[1983 Code; amended 8-16-1999]
A. 
No building or structure or any part thereof or appurtenance thereto shall hereafter be constructed, erected, altered, installed, added to, enlarged, repaired, converted, removed, demolished or maintained, nor shall the use, location or occupancy thereof be changed except in conformity with the provisions of this Title. No work for which a building permit is required under the terms of this Title or any work with respect to excavation or grading in preparation therefor, shall be commenced until the permit has been issued as herein provided.
B. 
No person shall construct, erect, alter, install, add to, enlarge, repair, convert, remove, demolish, use, locate, occupy or maintain a building or structure or any part or appurtenance thereof, or alter the use of any building or structure or part or appurtenance thereof, on any real estate within the limits of the Village, without first obtaining a separate building permit for each such building or structure or part or appurtenance thereof from the Village Clerk in the manner hereinafter set forth.
C. 
Permits required. An application shall be submitted for the following activities, and these activities shall not commence without a permit being issued in accordance with the codes and ordinances of the Village of Thornton.
1. 
Construct or alter a structure.
2. 
Construct an addition.
3. 
Demolish or move a structure.
4. 
Make a change of occupancy.
5. 
Install or alter any equipment regulated by the Village's codes and ordinances.
6. 
Move a lot line which affects an existing structure.
7. 
To excavate or change any grades as regulated under the Village's codes and ordinances.
D. 
Repairs. Application and permits are not required for ordinary repairs to structures. Such repairs shall not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any beam, column, or other structural support; or the removal or change of any means of egress, or the rearranging of any part of a structure affecting the means of egress; nor shall ordinary repairs include addition to, or alteration of, fire protection features or systems, or detection or alarm systems; water supply, sewer, drain, soil, gas, waste, or vent piping; electrical wiring, or mechanical or other work regulated under this title.
[1983 Code]
The owner or his agent of said real estate shall make application to the Village Clerk for said permit as above set forth and shall file with the Building Commissioner a written application on a form furnished by said Village Clerk stating the name of the real estate, or his agent, the name of the contractor or contractors, if any, the location of the proposed building or buildings to be constructed, erected, altered, installed, added to, enlarged, repaired, converted, removed or demolished, the nature or the proposed construction, alteration or repairs and containing an undertaking by the owner or his agent or the contractor that if the permit be granted the work will be done in accordance with the plans and specifications, the provisions of the permit and the Village ordinances. The application, except for repairs to, demolition or removal of a building, shall be accompanied by a plat of survey made by a registered land surveyor. It shall show the location of the proposed building or structure or the proposed alteration on the real estate, and complete plans and specifications shall be furnished with the application. The Village Clerk shall refer said application along with any accompanying documents to the Building Commissioner who shall examine the application, survey where applicable, the plans and specifications and approve the issuance of a building permit in the event said proposed construction, erection, alteration, installation, addition, enlargement, repair, conversion, removal or demolition of any building or any part thereof conforms to all requirements of the ordinances of the Village. All permit fees shall be paid to the Village.
[1983 Code]
A. 
Plans and specifications filed with an application shall be filed in duplicate. Plans shall be drawn to a scale of not less than 1/8 inch to the one foot except that for sheds or private garages not more than 12 feet high and of not more than 250 square feet in area and for ordinary alterations and repairs scale drawings shall not be required. The plans shall show the location of all sources of water and sewage disposal facilities, the location, character and connection of plumbing and electrical fixtures, the location and dimensions of the foundation, basement or cellar, and of all floors and of the roof, and also show the elevation. Said plans shall also show the means by which storm water shall be drained from said real estate.
B. 
All plans and specifications shall be approved by the Building Commissioner and each sheet thereof shall be so stamped before a permit is issued in connection therewith. In the event of an emergency or absence of the Building Commissioner the Village Engineer may approve plans and specifications as so designated by the Village Board.
C. 
No plans and specifications shall be approved for a permit unless such plans are signed and sealed either by an architect licensed to practice architecture by the Illinois Architectural Act or by a structural engineer licensed to practice.
[1983 Code]
All work performed under a permit issued hereunder shall conform to the approved application and plans, and any approved amendments thereto. It shall be unlawful for any owner, agent, architect, structural engineer, contractor, or builder engaged in erecting, altering or repairing any building to make any departure from the drawings or plans as approved by the Building Commissioner, of a nature which involves any violation of the provisions of this Title on which the permit has been issued. Any such departure from the approved drawings or plans involving a violation of requirements shall operate to annul the permit which has been issued for such work and shall render the permit void.
[1983 Code]
Every permit issued hereunder shall expire one year after its date unless work has been commenced under it in the meantime, and may be revoked or cancelled by the Building Commissioner, on notice, at any time after abandonment or discontinuance of the work for a continuous period of six months. If a permit expires before any work is done, all fees and deposits made in connection therewith shall be returned less a service fee of $10 which shall be retained by the Village Clerk. If a permit is terminated because of abandonment after work has commenced, the permittee shall restore the site to its condition prior to the beginning of the work, and if he fails so to do within a reasonable time, the Village may so restore the site at the permittee's expense and any representative of the Village may enter upon the real estate for that purpose. In such case, the Village shall reimburse itself, for any expenses incurred, from the amount received for fees and deposits on issuance of the permit, and the balance if any, shall be returned to the permittee, less a service charge of $10 which shall be retained by the Village. If the expense incurred by the Village is more than the fees deposited, the permittee shall pay the excess to the Village on demand.
[1983 Code]
A permit which has expired or has been revoked or cancelled may be renewed, if the work thereby authorized is permitted by ordinances in force at the time of renewal, upon filing an application for such renewal and upon the payment of all amounts remaining due for fees and deposits upon the original permit, and a renewal fee of $10.
[1983 Code]
A. 
It shall be the responsibility of the permittee, as well as the duty of all contractors and subcontractors to call for each of the following inspections, 24 hours prior to each inspection:
Footing Inspection
Sewer and Water Ground Work
Plumbing Rough
Electrical Service
Electrical Rough
Framing
Plumbing Final
Electrical Final
Construction Final
Occupancy
B. 
No work shall be done on any part of the building or structure beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the written approval of the Building Commissioner. Such written approval shall be given only after an inspection shall have been made of each successive step in the construction. There shall be a final inspection and approval on all buildings when completed and ready for occupancy.
C. 
Work requiring a building permit shall not be commenced until the permit holder or his agent shall have posted an inspection record card in a conspicuous place on the front of the premises and in such position as to allow the Building Commissioner to make the required entries thereon regarding inspection of the work. This card shall be maintained in such position by the permit holder until the certificate of occupancy has been issued.
D. 
In the event the permittee, contractor or a subcontractor shall request an inspection and it is found by the Building Commissioner that the construction, erection or installation does not meet the requirements of this Title, or other applicable ordinances, and that an additional inspection shall be made, the permittee, contractor or subcontractor shall pay to the Village Clerk a fee of $3 for each such additional inspection.
E. 
In the event any construction, erection, alteration, installation, addition to, enlargement, conversion of or repair of any building or any part thereof or appurtenance thereto shall be done in violation of the provisions of this Title, or is being done or has been done without permit or permits required therefor by any of the provisions of this Title or any other ordinances of the Village, or is being done or has been done contrary to the drawings or plans as approved by the Building Commissioner, the Building Commissioner is hereby empowered and required forthwith to issue a stop order directing enlargement, conversion of or repair of any building or structure or any part thereof or appurtenance thereto, to cease immediately. If after work is being done or has been done, the Building Commissioner may, among other remedies provided by law, petition the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois for an injunction as provided by law against the continuing of such work.