(a)

Except as otherwise provided, the building inspector and the town clerk shall administer this chapter including the receiving of applications. The building inspector shall approve building permits and premises and enforce this chapter. No building permit shall be issued by the town clerk, except in cases in which the provisions of this chapter have been complied with and only after approval of the building inspector.

(b)

No vacant lands shall be occupied or used and no building or structure shall be erected, added to, repaired, or structurally altered until a permit has been issued by the building inspector. All applications for permits shall be in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(c)

Applications for building permits shall be made to the building inspector upon a form furnished by the municipality and approved by the building inspector which shall state among other things the following:

(1)

The name and address of the owner of the land;

(2)

The name and address of the owner of the building, if different;

(3)

The location of the property; and

(4)

The nature of the improvements, alterations, or repairs.

Attached to the form shall be furnished plans and drawings as determined to be necessary by the building inspector to show the essential features of the building or structure and the proposed construction, alteration, repair, or removal of the same. Also attached to the form shall be an official statement from the St. Tammany Parish School Board indicating the current capacities and enrollment of those present school facilities and the capacities and expected completion dates of those planned, funded school facilities (if any) which will provide educational services for students who reside in the Town of Abita Springs. This information shall be considered as a factor in the decision making process for such building permit before such permit shall be issued.

(d)

There shall be submitted with all applications for building permits, including those for new additions and new building construction, two copies of the layout or plat drawn to scale, showing the actual dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the exact size and location on the lot of the building and appurtenant structure to be erected, a set of specifications, a building plan, and other information as may be necessary to determine and provide for the enforcement of this chapter. Final approval shall not be made until the building inspector has made a final inspection with approval.

(e)

On outside wall alterations bordering a public street or a new construction facing a public street, or on commercial buildings in a commercial zone, or on accessory buildings in residential zones built on a street line, the applicant shall attach to the application two copies of a plan or sketch made by a licensed civil engineer or a licensed surveyor showing the measured property line of the lot on which the building is or will be located and an outside outline of the building or buildings facing the public street with measurements with relation to the property line. Before work is begun, the civil engineer or surveyor shall stake the property line along the public street.

(f)

One copy of the layout plat plan shall be returned when approved by the building inspector together with the permit to the applicant upon the payment of a fee in accordance with a schedule of amounts of building fee as set by the mayor. The amount of such fee shall be published on the website of the town and included in a list of such fees made available at the Office of the Town Clerk.

(1)

Except as provided in paragraph (2) below, the permit fee shall be:

a.

New construction:

$0.10 per square foot permit fee:

$175.00 inspection fee plus an impact fee as provided as follows: On single-family residential, there shall be a $500.00 impact fee; on commercial buildings and industrial buildings, there shall be a $500.00 plus $200.00 per water closet and/or $200.00 for every two urinals impact fee; for multifamily residential, there shall be a $500.00 impact fee per apartment.

The inspection fee includes a cost of the initial inspections for the following inspections: (a) pre-inspection plans and site, (b) tree, (c) plumbing underground, (d) pre-pour, (e) temporary electric, (f) rough in, (g) final, and is based on a cost of $25.00 per inspection for new construction. A $25.00 re-inspection fee shall be charged for any re-inspections by the building inspector.

b.

Repairs, renovations, and additions:

$0.10 per square foot permit fee: The inspection fees are to be determined by the building inspector based on the cost of $15.00 per inspection as required by the activity.

(2)

Special mobile home permit fee: $0.02 per square feet for each square foot of space plus $5.00 minimum for each anchorage inspection fee, but in no event less than $5.00.

(g)

The town clerk and the building inspector shall maintain a record of all certificates and copies shall be furnished, upon request, to any person having property or tenancy interest in the building affected upon payment of a fee of $5.00.

(h)

Applications for building permits shall be ruled upon within five working days from the date on which a complete application is submitted.

(i)

A building permit shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance.

(Ord. No. 108, § 19.33, 9-4-79; Ord. No. 176, 1-18-94; Ord. No. 179, 2-21-95; Ord. No. 208, 6-16-98; Ord. No. 256, 8-19-03; Ord. No. 260, 10-21-03; Ord. No. 318, 3-26-07; Ord. No. 505, 11-19-2019; Ord. No. 511, 1-21-2020)