[Res. No. 136-06, 12-26-2006]
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, association or partnership to commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, improvement, demolition, conversion, relocation or change in the nature of the occupancy of any building or structure; or cause such construction, or install a solid-fuel-burning heating appliance, chimney or flue in any dwelling unit, etc., to be done without first obtaining a separate building permit from the Fire Chief or his designee for each such building, structure, or parking lot.
(b) 
An exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit shall not be deemed an authorization for work to be performed in violation of the Uniform Code. No permit shall be required for the following:
(1) 
Construction or installation of one-story detached structures associated with one- or two-family dwellings or multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) which are used for tool and storage sheds, playhouses or similar uses, provided the gross floor area does not exceed 144 square feet (13.88m2);
(2) 
Installation of swings and other playground equipment associated with a one- or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses);
(3) 
Installation of swimming pools associated with a one- or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses) where such pools are designed for a water depth of less than 24 inches and are installed entirely above ground;
(4) 
Installation of fences which are not part of an enclosure surrounding a swimming pool;
(5) 
Construction of retaining walls unless they support a surcharge or impound Class I, II or IIIA liquids;
(6) 
Construction of temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery;
(7) 
Installation of window awnings supported by an exterior wall of a one- or two-family dwelling or multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses);
(8) 
Installation of partitions or movable cases less than five feet nine inches in height;
(9) 
Painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, or other similar finish work;
(10) 
Installation of listed portable electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation or cooling equipment or appliances;
(11) 
Replacement of any equipment, provided the replacement does not alter the equipment's listing or render it inconsistent with the equipment's original specifications;
(12) 
Repairs, provided that such repairs do not involve:
a. 
The removal or cutting away of a load-bearing wall, partition, or portion thereof, or of any structural beam or load-bearing component;
b. 
The removal or change of any required means of egress, or the rearrangement of parts of a structure in a manner which affects egress;
c. 
The enlargement, alteration, replacement or relocation of any building system;
d. 
The removal from service of all or part of a fire protection system for any period of time.
[Res. No. 136-06, 12-26-2006]
(a) 
Application for a building permit shall be made to the Code Enforcement Office, requesting sufficient information on forms provided by it to permit a determination that the intended work substantially conforms to the requirements of the Uniform Code and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code, and shall require submission of the following information and documents:
(1) 
A description of the land on which the proposed work is to be done;
(2) 
The use or occupancy of all parts of the land and of any affected building or structure;
(3) 
The valuation of the proposed work;
(4) 
The full name, Tax Map number and address of the owner and of the applicant;
(5) 
A description of the nature of the proposed work;
(6) 
At least two sets of construction documents (drawings and/or specifications) that define the scope of the proposed work; and
(7) 
Such other information as may reasonably be required by Code Enforcement to establish the compliance of the proposed work with the requirements of all applicable building laws, ordinances, and regulations.
(b) 
The owner or lessee shall make applications, or the agent of either or the architect, engineer, or builder employed in connection with the proposed work. Where a person other than the owner makes such application, the owner must also sign such application.
(c) 
Amendments to the application or to the plans and specifications accompanying the application may be filed at any time prior to the completion of the work, subject to the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer.
(d) 
Construction documents shall not be accepted as part of an application for a building permit unless such documents:
(1) 
Are prepared by a New York State registered architect or licensed professional engineer where so required by the Education Law;
(2) 
Indicate with sufficient clarity and detail the nature and extent of the work proposed;
(3) 
Substantiate that the proposed work will comply with the Uniform Code and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code;
(4) 
Include a site plan that shows any existing and proposed structures on the site, the location of the intended work, and the distances between the structures and the lot lines. Plans shall show widths and grades of adjoining streets; walks and alleys; and, where required by the Code Enforcement Officer, details of structural, mechanical, and electrical work and other technical data. The Code Enforcement Officer may waive the requirement for filing plans.
(e) 
Applications for a building permit or for an amendment thereto shall be examined to ascertain whether the proposed construction is in substantial conformance with the requirements of the Uniform Code.
(1) 
The Code Enforcement Officer shall stamp, sign and date all accepted construction documents. One set of accepted construction documents shall be retained by the Code Enforcement Office. One set shall be returned to the applicant to be kept at the work site so as to be available for use by the Code Enforcement Officer.
(f) 
The building permit shall contain a statement directing that all work shall be performed in accordance with the construction documents submitted and accepted as part of the application and shall include the directive that the Code Enforcement Officer shall be notified immediately in the event of changes occurring during construction.
(g) 
Building permits shall expire 12 months from the date of issuance. A building permit shall be invalid unless authorized work has commenced within six months from the date of issuance. A building permit may be renewed for good cause, with a payment of 50% of the original fee, with such time not exceeding two years from the original issuance date.
(h) 
Building permits which are issued in error because of incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete information, or when the work for which the permit was issued violates the Uniform Code, shall be revoked or suspended until such time as the permit holder demonstrates that all work completed and all work proposed shall be in compliance with applicable provisions of the code.
(i) 
Building permits shall be visibly displayed at the work site, to remain visible until the project has been completed.
(j) 
Violations of this article shall be unlawful and subject to paying double the permit application fee as listed in the fee schedule as adopted from time to time by resolution of the Common Council, as well as a fine of $100 per violation.
[Res. No. 89-13, 11-26-2013]
[Res. No. 136-06, 12-26-2006]
Fees for building permits shall be established from time to time by the Common Council by resolution. Such fees may be charged for the issuance of permits, permit renewals, certificates of occupancy, certificates of compliance, temporary certificates of occupancy, operating permits and for firesafety inspections.
[Res. No. 136-06, 12-26-2006]
(a) 
Permitted work shall be required to remain accessible and exposed until inspected and accepted by the Code Enforcement Officer. Permit holders shall be required to notify the Code Enforcement Officer when construction work is ready for inspection.
(b) 
Provisions shall be made for inspection of the following elements or other elements required by Code Enforcement of the construction process, where applicable:
(1) 
Work site prior to the issuance of a permit;
(2) 
Footing and foundation;
(3) 
Preparation for concrete slab;
(4) 
Framing;
(5) 
Building systems, including underground and rough-in;
(6) 
Fire-resistant construction;
(7) 
Fire-resistant penetrations;
(8) 
Solid-fuel-burning heating appliances, chimneys, flues or gas vents;
(9) 
Energy code compliance; and
(10) 
A final inspection after all work authorized by the building permit has been completed.
(c) 
After inspection, the work or a portion thereof shall be noted as satisfactory as completed, or the permit holder shall be notified as to where the work fails to comply with the Uniform Code. Construction work not compliant with code provisions shall be required to remain exposed until it has been brought into compliance with code, been reinspected, and been found satisfactory as completed.
[Res. No. 136-06, 12-26-2006]
Whenever a Code Enforcement Officer has reasonable grounds to believe that work on any building or structure is being prosecuted in violation of the provisions of the applicable Uniform Code, building laws, ordinances, or regulations; not in conformity with the provisions of an application, plans, or specifications on the basis of which a building permit was issued; or in an unsafe and dangerous manner, he shall notify the owner of the property, the owner's agent, or the person performing the work, to suspend all work, and any such persons shall forthwith stop such work and suspend all building activities until the stop order has been rescinded. Such order and notice shall be in writing, shall state the conditions under which the work may be resumed, and may be served upon a person to whom it is directed, either by delivering it personally to him, or by posting such order and notice upon a conspicuous portion of the building under construction and sending a copy of such order and notice by registered mail.