[HISTORY: Adopted by the 1980 Town Meeting of the Town of
Salem (Ch. 147 of the 1995 Code); amended in its entirety by the Board
of Selectmen 11-2-2015. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be referred to as the "Town of Salem Building
Code."
In accordance with RSA 674:51, the Town of Salem Board of Selectmen
hereby adopts the New Hampshire State Building Code ("Building Code")
established pursuant to RSA 155-A.
[Amended by the 3-18-2017 Town Meeting]
A.
The Building Division is hereby created and shall be the administrative
division of the Town of Salem charged with enforcing the Building
Code. The executive in charge of the Building Division shall be the
Fire Marshal - Chief Building Official.
B.
One or more Building Inspectors shall be appointed by the Town Manager,
each of whom shall be authorized to enforce the Building Code pursuant
to RSA 674:51.
A.
The Building Inspector shall devote his whole time to the duties
of his office. He shall receive applications required by this chapter,
issue permits and furnish the prescribed certificates. He shall examine
premises for which permits have been issued and shall make necessary
inspections to see that the provisions of law are complied with and
that construction is prosecuted safely. He shall enforce all provisions
of the Building Code. He shall, when requested by proper authority,
or when the public interest so requires, make investigations in connection
with matters referred to in the Building Code and render written reports
on the same. To enforce compliance with law, to remove illegal or
unsafe conditions, to secure the necessary safeguards during construction
or to require adequate exit facilities in buildings and structures,
he shall issue such notices or orders as may be necessary.
B.
Inspections required under the provisions of the Building Code shall
be made by the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector may accept
reports of inspectors of recognized inspection services, after investigation
of their qualifications and reliability. No certificate called for
by any provision of the Building Code shall be issued on such reports
unless the same are in writing and certified to by a responsible officer
of such service.
C.
The Building Inspector shall keep comprehensive records of applications,
of permits issued, of certificates issued, of inspections made, of
reports rendered and of notices or orders issued. He shall retain
on file copes of required plans and all documents relating to building
work so long as any part of the building or structure to which they
relate may be in existence.
D.
All such records shall be open to public inspection for good and
sufficient reasons at the stated office hours but shall not be removed
from the office of the Building Inspector without his written consent.
E.
The Building Inspector shall make written reports to his immediate
superior once each month, or more often if requested, including statements
of permits and certificates issued and orders promulgated.
The Building Inspector may request and shall receive, so far
as may be necessary, in the discharge of his duties, the assistance
and cooperation of other officials of the municipality.
A.
Wherever the word "Municipality" is used in the Building Code, it
shall be held to mean the Town of Salem.
B.
Wherever the term "Corporation Counsel" is used in the Building Code,
it shall be held to mean the Attorney for the Town of Salem.
C.
Wherever the term "Building Official" is used in the Building Code,
it shall be held to mean the Building Inspector(s) for the Town of
Salem.
A.
The Board of Selectmen, following public hearing, shall prescribe
the fees for permits issued under this chapter. No permit as required
by the Building Code shall be issued until the fee prescribed in this
chapter shall have been paid, nor shall any amendment to a permit
be approved until the additional fee, if any, due to such amendment,
shall have been paid.
B.
In case of abandonment or discontinuance, the amount and/or cost
of the work performed under a permit may be estimated, an adjustment
of the fee made and the portion of the fee for uncompleted work returned
to the permit holder, provided that no refund of a prescribed minimum
fee shall be made. If such discontinuance is due to revocation of
a permit, a similar adjustment and return may be made, provided that
no refund shall be made until all penalties incurred or imposed by
due authority have been collected. After such a refund has been made,
no work shall be resumed until a new application has been made and
a new permit has been issued.
The Salem Board of Adjustment shall have the power to hear appeals
from a Building Inspector's decision and to grant variances from this
chapter or code, to the extent authorized by RSA 674:34.
