[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996]
1. 
The application, plans, specifications, computations and other data filed by an applicant for a permit shall be reviewed by the Building Official. Such plans may be reviewed by other City departments to verify compliance with any other applicable laws. If the Building Official finds that the work described in application for a permit and the plans, specifications and other data filed therewith conform to the requirements of the Building Code and other applicable laws and ordinances, and that the fees have been paid, the Building Official shall issue a building permit to the applicant.
2. 
When the Building Official issues the permit where plans are required, the Building Official shall endorse in writing or stamp the plans and specifications APPROVED. Such approved plans and specifications shall not be changed, modified and altered without authorizations from the Building Official, and all work regulated by the Building Code be done in accordance with the approved plans.
3. 
The Building Official may issue a permit for the construction of part of a building or structure before the entire plans and specifications for the whole building or structure have been submitted or approved, provided adequate information and detailed statements have been filed complying with all pertinent requirements of the Building Code. The holder of a partial permit shall proceed without assurance that the permit for the entire building or structure will be granted.
[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996]
One set of approved plans, specifications and computations shall be retained by the Building Official for a period of not less than 90 days from date of completion of the work covered therein; and one set of approved plans and specifications shall be returned to the applicant, and said set shall be kept on the site of the building or work at all times during which the work authorized thereby is in progress.
[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996]
1. 
The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans, specifications and computations shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of the Building Code or of any other ordinance of the jurisdiction or any other federal, state, or local law, statute, rule, regulation, or ordinance.
2. 
The issuance of a permit based on plans, specifications and other data shall not prevent the Building Official from thereafter requiring the correction of errors in said plans, specifications and other data, or from preventing building operations being carried on thereunder when in violation of the Building Code or of any other ordinances of this jurisdiction.
[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996]
Applications for which no permit is issued within 180 days following the date of the application shall expire, 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 on request by the applicant showing that circumstances beyond the control of the applicant have prevented action from being taken. No application shall be extended more than once. In order to renew action on an application after expiration, the applicant shall resubmit plans and pay a new plan review fee.
[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996; Ord. No. 2316, Amended, 3-5-2002]
1. 
Time Limit to Begin Construction: Every permit issued by the Building Official shall expire 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. The work shall not be considered suspended or abandoned where the permittee has pursued activities deemed by the Building Official to indicate the intent to start and complete the project. The Building Official may require the permittee to document these activities.
2. 
Time Limit to Complete Construction: Every permit issued by the Building Official shall expire, and become null and void 24 months after the date of permit issuance. If the building or work authorized by such permit has not received final inspection approval prior to the permit expiration date, all work shall stop until a new permit is obtained for the value of the work remaining unfinished.
3. 
Extension: Any permittee holding an unexpired permit may apply for an extension of the time within which work is to be completed under that permit when the permittee is unable to complete 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 on written request by the permittee showing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented work from being completed. No permit shall be extended more than once.
4. 
Exceptions:
a. 
At the time of permit issuance the Building Official may approve a period exceeding 24 months for completion of work when the permittee can demonstrate that the complexity or size of the project makes completing the project within 24 months unreasonable.
b. 
The time periods to commence or complete construction shall be tolled:
i. 
If construction is subject to a final City land use decision under LOC Chapter 50;
ii. 
The final land use decision is appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals and/or the appellate courts;
iii. 
The applicant elects in writing not to proceed with construction pending final decision on the land use decision; and
iv. 
The applicant agrees in writing that the Building Official may require a modification of the approved permit at the time of construction to comply with any modifications to the Building Code that are enacted during the pendency of the land use appeal.
The time periods shall resume following final resolution of the appeal.
5. 
Reinstatement: Where a permit has expired, the permit can be reinstated and the work authorized by the original permit can be recommenced, provided the following are met:
a. 
The Building Code under which the original permit was issued and other laws which are enforced by the code enforcement agency have not been amended in any manner which affects the work authorized by the original permit.
b. 
No changes have been made or will be made in the original plans and specifications for such work.
c. 
The original permit expired less than six months from the request to reinstate.
The fee for a reinstated permit shall be one-half the amount required for a new permit. Where the request for reinstatement does not comply with the preceding criteria, a new permit, at full permit fees, shall be required.
[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996]
1. 
Whenever any work for which a permit is required by the Building Code has been commenced without first obtaining the permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.
2. 
An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, may be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of the Building Code nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996]
A permit issued to one person or firm is not transferable and shall not permit any other person or firm to perform any work thereunder.
[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996]
The Building Official may, in writing, suspend or revoke a permit issued under the provisions of the Building Code whenever the permit is issued in error on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or if its issuance (or activity thereunder) is in violation of any ordinance or regulation of any other provisions of the City code.
[Ord. No. 2135, Enacted, 10-1-1996; Ord. No. 2890, Amended, 3-17-2022]
1. 
It shall be the duty of the permit holder or authorized agent to request all inspections that may be necessary or otherwise required in a timely manner, provide access to the site, and to provide all equipment as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Building Official. The permit holder shall not proceed with construction activity until authorized to do so by the Building Official. It shall be the duty of the permit holder to cause the work to remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes. Any expense incurred by the permit holder to remove or replace any material required for proper inspection shall be the responsibility of the permit holder or agent.
2. 
Work requiring a permit shall not be commenced until the permit holder or an agent of the permit holder has posted or otherwise made available an inspection record card that allows the Building Official to conveniently make the required entries thereon regarding inspection of the work. This card shall be maintained available by the permit holder until final approval has been granted by the Building Official.