Chapter 15.16
BUILDING OFFICIAL – PERMIT FEES
Sections:
15.16.010 Office established – Appointment.
15.16.060 Issuance of permits.
15.16.010 Office established – Appointment.
A. The office of the building official is created and the executive official in charge shall be known as the building official. The building official is empowered to enforce all the provisions of this title.
B. The building official shall either be:
1. An appointed employee position of the city; or
2. The building official of another city or county having a building department where the city of Okanogan has entered an approved contract with said jurisdiction for the enforcement of this title within the city of Okanogan.
C. In the absence of a mutual aid agreement with a different jurisdiction, during the temporary absence or disability of the building official, the mayor shall designate an acting building official. (Ord. 988 § 1, 2004; Ord. 911 § 2, 2001)
15.16.020 Qualifications.
No person shall be appointed as building official unless he is in good health, physically capable of making the necessary examinations and inspections, and shall have had experience in the building field as an architect, engineer, building inspector or contractor. (Ord. 988 § 1, 2004; Ord. 911 § 2, 2001)
15.16.030 Duties.
A. The building official shall devote such time to the duties of his office as is required to properly perform the same. The office of building official may be combined with, or held in addition to, any other appointed position in the city.
B. The building official shall receive applications required by this title, issue permits, and furnish the required certificates. He shall examine the premises for which permits have been issued and shall make necessary inspection to see that all provisions of law are complied with and that construction is prosecuted safely.
C. The building official is directed to enforce all the provisions of this title and codes adopted by reference.
D. The building official shall, when requested by the proper authority, or when the public interest so requires, make investigations in connection with matters referred to in the adopted codes, and render written reports on the same.
E. In order to enforce compliance with the law, to remove illegal or unsafe conditions, to secure necessary safeguards during construction, or to require adequate exit facilities in buildings or structures, the building official shall issue such notices and orders as may be necessary. (Ord. 988 § 1, 2004; Ord. 911 § 2, 2001)
15.16.040 Records.
The building official shall keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits issued, of certificates issued, of inspections made, or reports rendered, and of notices or orders issued. He shall retain on file copies of required plans and all documents relating to building work so long as any part of the building or structure to which they relate is in existence. Such record shall be open to public inspection for good and sufficient reasons during regular office hours, but shall not be removed from the office of the building official.
A. Reports – City. The building official shall make such reports to the mayor or city council as may from time to time be requested.
B. Reports – Others. The building official shall make such reports to other county, state and federal agencies as may be required by law. (Ord. 988 § 1, 2004; Ord. 911 § 2, 2001)
15.16.050 Right of entry.
The building official, in the discharge of his official duties and upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour. (Ord. 988 § 1, 2004; Ord. 911 § 2, 2001)
15.16.060 Issuance of permits.
Whenever the building official is considering an application for a permit specified by this title, he shall transmit the same to the permit administrator for processing in accordance with Chapter 18.100 OMC. The building official shall issue no permit that is in conflict with other municipal code regulations.
A. Validity of Permits. The issuance or granting of a permit or approval of plans, specifications and computations shall not be construed to be a permit for, or an approval of, any violation of any of the provisions of this title or any ordinance of the city. Permits appearing to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this title or other ordinances of the city shall not be valid. (Ord. 988 § 1, 2004; Ord. 911 § 2, 2001)
15.16.070 Fees.
A. Fees for applications, permits, inspections and other services authorized by this title shall be as set forth in conjunction with the adopted fee ordinance.
B. Valuation. The determination of value or valuation under any of the provisions of this section shall be made by the building official. The value to be used in computing a permit or plan review fee shall be the total value of all construction work for which the permit is issued, as well as all finish work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, elevators, fire-extinguishing systems and any other permanent equipment. In order to maintain uniformity and reliability with respect to fee computations and determinations, the building official shall use a programmatic methodology based on current published averages for various types of construction and uses.
C. Investigation Fees – Work without a Permit.
1. Investigation. Whenever any work for which a permit is required by this title has been commenced without first obtaining said permit, a special investigation shall be made before a permit may be issued for such work.
2. Fee. An investigation fee, in addition to the permit fee, shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued. The investigation fee shall be equal to the amount of the permit fee required by this title. The payment of such investigation fee shall not exempt any person from compliance with all other provisions of this title nor from any penalty prescribed by law.
D. Fee Refunds. The building official may authorize refunding of any fee paid hereunder which was erroneously paid or collected.
The building official may authorize refunding of not more than 80 percent of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a permit issued in accordance with this title. The building official may authorize refunding of not more than 80 percent of the plan review fee paid when an application for a permit for which a plan review fee has been paid is withdrawn or canceled before any plan reviewing is done.
The building official shall not authorize refunding of any fee paid except on written application filed by the original permittee not later than 180 days after the date of fee payment. (Ord. 988 § 1, 2004; Ord. 911 § 2, 2001)
15.16.080 Appeals.
Any person having interest in a building or property to which a decision, determination or order is directed may appeal said decision to the board of appeals provided such appeal is in writing in the proper format and is filed within 30 days of the said action at the office of the building official. Valid appeals will be processed as provided by OMC 15.08.060. (Ord. 988 § 1, 2004; Ord. 911 § 2, 2001)