It shall be unlawful for any person to hereafter erect or cause to be erected within the city any building or structure of any kind or enlarge or add to the outside dimension thereof, or relocate any building or structure already erected or which may hereafter be erected or remodel any building or structure within the city without a building permit being first obtained therefor from the city clerk. The application for such permit shall be made and the permit obtained before work is commenced upon any building or structure or the foundation thereof, or before the removal of any building begins.

(Code 1987)

(a)   A building permit shall be issued upon an application in writing to the office of city clerk on a form or forms provided for the purpose. This application shall, among other things, disclose the following:

(1)   The name of the owner of the lot or tract of ground;

(2)   The location of the building or structure;

(3)   The building work proposed;

(4)   The outside dimensions of the building by floors and dimensions of the basement (if any);

(5)   The class of occupancy;

(6)   The class of construction;

(7)   The kind of materials to be used for walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, and foundations;

(8)   The estimated cost of the work;

(9)   The date work will commence;

(10) Expected date of completion;

(11) Name and address of contractor or contractors doing the work;

(12) Such other information as may be pertinent to the issuance of the required permit.

(b)   An application for a building permit shall be signed by the owner or his or her duly authorized agent, or a building contractor licensed by the city. If the application is made by the owner or his or her agent, it shall contain the name or names of the licensed contractor or contractors doing the work described, or a building permit may be issued to the owner upon his or her application disclosing satisfactory evidence that the proposed work will be performed by the owner, himself or herself and not by a licensed contractor, and likewise subject to the final approval of the building inspector for work performed.

(c)   Upon approval of the completed application and a determination that a permit should be issued, the chief building official or his, her assistant shall issue a permit to the owner or contractor authorizing the building work covered by the application.

(d)   Any permit issued under this section shall be valid and subsisting for a period of not more than six months from the date of issuance unless the permittee shall have commenced, within the period so limited, the building work authorized by such permit. Building work commenced for the purpose of this section shall mean the beginning of building work other than the preparation of plans or the staking out of the building location or the letting of a building contract.

(Code 1987)

Whenever an application for a building permit is made, the city clerk may, if he or she finds it necessary to determine whether building work described in the application will comply with the laws pertaining to such work, require that the applicant file a written description or drawing of the proposed building as may be prepared for the purpose. If such drawing or description is insufficient for the purposes of determining whether a permit should be issued, the city clerk may require the applicant to file complete architectural and engineering plans and specifications for such building, or any part thereof. The filing of such plans and specifications and the approval thereof in connection with an application for a permit shall not in any way affect the authority of the city to deny or issue a permit.

(Code 1987)

(a)   The fee for a building permit shall be as follows:

(1)   For work costing at least $100, but not more than $1,000 - $1;

(2)   For work costing over $1,000 - $1 for the first $1,000 plus 50¢ per $1,000 for each additional $1,000.

(b)   No fee shall be required to obtain a permit where the total estimated cost, the reasonable value of all services, labor and materials required, is under $100.

(c)   The fee herein shall be paid to the city clerk upon obtaining a building permit and e same shall be credited to the general operating fund of the city.

(d)   The fee for a zoning permit shall be $10.

(Code 1962, 5-103; Code 1987)

A copy of the building permit shall be kept on the premises for public inspection during the performance of the work and until the completion of the same. The city clerk may require a certified copy of the approved plans to be kept on the premises at all times from the commencement of the work to the completion thereof.

(Code 1987)