shall revoke the building permit and report such fact to the Borough Council for whatever action it considers necessary.
[Amended 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. 232; 6-9-1983 by Ord. No. 268; 6-5-1989 by Ord. No. 299]
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 appointed Code Enforcement Officer at the following rates:
A. 
Estimated costs of $0 to $500: fee of $10.
B. 
Estimated costs of $501 to $1,000: fee of $20.
C. 
Estimated costs of $1,001 to $10,000: fee of $20 plus $8 per $1,000, or part thereof.
D. 
Estimated costs of $10,001 to $100,000: fee of $92 plus $4 per $1,000 over $10,000.
E. 
Estimated costs of $100,001 and over: fee of $552 plus $2 per $1,000 over $100,000.
Any person aggrieved by the appointed Code Enforcement Officer's estimate of the cost of the proposed construction may appeal to the Borough Council. Such appeal must be filed, in writing, within 30 days after the determination by the appointed Code Enforcement Officer. Upon receipt of such appeal, the Borough Council shall set a time and place not less than 10 nor more than 30 days later for the purpose of hearing the appeal. Notice of the time and place of the hearing of the appeal shall be given to all parties, at which time they may appear and be heard. The determination of the estimated cost by the Borough Council shall be final in all cases.
[Amended 6-9-1983 by Ord. No. 268]
Any person who fails to comply with any or all of the requirements or provisions of this chapter or who fails or refuses to comply with any notice, order or direction of the appointed Code Enforcement Officer, or any other authorized employee of the municipality, shall be guilty of an offense and, upon conviction, shall pay a fine to the Borough of Catawissa of not more than $300 plus costs of prosecution, and/or shall be imprisoned in county prison for a period not to exceed 90 days. Each day during which any violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense. In addition to the above penalties, all other remedies 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 noncompliances within a reasonable time. Any structure or building constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, altered or relocated in noncompliance with this chapter may be declared by the Borough Council to be a public nuisance and abatable as such.