Any person, firm, or corporation violating any provisions of this article, or failing to observe any provisions hereof, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined as provided for in the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code, and each day that violation of this article continues shall be considered a separate offense.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1715)
In addition to the powers and duties prescribed in this article, the building official is required to:
(1) 
Administer and enforce all provisions of this article;
(2) 
Keep a record of all permits issued or revoked;
(3) 
Adopt such rules and regulations not inconsistent with this article with respect to the form of application for permits, the investigation of the applicants and other matters incidental to his powers which may be necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of this article.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1714)
(a) 
The house mover shall notify the utility companies at least three (3) days prior to the moving of the building.
(b) 
The house mover shall notify, in writing, the fire department on the date of the moving, and such notification shall contain the time the building is to be on the streets or highways.
(c) 
The house mover shall notify, in writing, the chief of police, or his designate, twenty-four (24) hours prior to the moving of the building, and the time shall be approved by the chief of police, or his designate, and the mover shall be responsible for the arrangement and the furnishing of two (2) flagmen as paid escorts and necessary “No Parking” signs as recommended by the chief of police.
(d) 
The mover shall travel with the building as designated in line (6) [sic]. The building shall not be left at night/daytime on any highway, street, or alley in the city. There shall be attached to each corner of such building a red light lantern visible at least three hundred (300) feet along such highway, street, or alley.
(e) 
The mover shall make arrangements for all charges for services required. Also, he shall notify the water and sewer, gas, and electrical power departments wherever these utilities are located on the site to be vacated, and these services must be disconnected before any work is begun to remove the structure. All taxes must be paid before removal.
(f) 
The mover shall not cross any property line with such structure after it has been loaded for moving. (This includes the towing trucks and/or other equipment used for same.) This shall not commence before 8:00 p.m. and shall not be moved after 2:00 a.m. which follows the 12:00 a.m. (midnight) after 8:00 p.m. starting time.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1707)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a temporary or mobile home as defined within this section shall not be subject to the requirements and provisions of this article, except as specifically set forth in this section.
(1) 
A temporary or mobile home, as used within this section, is defined to be a structure designed to be a living quarters equipped and used for sleeping and eating purposes and which may be moved from one location to another over a public highway or roadway by being pulled behind a motor vehicle.
(2) 
(A) 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to move upon the public streets or highways any mobile home or temporary home exceeding thirteen feet six inches (13'6") in height while loaded, fourteen feet (14') in width, and ninety-five feet (95') in total length of the mobile home and the motor vehicle pulling or towing same, without first securing a permit from the city as provided above.
(B) 
Exception: Any person, firm, or corporation moving any mobile home or temporary home on a state or federal highway, if having secured and possessing a valid state permit for movement of said mobile or temporary home, shall be exempt from securing a city permit for the movement of said mobile/temporary home, but such mobile home shall not be permitted to remain in the city for more than twenty-four (24) hours, and it shall never be permanently placed, stored, used, or maintained in this city.
(3) 
The movement of any mobile/temporary home exceeding any of the above-cited dimensions shall not be permitted, except, however, the city may permit any structure that comes under the subsection (2) exception. The city reserves the right to designate the date, time and route the mobile or temporary home is to be moved.
(4) 
The fee for the issuance of a permit for the moving of a mobile or temporary home within the city limits shall be as established by resolution of the city council.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1708)
A building or structure may be moved through the city from outside the city limits if the destination site is outside the city, pursuant to a state department of transportation permit, or if the move is over a state or federal highway.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1712)
No person shall own, operate, or engage in the business of moving buildings or structures along, across, or over any public street, alley, highway, or other public place in the city without obtaining a permit to engage in such business from the building official.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1701)
An applicant desiring to engage in the business of moving buildings and structures along, across, or over a public street in the city shall file with the building official a written application upon a form provided for that purpose, which must be signed by the applicant or his authorized agent. Such application for a moving permit shall among other things include the following:
(1) 
No house, building, or structure shall be moved or prepared to be moved from one location to another within the city, to a point outside the city, or from a point outside the city, unless such person, firm, or corporation secures a moving permit and complies with each and every requirement of this article.
(2) 
Such application for a moving permit shall be dated and give the name of the property owner involved and his address; the name, address, and location of the property from which such house, building, or structure is to be moved; the name of the house mover who is to conduct the job; and the name and address of the bonding and/or insurance company which will issue the surety bond(s) or liability insurance called for by this article.
(3) 
The mover and a member of the community development department of the city will conduct a survey of the proposed route. If the proposed route is approved, then mover will be given forms to provide to all residents involved. The forms will be furnished by the city. Each form (three copies) shall contain pertinent information of the house mover (name, address, phone number, etc.). Also, it shall contain the name, address, phone number, and other information that will show potential damage that may occur. The resident’s signature will be required on the supplied form. If the resident refuses to sign, the mover will make note of this on the form. The mover shall return one (1) copy to the building official, and one (1) copy to the resident, and will retain one (1) copy for the mover’s records.
(4) 
The proposed route, including the time, date, and other information in connection therewith, shall be approved by the building official, chief of police, and fire marshal. Appropriate officers of Dallas Power and Light Company, Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and Park Cities Cable TV also shall be notified in writing if any of their lines along the approved route are seventeen feet, six inches (17'6") or lower. The mover shall be liable for any utility damage or other cost.
(5) 
Any house, building, or structure to be moved shall be controlled in width by the narrowest street width (measured across from back of curb to back of curb) on the route it is to be moved on. The ridge height shall not exceed seventeen feet, six inches (17'6") from ridge line to paving grade. The height on each side of the structure shall not exceed fourteen feet, six inches (14'6"). The house length shall be controlled by whether the mover can negotiate a turn without damaging property beyond the back of the curb.
(6) 
During pre-route examination, if the city building official finds that any tree or other vegetation is to be mutilated or damaged, the mover shall trim and dress up such tree or vegetation to city and affected property owner specifications. This will be submitted on the proper form. The mover shall be required, at his expense, to trim all tree limbs and/or other vegetation that extends out over the highway, street, or alley, up to a height as described in subsection (5) above. If such tree limb or vegetation is between the curbline and said property line, then the mover shall cut same back to the trunk and it shall be dressed up. If such tree limb/vegetation is growing from behind the property line, then the mover shall cut back to the property line only and dress same up.
(7) 
The mover shall submit to the building official a letter from the City of Dallas or Town of Highland Park stating that they will accept such structure to be moved through their city.
(8) 
A valid architect’s plans and specifications of the building to be moved into or within the city containing a verification of the wiring and plumbing used therein by a licensed electrician and plumbing contractor who will certify that the plumbing and wiring conform to the respective codes of the city, and a true and accurate plot plan showing the proposed location of all buildings or structures to be moved in or within the city, so that it may be determined that each and every condition of the building code and zoning ordinance has been complied with.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1702)
Each applicant for a permit under this article shall furnish a surety bond by a surety company acceptable to the city made in favor of the city for the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) executed by the house moving company and by an approved surety corporation having a permit to do business in this state, conditioned that the applicant will pay all damages and costs that may occur to any public or private property on account of moving the house, building, or structure involved in such application, and further conditioned that the applicant will indemnify and hold the city free and harmless against all liabilities, claims, judgments, costs, or expenses which may in any wise arise or accrue against the city because of the granting of such permit. Such bond will expire three (3) months after the building official has certified to the completion of such move, but the bonding company shall continue to be liable to any person, firm, or corporation who has been damaged during the course of such move.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1703)
(a) 
Insurance requirements.
No license authorizing the moving of buildings or structures on the streets of the city shall be issued unless the following requirements are met:
(1) 
The mover/applicant shall procure and keep in full force and effect a policy of public liability and property damage insurance issued by a casualty insurance company authorized to do business in the state and in the standard form approved by the board of insurance commissioners of the state, with the insured provisions of the policy including the city as an insured, and the coverage provision insuring the public from any loss or damage that may arise to any person or property by reason of the moving of a building or structure by the mover/applicant and preparing and cleaning up the property before and after the house has been removed and providing that the amount of recovery shall be in limits of not less than the following sums:
(A) 
Personal injury: $300,000.00 per accident and $100,000.00 per person.
(B) 
Property damages: $50,000.00.
Such policy shall remain in full force and effect until the moving of the house or structure has been fully carried out and all obligations of the applicant and mover have been fully complied with.
(b) 
Deposit; damage claims.
(1) 
Each applicant for a moving permit shall deposit with the building official cash in the amount of two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) to guarantee that the house, building, or structure which is moved from one location to another within the city or from a point outside the city to a point within the city is completed so as to comply with all of the building and zoning ordinances of the city within a reasonable time not to exceed the period of three (3) months from the granting of said application, which deposit shall be forfeited unless the building official certifies to the fact that such building which has been moved complied with all such building and zoning requirements within such period of time allowed by this section.
(2) 
When a claim is made to the city for damages by a resident, the mover shall have the right to appoint an appraiser to determine the extent of damages to the complainant’s property. At the same time, the city will appoint an appraiser to also appraise the same damage. The resident also has a right to appoint his own appraiser. The mover shall be required to pay all appraiser fees and damages within five (5) days after submittal of the findings or the city will automatically deduct appraiser fees and damages from the cash deposit posted by the mover.
(3) 
Damages will include the following, but not limited to: public or private sidewalks, leadwalks, sodding, bushes, trees, curb and gutter, driveway approaches, public streets, private driveways, fences, or any other appurtenances that are permitted by building, zoning, or other codes of the city.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1704)
(a) 
The applicant shall pay a fee to the building official for the moving permit.
(b) 
The applicant shall pay a fee for each city employee and vehicle that is needed to escort a house out of or to another location in the city. There shall be a minimum of four (4) hours, plus one (1) hour of travel time, inclusive, before and after the structure movement. If the employee has to return at another time or date, the movers shall also pay for additional escort and/or travel time as deemed necessary by the building official.
(c) 
All fees shall be established and shall be paid to the building official at the time of application for a moving permit. If escort personnel have to return, all new escort fees will be paid before the house, building, or structure is moved.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1705)
When such application has been made and filed, and the bonds, liability insurance, deposit, and fees required by this article have been deposited with the building official, he may issue a moving permit, which shall be subject to such conditions and requirements as may be necessary to protect the public and private property and the public welfare in connection with the prescribed route to be taken in moving such house, building, or structure. Said permit shall also specify the route to be used in moving such house, building, or structure, including the place where such house, building, or structure is to be moved from; the place to which such house, building, or structure is to be moved and the complete route designated for such moving; and the date and time of day when such moving is to be carried out.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1706)
If the building official shall refuse to issue or renew a building mover’s permit for any of the following reasons:
(1) 
The making of any false statement as to a material fact in an application for a permit or in a hearing concerning the permit;
(2) 
The failure of the permit holder to obtain the bond, insurance, and cash deposit required by this article; or
(3) 
Failure of the permit holder to maintain the bond, insurance, and cash deposit as required by this article;
then written notice of revocation shall be sent by the building official to the permit holder by certified mail, return receipt requested, setting forth the reason for and the effective date of the refusal to issue or revocation of the permit.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1709)
If the building official refuses to approve issuance of an original permit or revokes the permit issued to the permit holder, this act is final, subject to the permit holder’s right within ten (10) days after receipt of written appeal with the city council, which appeal may be heard and determined at any legally constituted meeting of the city council. The council, after hearing such appeal, shall render a decision either upholding, reversing, or modifying the action appealed from. The decision of the city council is final as to the administrative remedies of the city.
(1996 Code, sec. 3.1713)