This chapter shall be entitled "Building Code, Additional Requirements and Amendments."
(Ord. 1581 § 21, 2013)
The purpose of this chapter is to set forth provisions that are supplemental to or amend the International Building Code (IBC) as adopted by DMMC § 14.01.050.
(Ord. 1581 § 23, 2013)
Where, in any specific case, different sections of this code specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern except that the hierarchy of the codes established in RCW 19.27.031 shall govern.
(Ord. 1581 § 24, 2013)
The amendments, additions, and exceptions to the International Building Code ("IBC") are adopted and shall be applicable within the City.
(Ord. 1581 § 25, 2013)
(1) 
At the time of filing a building permit application, the applicant shall submit all required information together with any application form and applicable fees, for any of the following:
(a) 
Design review;
(b) 
Shoreline substantial development permit;
(c) 
Land clearing, grading, or filling permit;
(d) 
Development exceptions for environmentally critical areas;
(e) 
Environmental review (SEPA).
(2) 
No building permit application shall be accepted without the required information, completed application and applicable fees.
(3) 
When the Planning, Building and Public Works Director makes a determination that certain improvements including, but not limited to, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, driveways across sidewalks, piped storm drainage, retaining walls, street illumination, landscaping, slope protection, and underground utilities are required at some future date by existing ordinance(s), no building permit application shall be approved by the Building Official for any proposed project unless the building permit application is accompanied by a properly executed local improvement district (LID) covenant that has been recorded at the King County Department of Records.
(4) 
The filing of a complete building permit application for a proposed construction project in compliance with applicable state law, ordinances, and regulations of the City shall establish a vested right. For a building permit to be issued, the proposed project must comply with the State Environmental Policy Act. For the purpose of the IBC and the IRC, a "complete building permit application" means an application which contains all information required to be submitted by any applicable provisions of this code.
(Ord. 1581 § 26, 2013)
(1) 
An applicant may apply for a design review approval, a shoreline substantial development permit, environmental review (SEPA), and/or a land clearing, grading, or filling permit prior to filing an application for a building permit, upon the following terms and conditions:
(a) 
The filing of an application for any of the approvals referred to in this section prior to the filing of a valid and complete application for a building permit shall not establish or create a vested right to proceed with construction of any proposed project in accordance with the ordinances and regulations existing at the time of the filing of such application, or at any time thereafter prior to the filing of a valid and complete building permit application.
(b) 
An applicant who elects to take advantage of the provisions of this section shall, at the time of making application for the approvals referred to in this subsection, execute an agreement with the City that the acceptance and processing of such application shall in no way establish or create a vested right to proceed with construction of any proposed project in accordance with the codes, ordinances, or regulations existing at the time of filing of such application, or at any time thereafter prior to the filing of a valid and complete building permit application.
(c) 
The provisions of this section do not apply to grading or filling done in preparation for the construction of a single home.
(2) 
An applicant who elects to take advantage of the provisions of this section may at any time elect to file a complete building permit application, notwithstanding that the approval applied for under subsection (1) of this section has not previously been obtained.
(Ord. 1581 § 27, 2013)
Before issuing any building permit, the City shall require the applicant to execute and file with the City a bond or cash. The bond shall be in a form approved by the City Manager or the City Manager's designee in such reasonable sum and with such securities as the Building Official may specify. In the event of a failure by the applicant to satisfactorily complete the work included in the building permit, the bond or cash may be claimed by the City Manager or the City Manager's designee to fund completion or removal of the incomplete structure. The applicant will pay any and all damages that may be recovered against the City by any person on account of injury to persons or property occasioned by or in any manner resulting from the issuance of the permit or by reason of any act or thing done pursuant thereto, or from the occupancy or disturbance of any street or sidewalk in the City and also to save, keep, and defend the City free from all such damages and costs as may be incurred in defending any such claim, and/or further conditioned that the applicant shall pay to the City the cost of repairing any and all damage which may be done by the applicant or his/her agents to the streets, utilities, or property of the City during or pursuant to the work covered by such permit.
(Ord. 1581 § 28, 2013; Ord. 1800 § 2, 2024)
All manufactured homes, which are newly installed in residentially zoned areas outside of mobile home parks, shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) 
Shall be newly constructed and shall not meet the definition of a used mobile home.
(2) 
Shall have a permanent perimeter foundation of either concrete, concrete masonry units or other approved concrete product.
(3) 
Shall meet the same design standard as the surrounding neighborhood for new construction.
(4) 
Shall be thermally equivalent to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
(5) 
Shall be designed to support the local snow load of 25 pounds per square foot of ground snow load.
(Ord. 1581 § 29, 2013)
All modular homes, which are newly installed in residentially zoned areas outside of mobile home parks, shall comply with the following requirements:
(1) 
Shall be constructed in accordance with the International Residential Code. Factory-built homes are required to have a gold seal.
(2) 
Shall have a permanent perimeter foundation of either concrete, concrete masonry units or other approved concrete product.
(3) 
Shall meet the design standards of Title 18 DMMC for new construction.
(4) 
Shall meet the requirements of the International Energy Conservation Code.
(5) 
Shall be designed to support the local snow load of 25 pounds per square foot of ground snow load.
(Ord. 1581 § 30, 2013)
The following sections of the IBC as adopted by this Title shall be amended as follows:
(1) 
Expiration of Permit. Every permit issued shall become invalid unless the work on the site authorized by such permit is commenced within 180 days after its issuance, or if the work authorized on the site by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days after the time the work is commenced. The Building Official is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods not more than 180 days each. The extension shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.
(2) 
Action On Application and Time Limit of Application. Applications for which no permit is issued within 180 days following the date of application filing 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 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 reapply and pay a new plan review fee.
The Building Official shall extend the time limit of an application if any of the following conditions exist:
(a) 
Compliance with a declaration of significance under the State Environmental Policy Act provisions is in progress; or
(b) 
Any other City review is in progress, provided City staff determine that the review is proceeding to a timely final City decision; or
(c) 
Litigation against the City is in progress, the outcome of which may affect the validity of any permit issued pursuant to such application.
(3) 
Certificate of 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 as provided herein with the exception of Group U Occupancies.
Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Certificates presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid.
(4) 
Address Identification. Address identification shall be in compliance with DMMC § 14.10.040.
(Ord. 1581 § 31, 2013; Ord. 1800 § 3, 2024)
All references to the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) in this chapter shall refer to the current edition of the IPMC as adopted by the IBC.
The IPMC is hereby amended, added to, and excepted as follows:
(1) 
References to an appeal of an administrative action regarding this chapter shall be in accordance with chapter 18.240 DMMC, Hearing Examiner, or with procedures set forth in chapter 1.24 DMMC for civil infractions or chapter 1.28 DMMC for civil violations and penalties.
(2) 
The following sections of the IPMC, or the corresponding section of any updated or amended version of the IPMC, are removed in their entirety and not adopted:
111
Means of appeal
302.2
Grading and drainage
302.5
Rodent harborage
302.8
Motor vehicles
302.9
Defacement of property
304.2
Protective treatment
304.13.2
Openable windows
304.14
Insect screens
304.15
Exterior doors
304.17
Guards for basement windows
304.18
Building security
305.3
Interior surfaces
305.6
Interior doors
307
Rubbish and garbage
308
Extermination
404.4.1
Room area
404.5
Overcrowding
404.6
Efficiency unit
604.2
Electrical appliance service
(3) 
The IPMC shall read as follows:
The fees for activities and services performed by the Department in carrying out its responsibilities under this Code shall be set by the City Manager.
(4) 
The IPMC shall read as follows:
All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of twelve (12") inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs, provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers, gardens, or vegetation within storm water facilities.
(5) 
The IPMC shall read as follows:
All exterior surfaces, including but not limited to, doors, door and window frames, cornices, porches, trim, balconies, roofs, decks and fences, of commercial properties and multi-family residences shall be maintained in good condition. Exterior wood surfaces, other than decay-resistant woods, shall be protected from the elements and decay by painting or other protective covering or treatment. Peeling, flaking and chipped paint shall be eliminated and surfaces repainted. All siding and masonry joints, as well as those between the building envelope and the perimeter of windows, doors and skylights, shall be maintained weather resistant and water tight. All metal surfaces subject to rust and corrosion, and all surfaces with rust or corrosion shall be stabilized and coated to inhibit future rust and corrosion. Oxidation stains shall be removed from exterior surfaces. Surfaces designed for stabilization by oxidation are exempt from this requirement.
(6) 
The IPMC shall read as follows:
All overhang extensions, including but not limited to canopies, marquees, signs, metal awnings, fire escapes, standpipes and exhaust ducts shall be maintained in good repair and be properly anchored so as to be kept in a sound condition.
(Ord. 1581 § 32, 2013; Ord. 1671 § 8, 2017)