The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by the building inspector or by such deputies of his department as the building inspector may delegate for such work. He shall make such general rules and prescribe the use of such forms and methods consistent with the intent of this chapter as may facilitate the work. With the approval of the city council the building inspector may employ expert service to aid in the administration of the chapter.

(Code 1969, § 5.296; Code 1977, § 28-513)

(a)

No building or structure shall hereafter be erected, moved, repaired, altered or razed until a permit shall have been obtained by the owner of said building from the building inspector. No such permit shall be issued for the erection, moving, repair, alteration or razing of any building or structure or part thereof, which is not in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

(b)

Any building permit issued under the provisions of the city Code shall be valid only for a period of six months following the date of the issuance thereof.

(Code 1969, § 5.297; Code 1977, § 28-514)

(a)

No change shall be made in the use of a building or part thereof now or hereafter erected or structurally altered, or in the use of land now or hereafter occupied, without a use permit having first been issued by the building inspector. No such use permit shall be issued to make such a change unless it is in conformity with the provisions of this chapter or amendments thereto hereafter duly enacted.

(b)

The building inspector shall place his stamp of approval on the plans submitted to him with date of approval. One copy of the plans shall be returned to the applicant submitting such plans and the second copy shall be placed on file in the office of the building inspector. In all cases when the building inspector shall refuse to issue a permit, he shall state such a refusal, in writing, with the cause and reasons for said refusal.

(Code 1969, § 5.298; Code 1977, § 28-515)

An application for a building or use permit shall be made to the building inspector. Such application shall be accompanied by a plat in duplicate, drawn to scale, showing the exact dimensions of the land and structure to which the permit is to apply, the lines of all the lots or parcels under separate ownership contained therein, the width of and alignment of all abutting streets, alleys, easements of access and public open space, the area, size, position and height of all buildings or structures with plans drawn to scale, of the proposed structure or alteration and such other information as may be deemed necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter. An accessory building, when erected at the same time as the principal building on a lot and shown on the application thereof, shall not require a separate permit. Whenever the buildings, lands and uses thereof, as set forth on the application are in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, it shall be the duty of the building inspector to issue a permit within ten days after the receipt of such application. All permits, when issued, shall be conspicuously posted upon the premises.

(Code 1969, § 5.299; Code 1977, § 28-516)

Before any permit shall be issued, under this chapter, an inspection fee shall be paid in an amount fixed by a schedule established by resolution of the city council.

(Code 1969, § 5.300; Code 1977, § 28-517)

It shall be the duty of the holder of every permit to notify the building inspector, in writing, of the time when such building or land use will be ready for inspection. Two such inspections shall be requested on all buildings. The first of these inspections shall be requested when excavation for foundations has been completed, and the second inspection shall be requested when the building is completed. In case of sheds and garages, having an area of less than 800 square feet, only one inspection, by the building inspector, shall be required, which inspection shall be requested as soon as wall studs are in place. In the case of change in land use or use of a building one inspection shall be required when such land use or building has been completed. Failure to notify the building inspector of the time for such inspection shall automatically cancel the permit. Before reissuing a second permit the building inspector may require the payment of a second fee. A notice to call the attention of the holders of permits to the requirements of this section shall be printed on all permits issued.

(Code 1969, § 5.301; Code 1977, § 28-518)

It shall be unlawful to use or permit the use of any building or structure hereafter altered, extended or erected or to use or permit the use of any land until the building inspector shall have made an inspection of the building or land and shall have approved the same for occupancy or use.

(Code 1969, § 5.302; Code 1977, § 28-519)

No land or building hereafter erected or altered shall be occupied, used or changed in use until a certificate of occupancy shall have been issued by the building inspector stating that the land or building or proposed use of a building or land complies with all the building and health laws and ordinances and the provisions of this chapter.

(Code 1969, § 5.303; Code 1977, § 28-520)

Certificates of occupancy shall be applied for coincident with the application for a permit and shall be issued within ten days after the erection or alteration of such building or the use of land shall have been completed in conformity with the provisions of these regulations. A record of all such certificates shall be kept on file in the office of the building inspector and copies shall be furnished on request to any person having a proprietary or tenancy interest in the building affected. No fee shall be charged for an original certificate applied for coincident with the application for a permit; for all other certificates, or for copies of any original certificates, there shall be a charge as established in schedule of fees adopted by the council. No permit for the excavation for or the alteration of any building or for any use of land shall be issued before application has been made for a certificate of occupancy.

(Code 1969, § 5.304; Code 1977, § 28-521)

The building inspector may issue a temporary certificate of occupancy for a part of a building prior to the occupation of the entire building, provided such temporary certificate shall not remain in force for a period in excess of six months nor more than five days after the building is fully completed and ready for occupancy, and provided further, that the owners, at the time of application for said temporary certificate of occupancy, shall execute and sign a statement of willingness to comply with all conditions set forth in said certificate under penalty of revocation thereof.

(Code 1969, § 5.305; Code 1977, § 28-522)

A certificate of occupancy shall be required for each nonconforming use of buildings existing prior to the time of passage of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived. Application for such certificate of occupancy for nonconforming uses shall be filed with the building inspector by the owner or lessee of the building occupied by such nonconforming use within one year from the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived. It shall be the duty of the building inspector to issue a certificate of occupancy for such nonconforming use upon such application. The failure of the owner or lessee of the building occupied by such nonconforming use to obtain such certificate of occupancy for same within one year from the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, shall create a conclusive presumption that such nonconforming use did not exist prior to the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived, and such nonconforming use shall be discontinued within one year from the effective date of the ordinance from which this chapter is derived.

(Code 1969, § 5.306; Code 1977, § 28-523)