§ 59-7. Building permits.

A. 

No person, firm or corporation shall commence the erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, removal, improvement, conversion or change in the nature of the occupancy of any building or structure or cause the same to be done without first obtaining a separate building permit from the Building Inspector for each such building or structure; except that no building permit shall be required for the performance of ordinary repairs which are not structural in nature.

B. 

Applications for permits.

(1) 

Application for a building permit shall be made to the Building Inspector on forms provided by him and shall contain the following information:

(a) 

A description of the land on which the proposed work is to be done.

(b) 

A statement of the use or occupancy of all parts of the land and of the building or structure.

(c) 

The valuation of the proposed work.

(d) 

The full name and address of the owner and of the applicant and the names and addresses of their responsible officers if any of them are corporations.

(e) 

A brief description of the nature of the proposed work.

(f) 

A duplicate set of plans and specifications as set forth in Subsection B(3) of this section.

(g) 

Such other information as may reasonably be required by the Building Inspector to establish compliance of the proposed work with the requirements of the applicable building laws, ordinances and regulations.

(2) 

Applications shall be made by the owner or lessee or agent of either or by the architect, engineer or builder employed in connection with the proposed work. Where such application is made by a person other than the owner, it shall be accompanied by an affidavit of the owner or applicant that the proposed work is authorized by the owner and that the applicant is authorized to make such application.

(3) 

Plans and specifications.

(a) 

Each application for a building permit shall be accompanied by duplicate copies of plans and specifications, including a plot plan, drawn to scale, showing the location and size of all proposed new construction and all existing structures on the site, the nature and character of the work to be performed and the materials to be incorporated, distances from lot lines, the relationship of structures on adjoining property, widths and grades of adjoining streets, walks and alleys and, where required by the Building Inspector, details of structural, mechanical and electrical work, including computations, stress diagrams and other essential technical data.

(b) 

Plans and specifications shall bear the signature of the person responsible for the design and drawings.

(c) 

The Building Inspector may waive the requirement for filing plans.

(4) 

Amendments to the application or to the plans and specifications accompanying the same may be filed at any time prior to the completion of the work, subject to the approval of the Building Inspector.

C. 

Processing of applications; issuance of building permits.

(1) 

The Building Inspector shall examine or cause to be examined all applications for permits and the plans, specifications and documents filed therewith. He shall approve or disapprove the application within a reasonable time.

(2) 

Upon approval of the application and upon receipt of the legal fees therefor, he shall issue a building permit to the applicant upon the form prescribed by him and shall affix his signature or cause his signature to be affixed thereto.

(3) 

Upon approval of the application, both sets of plans and specifications shall be endorsed with the word "approved." One set of such approved plans and specifications shall be retained in the files of the Building Inspector and the other set shall be returned to the applicant, together with the building permit, and shall be kept at the building site open to inspection by the Building Inspector or his authorized representative at all reasonable times.

(4) 

If the application, together with plans, specifications and other documents filed therewith, describes proposed work which does not conform to all of the requirements of the applicable building regulations, the Building Inspector shall disapprove the same and shall return the plans and specifications to the applicant. Upon the request of the applicant, the Building Inspector shall cause such refusal, together with the reasons therefor, to be transmitted to the applicant in writing.

D. 

Commencement of work.

(1) 

A building permit shall be effective to authorize the commencing of work in accordance with the application, plans and specifications on which it is based. Any work authorized under such building permit shall be substantially commenced not later than six months from the date of issuance and shall be valid for a period of six months from the commencement of such work. Such permit may be extended by the Building Inspector for good cause shown for two periods of not more than three months each.

(2) 

The issuance of a building permit shall constitute authority to the applicant to proceed with the work in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and in accordance with the applicable building laws, ordinances or regulations. All work shall conform to the approved application, plans and specifications.

E. 

Fees.

[Amended 6-12-1985; 11-26-1986]

(1) 

Upon the filing of an application for a building permit, the applicant shall pay a fee pursuant to the following categories:

(a) 

Up to $1,000 of total valuation of work.

(b) 

For each additional $1,000 of total valuation of work, or fraction thereof, up to and including $15,000.

(c) 

For each additional $1,000 of total valuation of work, or fraction thereof.

(2) 

The building permit fees shall be established annually by the Town Board and shall be on file in the office of the Town Clerk.

F. 

Revocation of building permits. The Building Inspector may revoke a building permit theretofore issued and approved in the following instances:

(1) 

Where he finds that there has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to a material fact in the application, plans or specifications on which the building permit was based.

(2) 

Where he finds that the building permit was issued in error and should not have been issued in accordance with the applicable law.

(3) 

Where he finds that the work performed under the permit is not being prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the application, plans or specifications.

(4) 

Where the person to whom a building permit has been issued fails or refuses to comply with a stop order issued by the Building Inspector.