City of Davenport, IA PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS

[Ord. 2002-180 § 1 (part)]

Permits Required. No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building, sign or structure or make any installation, alteration, repair, or replacement to any building service equipment regulated by the administrative code and the technical codes, except as specified in subsection B of this section, or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate, appropriate permit for each building, structure, sign or building service equipment from the building official.

Exempted Work. A permit shall not be required for the types of work in each of the separate classes of permit as listed below. Exemption from the permit requirements of the administrative code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in violation of the provisions of the technical codes or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.

Building Permits. A building permit will not be required for the following:

One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the projected roof area does not exceed 120 square feet and is located on the property in compliance with zoning regulations, building code setback requirements and/or trailer court regulations;

Fences on residential property not over six feet high;

Oil derricks;

Movable cases, counters and partitions not over five feet nine inches high;

Retaining walls which are not over four feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids; any wood or landscape timber walls;

Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed two to one;

Platforms, decks, walks and driveways on private property not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below and not attached to any structure;

Painting, papering, carpet, resilient flooring and similar finish work;

Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery;

Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of Group R, Division 3, and Group U Occupancies when projecting not more than 54 inches;

Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches in depth and not over 5,000 gallons, provided such swimming pools shall meet the fencing and enclosure requirements contained elsewhere in the technical codes.

[9-9-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-375]

Unless otherwise exempted by the administrative code, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted items.

Plumbing Permits. A plumbing permit will not be required for the following:

The stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipe; provided, however, that should any concealed trap, drainpipe, soil, waste or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection made as provided in the administrative code.

The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, nor for the removal and reinstallation of water closets provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

The installation of portable type spa equipment not connected to the building plumbing or drainage system.

The installation of swimming pools not connected to the building plumbing or drainage system. This permit exemption shall not apply to mechanical equipment normally regulated by the technical codes.

Lawn sprinkler systems except that the riser connection and backflow device necessary to provide water to such system shall be installed only by permit as required by the administrative code.

Electrical Permits. An electrical permit will not be required for the following:

Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved receptacle when that cord or cable is permitted by the electrical code;

Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers or fixed approved appliances of the same type and rating in the same location;

Temporary decorative lighting;

Repair or replacement of current-carrying parts of any switch, contractor or control device;

Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets thereof;

Repair or replacement of any overcurrent device of the required capacity in the same location;

Repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and capacity for signs or gas tube systems;

Taping joints;

Removal of electrical wiring;

Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental laboratories;

The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture or television stage sets;

Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy;

Low-energy power, control and signal circuits of Classes II and III as defined in Article 720, 725 and 800 of the National Electrical Code.

A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair of electrical wiring apparatus or equipment or the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electrical energy or in the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence by the public or private utility in the exercise of its function as a serving utility.

Mechanical Permits. A mechanical permit will not be required for the following:

Any portable heating appliance;

Any portable ventilating equipment;

Any portable cooling unit;

Any portable evaporative cooler;

Any closed system of steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by the mechanical code;

Replacement of any component part of assembly of an appliance which does not alter its original approval and complies with other applicable requirements of the technical codes;

Any refrigerating equipment which is part of the equipment for which a permit has been issued pursuant to the requirements of the technical codes;

Any unit refrigerating system as defined in the mechanical code.

Separate Permits. Separate permits are required for each of the four classes of work (new construction and remodeling or repair) as follows:

Type of Work	Permit Required
General construction new or repair	Building permit
Electrical construction	Electrical permit
Heating construction, air conditioning, fireplaces, heating stoves, boiler process piping, other mechanical installation	Mechanical permit
Plumbing, drainage, piping construction	Plumbing permit

Special Permits. Special permits are required for miscellaneous items as follows:

Type of Work	Permit Required
Moving building	Moving permit
Signs (see sign ordinance)	Sign permit
Temporary structures	Temporary permit
Demolition or wrecking	Wrecking permit

15.08.305 Application for permit.

[Ord. 2002-180 § 1 (part)]

Application. To obtain a permit, the applicant shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form furnished by the code enforcement agency for that purpose. Every such application shall, if deemed appropriate by the building official:

Identify and describe the work to be covered by the permit for which application is made;

Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be done by legal description, land survey and street address or similar description that will readily identify and definitely locate the proposed building or work;

Indicate the use or occupancy for which the proposed work is intended;

Be accompanied by plans, diagrams, computations and specifications and other data as required in subsection B of this section;

State the valuation of any new building or structure or any addition, remodeling or alteration to an existing building;

Be signed by the applicant, or his authorized agent, who may be required to submit evidence to indicate such authority;

Submit a plot plan showing dimensions of property and locations of proposed (and existing) improvements and such other information as may be necessary for checking compliance of proposed improvements with the requirements of the building code and zoning ordinance. Support this with an approved certificate of survey, executed by a land surveyor registered under the laws of the state of Iowa;

A list of all contractors and subcontractors on the form provided for same. The building official may issue a permit subject to submission of this list at some specific later date;

Contain a tentative schedule for required inspections on the form provided. Contractor (applicant) shall advise the building official at least one day in advance of any revisions to the inspection schedule. Contractor (applicant) shall post a copy of the inspection schedule and revisions to it at the job site with the posted building permit;

10.

Give such other data and information as may be required by the building official.

Plans and Specifications. Plans, engineering calculations, diagrams and other data shall be submitted in one or more sets with each application for a permit. The building official may require plans, computations and specifications to be prepared and designed by an engineer or architect licensed by the state to practice as such. Plans and other data, when so designed, shall bear the seal of the licensed architect or engineer at the direction of the building official.

The engineer or architect responsible for the structural design work shall include in the construction documents any special inspections and other structural inspections required by the engineer or architect.

EXCEPTION: The building official may waive the submission of plans, calculations, etc., if he finds that the nature of the work applied for is such that reviewing of plans is not necessary to obtain compliance with the administrative code and the technical codes.

Information on Plans and Specifications. Plans and specifications shall be drawn to scale upon substantial paper, or cloth, and shall be of sufficient clarity to indicate the location, nature and extent of the work proposed and show in detail that it will conform to the provisions of the technical codes and all relevant laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.

Erosion Control Plans.

At the direction of the City engineer, before any person, firm or corporation is issued a building permit they must submit to and have approved by the building official plans to control soil erosion which conform to the regulations pursuant to the Davenport Municipal Code.

15.08.310 Permit issuance.

[Ord. 2002-180 § 1 (part)]

Issuance. The application, plans and specifications, and other data filed by an applicant for permit shall be reviewed by the building official. Such plans may be reviewed by other departments of this jurisdiction to verify compliance with any applicable laws under their jurisdiction. If the building official finds that the work described in an application for a permit and the plans, specifications and other data filed therewith conform to the administrative code and the technical codes and other pertinent laws and ordinances and that the fees specified in Section 15.08.315 of the administrative code have been paid, he shall issue a permit therefor to the applicant.

When the building official issues the permit where plans are required, such approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified or altered without authorizations from the building official, and all work shall be done in accordance with the approved plans and the technical codes.

The building official may issue a permit for the construction of part of a building, structure or building service equipment before the entire plans and specifications for the whole building, structure or building service equipment have been submitted or approved, provided adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with all pertinent requirements of the technical codes. The holder of such permit shall proceed at his own risk without assurance that the permit for the entire building, structure or building service will be granted.

Retention of Plans. One set of approved plans and specifications shall be kept on the site of the building work at all times during which the work authorized thereby is in progress. One set of approved plans, specifications and computations shall be retained by the building official until final approval of the work.

Validity of Permit. The issuance 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 of the provisions of the administrative code or the technical codes, or of any other ordinance of the jurisdiction. No permit presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of these codes shall be valid.

The issuance of a permit based upon plans, specifications and other data shall not prevent the building official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in the plans, specifications and other data, or from halting building operations being carried on when in violation of these codes or of any other ordinances of this jurisdiction.

Expiration. Every permit issued by the building official under the provisions of the technical codes shall expire by limitation and become null and void, if the building or work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 180 days from the date of such permit, or if the building or work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned at any time after the work is commenced for a period of 180 days. Before such work can be recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained, and the fee therefor shall be one-half the amount required for a new permit for such work, provided no changes have been made, or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work; and provided further, that such suspension or abandonment has not exceeded one year.

Any permittee may apply for an extension of the time within which he may commence work under that permit when he is unable to commence work within the time required by this section for good and satisfactory reasons. The building official may extend the time for action by the permittee for a period not exceeding 180 days upon written request by the permittee showing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented action from being taken. No permit shall be extended more than once. In order to renew action on a permit after expiration, the permittee shall pay a new full permit fee.

Suspension or Revocation. The building official may suspend or revoke a permit if issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of these codes.

Continuance of Work. Subsequent to the issuance of a valid permit, no person, firm or corporation shall cease the activity necessary to bring the construction, repair or alteration of any building or structure or building service equipment to a condition allowing the final approval of the building official. Activity shall continue in a reasonable manner until final completion of such work and in no case shall such activity cease for a period of 180 days from the last recorded activity as contained on the permit issued.

15.08.315 Fees.

[Ord. 2003-619 § 1; Ord. 2002-180 § 1 (part)]

Permit Fees. The City Council by resolution shall set the amount of fee for each permit and plan review. Where a technical code has been adopted by the jurisdiction for which no fee schedule is shown in the administrative code, the fee required shall be in accordance with the schedule established by the legislative body by resolution.

The determination of value or valuation under any of the provisions of this section shall be made by the building official. The value to be used in computing the building permit and building plan review fees shall be the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued as well as all finish work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, elevators, fire-extinguishing systems and any other permanent equipment. For the purposes of this section, the value of construction work shall include, but not be limited to, the costs for labor charges, material charges, equipment costs, contractors profit, subcontractors charges, overhead charges, and other costs incurred in the replacement, repair, alteration, construction and installation of buildings and structures and building service equipment.

Plan Review Fees. When a plan or other data are required to be submitted by subsection B of Section 15.08.305, a plan review fee shall be paid at the time of submitting plans and specifications for review. The plan review fee for buildings or structures shall be 65% of the building permit fee as established by resolution.

The plan review fee for handicapped access as required by Division Seven of the Iowa State Building Code shall be established by resolution.

The plan review fees for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work shall be equal to 25% of the total permit fee as established by resolution.

Plan review fees shall be waived for those submissions for which a permit is secured and the fees are paid.

Where plans are incomplete or changed so as to require additional plan review, an additional plan review fee shall be charged at the rate as established by resolution.

Expiration of Plan Review. Application for which no permit is issued within 60 days following the date of application shall expire by limitation, and plans and other data submitted for review may thereafter be returned to the applicant or destroyed by the building official. The building official may extend the time for action by the applicant for a period not exceeding 180 days upon request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being taken.

Investigation Fees. Whenever any work for which a permit is required by the administrative code has been commenced without first obtaining the permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.

An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be as set forth in Section 15.08.315A. The minimum investigation fee shall be the same as the minimum fee as established by resolution. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of either the administrative code or the technical codes nor from any penalty prescribed by law.

Reinspections. A reinspection fee may be assessed for each inspection or reinspection when such portion of work for which inspection is called is not complete or when corrections called for are not made. To obtain a reinspection, the applicant shall file a request thereof in a manner prescribed by the building official, and pay the reinspection fee as established by resolution.

Fee refunds. The building official may authorize the refunding of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.

The building official may authorize the refunding of not more than 75% of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with the administrative code.

The building official shall not authorize the refunding of any fee paid except upon written application filed by the original permittee not later than five days after the date of fee payment.

No refund shall be made when the permit fee or plan review fee paid is $10 or less. Qualifying refunds shall be, on a fee of $40 or less, the amount of the fee in excess of $10, and on a fee of over $40, 75% of the fee.

15.08.320 Inspections.

[Ord. 2002-180 § 1 (part); Ord. 97-486 (part)]

General. All construction or work for which a permit is required shall be subject to inspection by the building official or his designee and all such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved by the building official. In addition, certain types of construction shall have continuous inspection as specified in this code.

Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of the code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid.

It shall be the duty of the permit applicant to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Neither the building official nor the jurisdiction shall be liable for expense entailed in the removal or replacement of any material required to allow inspection.

Inspection Requests. It shall be the duty of the person doing the work authorized by a permit to notify the building official that such work is ready for inspection. The building official may require that every request for inspection be filed at least 24 hours before such inspection is desired. Such request may be in writing or by telephone at the option of the building official.

It shall be the duty of the person requesting any inspections required either by the administrative code or the technical codes to provide access to and means for proper inspection of such work.

Inspection Record Card. An inspection record card shall be posted by the inspection officer and maintained to allow the convenient entry of inspection work. This card shall be maintained at a convenient place by the permit holder until final approval has been issued by the building official.

Approval Required. 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 approval of the building official. Such approval shall be given only after an inspection shall have been made of each successive step in the construction as indicated by each of the inspections required in subsection E of this section.

There shall be a final inspection and approval on all buildings and building service equipment when completed and ready for occupancy or use. It shall be the duty of the person authorized by permit to request final inspection within 10 days of completion of the work.

The building official, upon notification from the permit holder or his agent, shall make the following inspections and shall either approve that portion of the construction as completed or shall notify the permit holder or his agent wherein the same fails to comply with the administrative code or technical codes.

Footing and Foundation Inspection: To be made after trenches are excavated and forms erected and when all materials for the foundation are delivered on the job. Where concrete from a central mixing plant (commonly termed "transit mixed") is to be used, materials need not be on the job.

Concrete Slab or Under-Floor Inspection: To be made after all in-slab or under-floor building service equipment conduit, piping accessories and other ancillary equipment items are in place but before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing installed, including the subfloor.

Frame Inspection: To be made after the roof, all framing, fire blocking and bracing are in place and all pipes, chimneys and vents are complete and the rough electrical, plumbing, and heating, wires, pipes and ducts are approved.

Lath and/or Wallboard Inspection: To be made after all lathing and wallboard, interior and exterior, is in place but before any plastering is applied or before wallboard joints and fasteners are taped and finished. (Fireproofing inspection may be made at the time of final inspection at the discretion of the building official.)

Final Inspection: To be made after finish grading and the building is completed and ready for occupancy. It shall be the duty of the contractor to notify the building official for final inspection within 10 days of the completion of the work.

Required Building Service Equipment Inspections. All building service equipment for which a permit is required by the administrative code shall be inspected. No portion of the building or building service equipment shall be concealed until inspected and approved. Building service equipment regulated by the technical codes shall not be connected to the water, fuel or power supply or sewer system until authorized by the building official.

Operation of Building Service Equipment. The requirements of this section shall not be considered to prohibit the operation of any building service equipment installed to replace such equipment in the event a request for inspection of such building service equipment has been filed with the building official not more than 48 hours after such replacement work is completed, and before any portion of such building service equipment is concealed by any permanent portion of the building.

Other Inspections. In addition to the inspections specified above, the building official may make or require other inspections of any construction work to ascertain compliance with the provisions of the administrative code or technical codes and other laws which are enforced by the code enforcement agency.

Reinspections. Inspection requests for work that is not complete or inspections that result in corrective action shall require a reinspection. Upon completion or correction of the work the applicant shall file a request for reinspection therefor in a manner prescribed by the building official, and pay the reinspection fee in accordance with Tables 3A through 3D.

15.08.325 (Reserved)

(See Chapter 17 IBC Structural Tests and Special Inspections)

15.08.330 Connection approval.

[Ord. 2002-180 § 1 (part)]

Energy Connections. No person shall make a connection from a source of energy, fuel or power to any building service equipment which is regulated by the technical codes and for which a permit is required by the administrative code, until approved by the building official.

Temporary Connections. The building official may authorize the temporary connection of the building service equipment to the source of energy, fuel or power for the purpose of testing building service equipment, or for use under a temporary certificate of occupancy.

15.08.335 Certificate of occupancy.

[Ord. 2002-180 § 1 (part)]

Use or Occupancy. No 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 official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor as provided herein.

Change in Use. Changes in the character or use of a building shall not be made except as specified in Section 15.08.140F of this code.

Certificate Issued. After final inspection when it is found that the building or structure complies with the provisions of the technical codes, the building official shall issue a certificate of occupancy which shall contain the following:

The address of the building;

The name and address of the owner;

A description of that portion of the building for which the certificate is issued;

A statement that the described portion of the building complies with the requirements of the administrative code and the technical codes for the group and division of occupancy and the use for which the proposed occupancy is classified;

The name of the building official.

Temporary Certificate. If the building official finds that no substantial hazard will result from occupancy of any building or structure prior to the completion of the entire building or structure, he may issue a temporary certificate of occupancy. The permit holder shall call for final reinspection within 60 days or apply for an extension of temporary occupancy. Failure to do so may result in an assessment of fees equal to one-half the original fee as though the work has been suspended or abandoned under Section 15.08.310D.

15.08.340 Violations — Penalty.

[Ord. 2002-180 § 1 (part)]

No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any building, structure or building service equipment or cause or permit the same to be done in violation of the administrative code and the technical codes.

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of the administrative code shall be deemed guilty of a municipal infraction; and each such person shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of the administrative code is committed, continued, or permitted; and upon conviction of any such violation such person shall be fined $30 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense and $200 for every offense thereafter for the same violation.