Chapter 16.10
MOVING BUILDINGS

Sections:

16.10.010    Purpose – Scope.

16.10.020    Definitions.

16.10.030    Permit required.

16.10.040    Permit – Application information.

16.10.050    Permit – Application – Deposits and fees.

16.10.060    Permit – Conditions for granting.

16.10.070    Special requirements.

16.10.080    Permit refused – When.

16.10.090    Violation – Penalty.

16.10.010 Purpose – Scope.

It is the purpose of this chapter to establish standards, including minimum requirements for the moving of all buildings and other structures within the corporate limits of the City, and to provide for the issuance of a permit, collection of various fees, and inspectional services for all such movements. (Ord. O99-41 § 1)

16.10.020 Definitions.

Definitions as used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, shall be as follows:

(1) “Building” means and includes every building, house, structure, or other like object;

(2) “Housemover” means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of moving houses, buildings, structures, or other like object;

(3) “Person” means and includes any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind. (Ord. O99-41 § 2)

16.10.030 Permit required.

No person shall move any building over, upon, along, or across any public street without a written permit therefor issued by the City building official. (Ord. O99-41 § 3)

16.10.040 Permit – Application information.

The City shall furnish application for a permit. The application for permit shall contain or have attached thereto the following information:

(1) Name and address of applicant;

(2) Location of building to be moved (present address if assigned);

(3) Location of proposed site to which building is to be moved;

(4) Date and time requested for movement;

(5) Map or description of requested route to be taken; and

(6) Height, width, and length of building to be moved and truck or equipment to be used for moving the building. (Ord. O99-41 § 4)

16.10.050 Permit – Application – Deposits and fees.

(1) Every applicant before being granted a permit shall pay an application filing fee in the amount as set forth by resolution in addition to any other required review fees.

(2) An application hereunder shall be accompanied by the following:

(a) A cash deposit or corporate surety bond in the sum of $10,000 or such greater amount as the building official determines necessary as indemnity for any damage that the City may sustain by reason of damage or injury to any highway, street or alley, sidewalk, or other property of the City, which may be caused by or be incidental to the removal of any building over, along, or across any street in the City and to indemnify the City against any claim of damages to persons or private property; and

(b) A public liability insurance policy providing $250,000 or such greater amount as the building official determines necessary to satisfy any claim by private individuals, firms, or corporations arising out of, caused by, or incidental to the moving of any building over, along, or across any street in the City. (Ord. O99-41 § 5)

16.10.060 Permit – Conditions for granting.

As a condition of securing a permit for a relocation within the City the permittee shall furnish the City with a set of plans and specifications for the completed building to include a plot plan prepared by a registered engineer or land surveyor from the state of Washington showing in detail the placement of the proposed structure upon the lot within the City. (Ord. O99-41 § 6)

16.10.070 Special requirements.

(1) Escort. The housemover shall provide at least two escorts for the purpose of regulating traffic along the route such building is being moved; provided, that any such escorts shall be at the expense of the housemover. The building official shall approve the route selected.

(2) Time. The City shall designate the time of the movement. Every such permit shall become and be void unless such removal shall be completed and the building removed from the public right-of-way within the time specified in the application for such permit; provided, however, that the City may extend such time when the moving of any building is rendered impractical by reason of inclemency of the weather or other causes not within the control of the housemover. If more than one day will be required to move the building, the building official shall designate where the building shall be located when not being moved.

(3) Lights. No person moving any building over, upon, along, or across any public street shall fail, neglect, or refuse to keep a red light (or such other devices as the City may require) at all times at each corner of such building and at the end of any projection thereon while the same is located in or upon any public street.

(4) Notice to Utilities. Before any building shall be moved the housemover shall give written notice to the public utilities or agencies designated in the application not less than three days in advance of the proposed move.

(5)  Condition of Lot. After the completion of any move the area or lot upon which the structure was formerly located shall be left in a safe and sanitary condition, including, but not limited to, the following: the sanitary sewer connection, if one exists, shall be plugged and marked; the water meter shall be removed and the line satisfactorily capped and marked; the electrical and telephone lines removed; all wells shall be capped or filled; and all trash shall be removed therefrom to the satisfaction of the building official. (Ord. O99-41 § 7)

16.10.080 Permit refused – When.

The building official shall not issue a permit if it is found that:

(1) Any application requirement or any fee or deposit requirement has not been complied with;

(2) The building is too large to move without endangering persons or property in the City;

(3) The building is in such a state of deterioration or disrepair or is otherwise so structurally unsafe that it could not be moved without endangering persons and property in the City;

(4) The building is structurally unsafe or unfit for the purpose for which moved, if the removal location is in the City;

(5) The applicant’s equipment is unsafe and that persons and property would be endangered by its use;

(6) Zoning or other ordinances would be violated by the building in its new location;

(7) The applicant has not furnished proof that all affected public and private utilities, including those with electricity, gas, telephone, water, and sewer have been notified of the time of the move and the route to be followed; and

(8) For any other reason persons or property in the City would be endangered by the moving of the building.

Approval of the application by the police department and community development department shall be a condition precedent to issuance of the permit. (Ord. O99-41 § 8)

16.10.090 Violation – Penalty.

Every person, firm, or corporation violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by a fine of not to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days or by both fine and imprisonment. Each separate day or any portion thereof during which any violation of this chapter occurs or continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable as provided in this section. (Ord. O99-41 § 9)