[Adopted 3-21-1989 by Ord. No. 891 (Ch. 4, Part 4, of the 1989 Code)]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BUILDING PERMIT
A permit issued by the Borough of Wilmerding Building Inspector after application by any person for the construction, erection, maintenance, operation or repair of any building, structure or device.
BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES or DEVICES
Anything constructed or erected with a fixed location on or in the ground, including, but not limited to, dwellings, offices, places of assembly, mobile homes, signs, walls, fences or any other improvements to real estate.
PERSON
All natural persons, partnerships, associations, firms, corporations or any other entity.
[Added 12-6-1989 by Ord. No. 901]
A. 
Any person who desires to construct, erect, maintain, operate or repair any building, structure or device located within the territorial boundaries of the Borough of Wilmerding shall first make application to the Building Inspector of the Borough of Wilmerding for a building permit. A permit must be obtained prior to installing a roof on any structure, the erection of any type of shed or structure as an outbuilding on a parcel of land, the erection of a sign as regulated in Chapter 300, Zoning, and the demolition of any structure or improvement on a parcel of land.
[Amended 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
B. 
Said application shall be in the form prescribed by this article marked as Exhibit "A" attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (review of this document can be made at the Borough offices of the Borough of Wilmerding).
C. 
Applications for a building permit shall be accompanied by a fee, payable to the Borough of Wilmerding, based on the estimated cost of the proposed construction as determined by the Borough of Wilmerding Building Inspector at the following rates:
Estimated Cost
Fee
$0 to $1,000
$20
Each additional $1,000 or part thereof beyond the first $1,000
$2
D. 
The Building Inspector of the Borough of Wilmerding shall charge the Borough of Wilmerding the following fees, which shall be charged to the applicant for permit review:
(1) 
Building, simple permit for minor work: $5.
(2) 
Construction of single-family dwelling: $20.
(3) 
Construction of two-family dwelling: $25.
(4) 
Construction of multifamily dwelling, per unit: $15.
(5) 
Commercial construction, per application: $25.
(6) 
Industrial construction, per application: $50.
(7) 
Storage shed under 100 square feet: $35.
[Added 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
(8) 
Storage shed, 100 square feet or larger: $45.
[Added 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
(9) 
Installing or replacing a roof on a single-family residential property: $30.
[Added 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
(10) 
Installing or replacing a roof on all other structures: $40.
[Added 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
(11) 
Demolition of a structure under 1,000 square feet: $50.
[Added 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
(12) 
Demolition of a structure, 1,000 square feet or larger: $70.
[Added 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
(13) 
Erecting a permissible sign under 20 square feet in area: $30.
[Added 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
(14) 
Erecting a permissible sign, 20 square feet in area or larger: $45.
[Added 2-2-2010 by Ord. No. 1009]
E. 
Any person aggrieved by the Borough of Wilmerding Building Inspector's estimate of the cost of the proposed construction may appeal to the Borough Council of the Borough of Wilmerding. Such appeal must be filed in writing within 30 days after the determination by the Borough of Wilmerding Building Inspector. Upon receipt of such appeal, the Borough Council of the Borough of Wilmerding shall set a time and place, not less than 10 nor more than 30 days, for the purpose of hearing the appeal. Notice of the time and place of the hearing of the appeal shall be given to all parties, at which time they may appear and be heard. The determination of the estimate shall be final in all cases.
F. 
Within 90 days after the application is submitted, the Building Inspector of the Borough of Wilmerding shall render a decision either approving or disapproving the application for a permit.
(1) 
If the Building Inspector of the Borough of Wilmerding approves the application for a building permit, the following conditions shall apply:
(a) 
Work shall commence on the project completed by the building permit no later than 30 days after the date of issuance of the building permit.
(b) 
Work on the project shall be completed within six months of the date of issuance of the building permit.
(c) 
Should the work not be completed within the six-month period, the permittee may then request of the Borough Council of the Borough of Wilmerding an additional six-month period. Borough Council may grant the six-month extension once the permittee has proven to the satisfaction of the Borough Council that he or she, the permittee, is still working on the project.
(d) 
Failure of a permittee to begin work within 30 days of the issuance or complete work within six (or 12) months of the issuance of the permit would constitute revocation of the building permit. Any further work can only be done on the property with the issuance of a new building permit. No application fee will be refunded or applied toward any future building permit. No application fee will be refunded or applied toward any future building permit.
(e) 
Any person who works on the property without a building permit is subject to a fine not to exceed $300. Each day work is done without a permit shall constitute a separate violation.
(2) 
If the Building Inspector of the Borough of Wilmerding disapproves the application, said disapproval shall be issued within 90 days of the application for the building permit and shall contain the following:
(a) 
A brief explanation setting forth the reasons for disapproval; and
(b) 
The manner in which the application can be corrected and/or modified to obtain approval.
(3) 
If no decision is rendered on the application within 90 days of the submission of the application for a building permit to the Building Inspector of the Borough of Wilmerding, then the application shall be deemed approved, with the same conditions attached as if the Building Inspector of the Borough of Wilmerding had approved the application for the building permit originally.
[Added 12-6-1989 by Ord. No. 901]
The effective date of this article shall be the date passed by Council in accordance with the provisions of the Borough Code. As of the effective date of this article, all existing building permits which have been issued prior to the effective date of this article shall be considered as if those permits were granted on the effective date of this article. Therefore, all work on any existing building permit shall be completed within a six-month period of the effective date of this article.