[Amended 12-30-2005 by L.L. No. 2-2006,[1] effective 1-9-2006; 5-16-2006 by L.L. No. 14-2006, effective 6-13-2006; 6-8-2010 by L.L. No. 4-2010,[2] effective 6-28-2010]
The commissioner of the department of permit and inspection services shall be the head of the department of permit and inspection services, and shall be a person with (i) demonstrated executive and administrative ability and experience in construction, which shall include at least three (3) years experience in the administration of building, housing or property code inspection and enforcement activities or (ii) substantially equivalent qualifications that are acceptable to the mayor. The commissioner shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to confirmation by council and shall be removable at the pleasure of the mayor.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also changed the name of the Department, formerly the "Department of Permit and Inspection Services," to the "Department of Economic Development and Permit and Inspection Services."
[2]
Editor's Note: This local law also changed the name of the Department, formerly the “Department of Economic Development and Permit and Inspection Services,” to the “Department of Permit and Inspection Services.”
[Amended 1-6-2004 by L.L. No. 3-2004, effective 1-20-2004; 12-30-2005 by L.L. No. 2-2006, effective 1-9-2006; 5-16-2006 by L.L. No. 14-2006, effective 6-13-2006; 6-8-2008 by L.L. No. 4-2010, effective 6-28-2010; 7-22-2025 by L.L. No. 4-2025]
The commissioner of the department of permit and inspection services shall:
(a) 
Supervise, manage and be responsible for the affairs of the department of permit and inspection services, including all matters related to permits and inspections, housing, and demolitions. The commissioner shall lead a customer-focused department to encourage and facilitate efficient permitting and licensing procedures within the city. For purposes of this article, the term "permit" shall be deemed to include a license, unless otherwise indicated by the context;
(b) 
Have charge of all applications to the city or its departments, officers or agencies for permits for the construction or remodeling of all non-public buildings or other structures within the city, including without limitation, the review of all plans and designs. The commissioner shall have charge of all other permits and all inspections for which he is made responsible by this charter, the city code, or any statute, local law or ordinance. The commissioner shall be responsible for all property code enforcement programs, including housing code violations and matters relating to multiple dwellings; plumbing, electrical and combustion inspections; and bingo games and premises inspections;
(c) 
Develop and implement a unified, streamlined system for the review and processing of all applications for the construction or remodeling of all buildings or other structures within the city utilizing, where practicable and appropriate, the best practices of municipalities throughout the United States;
(d) 
Appoint, and at pleasure may remove, a deputy commissioner of permit and inspection services;
(e) 
Have charge of all demolition work;
(f) 
Represent the city in all housing court proceedings;
(g) 
Perform the duties of administering and enforcing the provisions of the zoning chapter of the city code, including granting permits and certificates of occupancy and conducting all inspections required by that chapter;
(h) 
Have charge of issuing, transferring, renewing, revoking, suspending and canceling all licenses and permits, the collection of fees and the coordination of necessary inspections in connection therewith, and may designate an Administrative Law Judge, who shall be an attorney admitted to practice in the State of New York for at least three (3) years, to administer hearings related to the issuing, transferring, renewing, revoking, suspending and canceling of licenses, and recommend to the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services whether a license should be revoked, suspended, or renewal thereof refused, after notice and hearing.
(i) 
Oversee all housing and building construction and rehabilitation and code enforcement.
(j) 
Direct or cause to be torn down, blown up or otherwise destroyed on an emergency basis, any building or buildings which he or she deems to be an immediate threat to the health, welfare and safety to the public;
(k) 
Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed upon him by this charter, as the same may be amended from time to time, by the mayor or by any general law, local law, ordinance or federal or state law.
(l) 
Exercise all powers and perform such duties as conferred and imposed upon the office by City Code Chapter 130 Sales of Cannabis, Cannabis Products, and Products Marketed and Labeled as Such
[Amended 12-26-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2001, effective 1-9-2001]
The deputy commissioner of permit and inspection services shall act for and generally in place of the commissioner of permit and inspection services, and shall be a person with a minimum of six (6) years experience in building code enforcement, and at least two (2) years experience in a supervisory capacity. The deputy commissioner shall be appointed by the commissioner of permit and inspection services and shall be removable at the pleasure of the commissioner.
The deputy commissioner of permit and inspection services shall:
(a) 
Supervise and manage for the city on the construction or remodeling of all non-public buildings or other structures within the city;
[Amended 12-26-2000 by L.L. No. 1-2001, effective 1-9-2001]
(b) 
Administer the plan review and all other permit and inspection responsibilities assigned to the department in connection with the construction or remodeling of all non-public buildings or other structures within the city. In this capacity, the deputy commissioner shall deploy personnel, resolve disputes, designate project review priorities, respond to internal and external inquiries, determine policies, expedite important projects and establish procedures to promptly reject applications for failure to meet plan submission or other standards.
(c) 
Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the commissioner of permit and inspection services.
Unsafe and Unsanitary Buildings and Collapsed Structures
In case of the falling of any building or part thereof in the city, where persons are known or believed to be buried under the ruins, the commissioner shall cause an examination of the premises to be made for the recovery of the bodies of the killed and injured. Whenever, in making such examination, it shall be necessary to remove any debris from the premises, the commissioners of police and fire, when called upon by the commissioner shall cooperate with the said commissioner in carrying out the purposes of this section and shall provide suitable and convenient places for the deposit of such debris.
The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered in cases of accident and immediate danger of the falling of any building or part thereof so as to endanger life or property, and also where any building or part thereof has fallen and life is endangered by the occupation thereof, to order and require the inmates and occupants of such building or part thereof to vacate the same forthwith, and the commissioner may, when necessary for the public safety, with the assistance of the commissioners of police and fire, temporarily, if necessary, close sidewalks, streets, buildings, structures and places adjacent to such building or part thereof, and prohibit the same from being used. In the event that the commissioner shall issue such order to vacate such premises or shall close such sidewalks, streets, buildings, structures or places adjacent to such premises, he shall, within ten days serve the notice in the manner provided by the applicable ordinances to determine the condition of such premises. Failure to do so shall be deemed a revocation of such vacating or closing order. The commissioners of police and fire when called upon by the commissioner to cooperate, shall enforce such orders or requirements.
For the purpose of this section, the commissioner of permit and inspection services shall employ such laborers and materials as may be necessary to perform said work as speedily as possible.
The city of Buffalo is empowered to enact any ordinances to administer or put into effect any of the provisions of this article.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former §§ 17-9 and 17-10, regarding the Division of Real Estate, which immediately followed, was repealed 5-22-2000 by L.L. No. 7-2000, effective 6-21-2000. See now §§ 6-22 and 6-23.