The office of building inspector of the city is hereby established in accordance with the provisions of this ordinance. The duties of the building inspector shall include inspecting premises, issuing building permits, and certificates of occupancy for uses and buildings, and ensuring that all such buildings and uses are in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance.

Cross reference— Officers and employees, § 2-91 et seq.

Building permits shall be issued in accordance with the following provisions:

(102.1)

Building permit required. It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation or filling of any lot for any construction of any building; or to commence construction or moving or alteration of any building, or to commence the development of land for a use not requiring a building until the building inspector has issued a building permit for such work.

(102.2)

Issuance of building permit. In applying to the building inspector for a building permit, the applicant shall submit two copies of a dimensional sketch or a to-scale plan signed by the owner or the owner's authorized agent, indicating the shape, size and location of the lot to be built upon; the shape, size, height, use and location of the buildings to be erected, demolished, altered or moved and of any buildings already on the lot; the number of dwelling units the building is designed to accommodate, if any; the setback lines of buildings on adjoining lots and such other information concerning the lot or adjoining lots as may be essential for determining whether the provisions of this ordinance are being observed. If the proposed excavation, filling, construction or movement set forth in said sketch or plans are in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance and other ordinances of the city then in force, the building inspector shall sign and return one copy of the sketch plan to the applicant and shall issue a building permit upon payment of any required fee. The building inspector shall retain one copy of the building permit and one copy of the sketch or plan.

(102.3)

Refusal of building permit. If the sketch or plan submitted describes work which does not conform to the requirements of this ordinance, the building inspector shall not issue a building permit, but shall return one copy of the sketch or plan to the applicant along with a signed refusal in writing. Such refusal shall state the reasons therefor and shall cite the portions of this ordinance with which the submitted sketch or plan does not comply. The building inspector shall retain one copy of the sketch or plan and two copies of the refusal.

(102.4)

Time limitations. Any building permit issued shall become invalid unless the work authorized by it shall have been commenced within six months of its date of issue, or if the work authorized by it is suspended or abandoned for a period of one year.

Certificates of occupancy shall be issued by the building inspector in accordance with the following provisions:

(103.1)

Certificate of occupancy required. A certificate of occupancy issued by the building inspector is required in advance of occupancy or use of:

(a)

A building hereafter erected.

(b)

A building hereafter altered so as to affect height, the side, front or rear yards.

(c)

A change of type of occupancy or use of any building on premises.

(d)

Each nonconforming use erected by the passage of subsequent amendments to this ordinance.

(103.2)

Issuance of certificate of occupancy. Upon payment of any required fees, the building inspector shall sign and issue a certificate of occupancy if the proposed use of land or building, as stated on the application for certificate of occupancy and signed thereto by the owner or the owner's appointed agent, is found to conform to the applicable provisions of this ordinance, and if the building, as finally constructed, complies with the sketch or plan submitted for the building permit.

(103.3)

Denial of certificate of occupancy. A certificate of occupancy shall not be issued unless the proposed use of a building or land conforms to the applicable provisions of this ordinance, or unless the building, as finally constructed, complies with the sketch or plan upon which the building permit was issued.

It shall be the duty of the building inspector to keep a record of all building permits and certificates of occupancy issued, with a notation of all special conditions involved. The building inspector shall file and safely keep copies of all sketches and plans submitted, and the same shall form a part of the records of the building inspector's office and shall be available for the use of the city council, board of zoning appeals, planning commission, and officials of the city.

Any person violating any provision of this ordinance shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person convicted of violating any provision of this ordinance shall be fined not less than $5.00 nor more than $50.00 for such offense. Each day such violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

In case any building is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained, or any building or land is used in violation of this ordinance, the building inspector, or any other appropriate city authority, or any person who would be damaged by such violation, in addition to other remedies, may institute injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate action in proceeding to prevent the violation in the case of each such building or use of land.