A.
Statement of purpose. The purpose of this section is to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the residents of the City by establishing reasonable notice requirements for construction activities involving properties that share one or more party walls with adjoining structures.
The City finds and declares that construction, renovation, or demolition work on buildings with shared or adjoining walls has the potential to impact neighboring properties, both structurally and functionally. In order to reduce conflicts, preserve the integrity of shared structures, and foster cooperative relationships among property owners, it is the intent of this section to require that any property owner or applicant proposing such work provide timely written notice to all adjacent property owners with whom a party wall is shared.
This section shall be known as the "Good Neighbor Construction Notice" provision and is enacted to ensure that neighboring property owners are properly informed prior to the commencement of any construction activity that may affect a shared wall or create a condition of potential risk or disruption. It is the policy of the City to encourage proactive communication and responsible construction practices that reflect respect for the rights and concerns of adjoining owners.
B.
Applicability. This notification requirement shall be applicable to any dwelling unit having at least one party wall in common with an adjacent dwelling unit that is proposing new construction, demolition, any addition, or any other development requiring the issuance of a construction permit. For example, and not by way of limitation, condominium units sharing a party wall with another unit, semi-detached dwellings and quads in the R4 zone are required to comply with these notice provisions. This section does not apply to properties that merely share a common property line without a common party wall.
C.
Notice required. Prior to the commencement of any work described above to a dwelling unit sharing a party wall with another unit, the owner shall notify the owner(s) of any unit(s) sharing a party wall of the proposed work. The notification shall include a common sense description of the work to be conducted and be sent in writing, by certified mail, at least 14 calendar days' prior to the commencement date of the activity. The notification shall be sent to each property sharing a party wall and to an address for each such property outside the City as shown on the records of the City Tax Assessor for said property if such exists.
D.
Exemptions. To the extent the proposed work is piling driving and/or demolition, the owner shall comply with the provisions of § 194-20C which require notice to owners within 500 feet. For the avoidance of any doubt, compliance with the more expansive notice required under § 194-20C will be deemed to incorporate the notice set forth in this section and the owner will not be required to duplicate notice.