Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to move a lot line that will affect any existing building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, fire protection, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by and not exempt from the permitting requirements of the State of Connecticut Building Code or any relevant City ordinance, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Building Official and obtain the required permit.
A. 
Work commencing before permit issuance. Any person who commences any work, or causes work to be done, on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, or fire protection system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to enforcement action under Chapter 128 of the Code of the City of West Haven. The fine for each violation shall be $100 for each day that such violation continues. Upon application for a permit, the Building Official is authorized to conduct a pre-permit inspection of work done without the benefit of permits and inspections, and shall charge the applicant for his time according to the Building Department fee schedule.
B. 
Refunds. In the case of a revocation of a permit, withdrawal, abandonment, or discontinuance of a building project, the volume of the work actually completed shall be computed and any excess fee for incomplete work shall be returned to the permit holder upon written request to the Building Official. The Building Official shall establish the value of the completed work, assess plan review fees and inspection fees as may be necessary and fair to account for the Building Department's staff time, and forward the approved fee refund request to the Director of Finance, who shall make reimbursement to the applicant.
C. 
Building permit valuations. Permit construction cost valuations shall be made according to the Connecticut State Building Code. At the time of project completion, the Building Official is authorized to request proof of the total construction cost for work done under all approved permits, and the owner, agent, or contractor shall furnish an affidavit of the total construction costs to the Building Official. If the final cost exceeds the fee declared in the application for the building permit, a certificate of occupancy or completion shall not be issued until the additional fees have been paid to the City.
D. 
Appeal. Any person aggrieved by the foregoing may appeal the Building Official's decision to the Municipal Review Hearing Officer. Said appeals shall be in writing, with supporting documentation affirming the claim, and be submitted to the City Corporation Counsel's office within 30 days of the Building Official's written finding of value or fees due. The Municipal Review Hearing Officer may uphold the Building Official's findings in whole or in part, or may order modification of same, based on the factual documents presented.