No application for new construction, alteration, removal, demolition or other building operation shall be accepted until the fees prescribed by this section have been paid to the Building Official, nor shall an amendment to a permit necessitating an additional fee because of an increase in the estimated cost of the work involved be accepted until the additional fee shall have been paid. No fee shall be charged for municipal, county or federal structures.
A. 
Special fees. The payment of the fee for the construction, alteration, removal or demolition and for all work done in connection with or concurrently with the work contemplated by a building permit shall not relieve the applicant or holder of the permit from the payment of other fees that may be prescribed by law or ordinance for elevators, sewer connections, plumbing or electrical permits, erection of signs and display structures, vaults or other appurtenant structures, fees for inspections, certificates of occupancy or other privileges or requirements, both within and without the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Buildings.
B. 
New construction and alterations. The fee for a building permit shall be based on the volume of the structure or as otherwise prescribed in the local ordinances, and the Building Official is authorized to establish by approved rules a schedule of cubic-foot rates for buildings and structures.
C. 
Determination of fees.
(1) 
Building permits. The prescribed fee for all permits for new construction, alterations, additions, installations of systems or equipment filed only with the Fire Department under § 147-13, repairs, minor alterations and similar construction requiring a building permit shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees, except where otherwise prescribed in this code.
[Amended 11-15-1994 by Ord. No. 259-1994]
(2) 
Demolition permits. The minimum fee prescribed for all demolition permits shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.
(3) 
Temporary construction. The prescribed fee for all permits for temporary construction, such as reviewing stands, tents and similar temporary uses, shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.
(4) 
Amendments to plans. The minimum prescribed fee for all plans substantially amended prior to the issuance of a building permit, or amended in any manner after the issuance of a building permit, shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.
(5) 
Electrical permits. The prescribed fee for electrical permits issued by the Bureau of Buildings shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Resolution Number 147-2008, adopted 7-15-2008, granted a waiver from fees for electrical permits for power factor technology work funded through the NYSERDA program.
(6) 
Reinspections and inspections by other than Building Department inspectors. In the event that required inspection is requested but the construction is not ready at that time, a new request for this inspection, together with an additional fee as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees, shall be required for each additional inspection. Where work is completed without the inspector's approval, the fee shall be twice the amount set forth in Chapter 133, Fees; such work shall not be approved without certification from a licensed architect or engineer that it meets all applicable requirements.
[Amended 5-23-1994 by Ord. No. 110-1994]
(7) 
Requested inspections, violations. The prescribed fee for a requested inspection of an existing building to determine violations in conjunction with the sale of the building or similar purpose shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.
(8) 
Board of Standards and Appeals. The prescribed fee for an application to the Board of Standards and Appeals shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.
(9) 
Vaults, areas, tanks, etc. No vault, cellar, stairway, coal hole or other structure shall be erected or maintained under the sidewalks and marquees, canopies, awnings, signs or other structures over the sidewalks of the City unless a permit for the same has been obtained from the Building Official. A permit may be granted upon payment of an annual license fee as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees. Permits issued by the Building Official shall expire on December 31 next following such issuance. For any period less than one year, the fee shall be at the pro rata amount thereof, payable in advance. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a corporation operating any part of its business under a franchise from the State of New York.
[Amended 3-20-1990 by Ord. No. 62-1990]
(10) 
Fees for certificate of elevator compliance. The fee for the issuance of a certificate of elevator compliance for passenger elevators, freight elevators, amusement devices with lifting equipment, fixed conveyors, escalators, dumbwaiters, sidewalk elevators, elevators in one-family dwellings, and chairlifts or any similar equipment or system shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.
[Amended 11-19-2002 by Ord. No. 206-2002; 1-15-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-1]
(11) 
Certificate of occupancy or compliance. The prescribed fee for a certificate of occupancy or a certificate of compliance shall be as set forth in Chapter 133, Fees.
[Amended 12-8-1987 by Ord. No. 342-1987]
D. 
Accounting. The Building Official shall keep an accurate account of all fees collected, and such fees collected by him shall be deposited daily with the City Treasurer.
E. 
Refunds. If the application is withdrawn prior to any examination of the plans, all but $15 of the fee shall be refunded. If the application is withdrawn during the process of or after examination of the plans but prior to the issuance of a building permit, an amount as determined by the Building Official commensurate with the examination work completed shall be retained, but in no event shall more than 50% of the fee be refunded. If the application is withdrawn prior to the start of construction but after a building permit is issued, no more than 50% of the fee shall be refunded. The Building Official shall authorize a refund subject to the concurrence of the Commissioner of Development and the Director of Law.
[Amended 3-18-2003 by Ord. No. 63-2003]
F. 
Partial fees. In the event that a building or structure requires prerequisite approvals of other agencies prior to obtaining a building permit, the Building Official may accept a partial fee of 50% of the total fee. The balance is to be paid prior to the issuance of the permit
G. 
Costs. The owner's engineer or architect shall submit the estimated cost of the improvement. The Building Official shall determine the estimated cost of the building predicated upon current costs of all services, labor, materials, construction equipment, rental and service equipment installations.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended during codification.
For the determination of the permit fees, the volume of the structure shall be computed as herein provided.
A. 
Structures with basements. The volume of the building shall include all enclosed dormers, porches, penthouses and other enclosed portions of the structure extending from the basement or cellar floor to the mean height of a pitched roof or the average height to the top of the roof beams of a flat roof.
B. 
Structures without basements. For buildings without basements or cellars, the volume shall be based on the height measured to a level located 1/5 the distance from the first-floor level to the bottom of the footings, but not to exceed 2 1/2 feet below the first-floor level.
C. 
Open sheds. For open sheds and structures of a similar character, the volume shall be measured within the perimeter of the roof for a height from the grade line to the mean roof level.