City of Bridgman, MI Article IV Building and Occupancy Permits

§ 470-39 Building permits not to be issued prior to final approved plan.

A. No construction or building permit shall be issued for the construction of any public improvement, infrastructure, building, structure, or improvement in the project or on any parcel if the parcel is not a properly created lot of record, nor until a final subdivision plan, as required by this chapter, shall have been approved and recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds of Berrien County and filed with the City Clerk of the City of Bridgman.

B. No construction above foundation can occur until a suitable access road is in place able to carry fire department vehicles and emergency vehicles and the water system, if any, serving the project has been installed and is operational.

§ 470-40 Issuance of building permits by City.

No building permit shall be issued for the construction of any building, structure, or improvement to land or any lot within a project, as defined herein, which has been approved for development until all requirements of this chapter have been fully approved, unless by stipulation or by agreement between the City Council and the developer.

§ 470-41 Issuance of occupancy permits by City.

No structure or building shall be occupied or used unless and until an occupancy permit shall be issued therefor by the Building Inspector. No occupancy permit shall be issued for any structure within a project approved for development until all public improvements and utility services have been installed and made ready to service the structure, except as modified by stipulation or agreement between the City Council and the developer.

§ 470-42 Specifications for issuance of certificates of occupancy.

The Building Administrator shall not issue a certificate of occupancy for any building or structure until the following specifications have been met:

A. No final certificate of occupancy shall be granted for the use of any building or structure on a lot subject to this chapter until:

(1) Required sanitary sewer and water service has been installed and made ready for servicing the parcel, by having obtained proper Berrien County Health Department well and septic permits or Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) permits to operate and have passed mandel, air pressure, chlorination and all required testing by the City Engineer, and

(2) Sidewalks, trees, and sod or seeding are completed in the right-of-way or street servicing the parcel and, if a subdivision or condominium:

(a) Lots in a subdivision rough graded;

(b) Stormwater runoff provided for; and

(c) Roadways and/or fire lanes providing access to the lot and subdivision have been proof rolled and paved with the binder course of asphalt.

B. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued for any structure or building unless the Building Administrator and/or City Engineer certify that the public improvements required by this chapter for the site have been installed in conformity with approved plans and specifications. In the event that weather conditions prevent completion of all public improvements and at the discretion and with the approval of the City Council, a cash escrow payment, or letter of credit, equal to 125% of the amount of all incomplete improvements shall be filed with the City to ensure that improvements will be completed within 30 days of the onset of the next building season. The filing of this cash escrow and written guarantee shall allow for the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, and in no other instance unless otherwise approved by the City Council.