[Adopted as Ch. 15.04 of the 1997 Code]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BUILDING
A structure having a roof supported by columns or walls for the shelter, support, enclosure or protection of persons, animals, chattels or property.
COMMERCIAL BUILDING
Any building which is not a residential or industrial building as herein defined.
FAMILY
One or more persons who live together in one dwelling unit and maintain a common household.
INDUSTRIAL BUILDING
A building constructed for light industrial use as defined in the Zoning Code, as from time to time amended.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
A building designed or used exclusively as the living quarters for one or more families.
STRUCTURE
Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground, or attachment to something having location on the ground, which is not a building.
[Amended 7-18-2005 by Ord. No. 2383; 8-15-2005 by Ord. No. 2394; 8-3-2015 by Ord. No. 3194; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
It is unlawful to: 1) construct any building with finished floors under a roof, without regard to the cost of the construction thereof; or 2) construct or alter any other building or structure in the City without first having obtained a building permit for the same from the City's Building Official.
Applications for such permits shall be made in writing by the owner of the premises or by the architect or contractor in charge of the operations, to the City Clerk and shall be accompanied by plans and specifications, in duplicate, showing the work to be done; such plans shall be verified by the signature of either such owner, architect or contractor. In any case where permits for sewer or water connection, or both, shall be required, no building permits shall be issued until application shall also have been made and permit granted for such sewer or water connection, or both.
[Added 9-17-2018 by Ord. No. 3427]
A. 
Statement of purpose. It is the purpose of this section to regulate safe, orderly and attractive development, including but not limited to all residential, commercial, and industrial land uses within the City; to preserve and enhance property values; to preserve adequate space for pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic, including transportation facilities usually associated with such uses; to provide for effective transportation without congestion or hazards; and to provide for effective stormwater management and control. It is also the purpose of this section to assure that public utilities and services are provided in a safe and healthful manner and are consistent with any and all applicable regulations and standards. It is the further purpose of this section to recognize, in the planning for and of specific land uses, the densities and uses of adjacent land and the health, safety, morals, appearance and general welfare of the community. In order to achieve the aforementioned objectives, and to encourage creative economic development, certain modifications to these requirements may be permitted the City Council, after seeking the recommendation of the City's Plan Commission and/or Zoning Board of Appeals.
B. 
Applicability. Any person, corporation, firm or other organization or association making application for a permit issued by the Building Official or designee shall submit to the office of the City Clerk, who will distribute to appropriate departments for review and approval, a site plan prepared by a registered architect, registered professional engineer or a licensed land surveyor licensed in the state to practice as such. The City may accept a preliminary plat as a substitute for the site plan required hereunder.
C. 
Submittals. Site plans shall be drawn on a sheet or sheets not to exceed 24 inches by 36 inches. Said site plan shall also be provided electronically in a format deemed to be acceptable by the City (.pdf file extension preferred). In addition to all requirements contained herein, if the site plan is required to be drawn by a licensed professional engineer, architect, or surveyor, the plans must include the name, firm name, address, and seal of said professional.
D. 
Minor changes. Minor changes to a site plan shall be permitted only after approval of such changes by the Building Official or designee. Request for approval of minor changes shall be made in writing. A new site plan reflecting said changes may be required at the discretion of the Building Official or designee. The Building Official or designee shall approve all minor changes within a reasonable time frame not to exceed 10 business days. Minor changes shall be limited to building footprint or height changes that vary by no more than 10% in any one direction.
E. 
Major changes. Major changes to a site plan shall be permitted only upon submittal of a new site plan. If a site plan consists of multiple pages, all pages affected by the major changes must be revised and submitted. If said site plan required a public hearing prior to approval, a public hearing shall be required prior to approval of any major changes. After 15 days' notice is given, a public hearing shall be held before the Plan Commission and forwarded to the City Council for its approval. Major changes shall include: new buildings, omission of buildings, or reorganization of buildings on the site.
F. 
Accessory structures.
(1) 
The following information shall be shown on the site plan:
(a) 
Location map, North arrow, graphic plan scale.
(b) 
Zoning district, subdivision name, lot number, and parcel number.
(c) 
Name, address, and telephone number of the person or firm submitting the plan and the person or firm who or which desires the review comments forwarded to them.
(d) 
Actual shape, location, and dimensions, and distance of the lot drawn.
(e) 
Location and identification of all existing and proposed easements.
(f) 
Location of any and all stormwater detention facilities, sink holes, springs, streams, silt berms, ponds, silt control facilities, floodways, floodplains, wetlands, sanitary sewage treatment or septic fields.
(g) 
Proposed building line and setback requirements for the district in which the property is located.
(h) 
Shape, size, and location of all buildings or other structures to be erected, altered, or moved, and of any existing building or structure. The distance to property lines and other structures on the lot shall also be indicated.
(i) 
Location of existing and proposed utilities, including service lines and connections.
(2) 
If the subject property includes stormwater detention facilities, sink holes, springs, streams, silt berms, ponds, silt control facilities, floodways, floodplains, wetlands, sanitary sewage treatment and/or septic fields, a professional engineer or surveyor shall sign and seal site plans and perform field layouts for accessory structures.
G. 
Single-family dwellings.
(1) 
The following information shall be shown on the site plan:
(a) 
All information listed in Subsection F(1).
(b) 
Existing and proposed contour lines or elevations based on mean sea level datum at vertical intervals of not more than two feet, including established street grades at the foundation walls of all new structures, shall be required if any portion of the subject property is identified as being in a floodplain, floodway, or wetland.
(c) 
Elevation of top of foundation of primary structure, finish floor of garage, finish floor of basement and lowest foundation opening where applicable.
(d) 
Location of any and all of the following features on the property: stormwater detention facilities, sink holes, springs, streams, silt berms, ponds, silt control facilities, floodways, floodplains, wetlands, sanitary sewage treatment or septic fields.
(e) 
Location of existing and proposed sidewalks.
(f) 
Driveway location, width, and proposed grade (if more than 12% slope).
(g) 
Professional seals affixed to every sheet in a set of documents in accordance with the standards of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(2) 
A professional engineer or surveyor shall perform field layouts for all single-family residential structures.
(3) 
The Building Official or designee may require additional soil testing and documentation if it is determined that the foundation is not placed on virgin soil.
(4) 
The applicant shall provide a slope stability analysis conducted by a professional engineer upon request of the Building Official or designee if the subject property has excessive slope (generally greater than three to one).
(5) 
The Building Official or designee may impose equivalent requirements for additions to single-family dwellings if:
(a) 
The City has no site plan on file for the subject property; or
(b) 
Substantial site modifications or environmental changes have rendered the original site plan obsolete.
H. 
Multifamily dwellings, nonresidential buildings, planned developments, and other development.
(1) 
The following information shall be shown on the site plan:
(a) 
All information listed in Subsection G(1).
(b) 
Off-street parking spaces, required and proposed, including the number, size, and location of those designated as accessible spaces, width of all interior drive aisles, and degree of angle for individual spaces, if applicable.
(c) 
Location of refuse disposal areas, including dumpster enclosures and grease traps.
(d) 
Location of existing and proposed utilities, including service lines and connections, as well as mains and distribution lines.
(e) 
Location and size of existing and proposed freestanding signs.
(f) 
Site lighting plan which clearly shows no spillover onto adjacent properties or rights-of-way.
(g) 
Site landscaping plan, including name and size of existing and proposed plant material.
(h) 
Location of any and all of the following features on the property: stormwater detention facilities, sink holes, springs, streams, silt berms, ponds, silt control facilities, floodways, floodplains, and wetlands.
(i) 
Dimensions of existing and proposed roadway pavement and right-of-way width for streets abutting the site.
(2) 
The Building Official or designee may request additional information to be placed on the site plan beyond the requirements listed above or may request preparation of a complete set of improvement plans. Improvement plans shall conform to the City of Columbia's standards regarding the preparation of improvement plans found in the City Subdivision Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 330, Subdivision of Land.
I. 
Waiver of site plan requirements. The Building Official or designee may waive in writing any site plan requirement contained herein determined unnecessary for review and approval of a specific building permit application.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Such applications with plans shall be referred to the Building Official, who shall examine the same to determine whether the proposed operations will conform with the ordinance and statutory provisions relating thereto. Upon approval, one set of the plans shall be returned to the applicant, with a permit, and the other shall be retained by the Building Official. No permit shall be issued except after approval of the plans and the payment of the fee herein provided for.
[Amended 1997 by Ord. No. 1604; 2-17-2003 by Ord. No. 2146]
A. 
The fee for a permit for construction of a building with finished floors under a roof shall be based upon the area, in square feet, of finished floors under a roof, and shall be in the amount and for the term to be set by City ordinance from time to time.
B. 
The fee for all other construction or alterations of buildings or structures in the City for which a building permit is required under § 138-1.2 shall be in the amount and for the term to be set by City ordinance from time to time.
C. 
The building permit fee required under § 138-1.2 may be waived by the City Council for historically significant buildings or other historically significant structures as is allowed and provided for by Chapter 187, Historic Preservation, of this Municipal Code.
A. 
Building permits expire one year after date from day they are issued.
B. 
The exterior of the building or structure must be completed within the year's time (365 days), or building permit will have to be renewed to continue construction of the exterior of the building or structure.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
It is unlawful to vary materially from the approved plans and specifications deposited with and approved by the Building Official unless amended plans and specifications showing such proposed alteration or variation are first submitted to the Building Official, in duplicate, and duly approved by him, and if such alteration or variation will result in an increase in the total cost of the work, a statement to this effect shall be made on such additional plans and the necessary additional fee shall be paid.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
It shall be the duty of the Building Official and any lawfully appointed deputies to enforce the provisions of this article. The Building Official is empowered to make such inspections as may be necessary to see to the enforcement of these provisions, and to make any proper tests or examinations of materials or methods to be used for the purpose of seeing if they comply with the requirements of this article.
[Amended 4-20-2015 by Ord. No. 3180]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this article shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $750 for each offense; and a separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.