Chapter 21.61
MOVING OF BUILDINGS
Sections:
21.61.010 Purpose and scope of chapter.
21.61.020 Classification of movement.
21.61.040 Permit – Application information.
21.61.050 Permit – Application – Deposits and fees.
21.61.060 Permit – Conditions for granting.
21.61.070 Special requirements.
21.61.010 Purpose and scope of chapter.
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 inspection services for all such movements. (Ord. 720 § 4, 2021)
21.61.020 Classification of movement.
Movement of buildings is classified as follows:
(1) “Class I” move is the movement of any building from an origin outside the City to a destination within the City;
(2) “Class II” move is the movement of any building from one point within the City to another point within the City;
(3) “Class III” move is the movement of a building from a point within the City to a destination outside the City; and
(4) “Class IV” move is the movement of any building through the City with both an origin and destination outside the City. (Ord. 720 § 4, 2021)
21.61.030 Permit – Required.
No person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind shall move any building over, upon, along or across any public street without a written permit from the City for all such moves as classified and defined in WMC 21.61.020. (Ord. 720 § 4, 2021)
21.61.040 Permit – Application information.
Application for a permit shall be furnished by the City. 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 (include legal description);
(4) Date and time requested for movement;
(5) Map or description of requested route to be taken;
(6) Height, width, and length of building to be moved and truck or equipment to be used for moving the building; and
(7) Classification of movement (as defined in WMC 21.61.020). (Ord. 720 § 4, 2021)
21.61.050 Permit – Application – Deposits and fees.
(1) Every applicant before being granted a permit shall pay an application filing fee as shall be established from time to time by the City.
(2) For any application for a Class I or II move herein provided for, there shall be charged and collected an inspection fee in an amount as shall be established from time to time by the City.
(3) An application hereunder shall be accompanied by the following:
(a) A cash deposit or corporate surety bond in the sum of $1,000 or such greater amount as the Director determines necessary as indemnity for any damage which the City may sustain by reason or 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;
(b) A public liability insurance policy, naming the City as an additional insured and providing $100,000 or such greater amount as the Director 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; and
(c) A cash deposit or a corporate surety performance bond in the sum of $500.00 or such greater amount as the Director determines necessary conditioned upon the permittee, within six months from the date of the issuance of such permit (i) completing the construction, painting and finishing of the exterior of the building, and (ii) faithfully complying with all requirements of this chapter, the building code, the zoning code, the other ordinances and codes then in effect within the City including but not limited to permittee completing such work within six months of the date of the issuance of such permit. In the event the provisions of this subsection are not complied with within the time specified, the sum of $500.00 shall be forfeited to the City as a penalty for the default and this shall be in addition to any other penalties provided for failure to comply with the terms of this chapter. (Ord. 720 § 4, 2021)
21.61.060 Permit – Conditions for granting.
As a condition of securing the permit for a Class I or II move:
(1) 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;
(2) The permittee shall, prior to making application for such permit or within 10 days after making such application cause all of the interior or exterior walls, ceiling, or flooring to be removed to such extent as may be necessary to permit the building official to examine the materials and type of construction of such building to ascertain whether it will comply with the existing building code and other applicable ordinances in the City; and
(3) The permittee shall obtain certified statements of inspection and present to the building official from the Seattle-King County Department of Public Health relating to plumbing and the Department of Labor and Industries, Electrical Inspection Division, State of Washington, relating to electrical, to certify that such electrical and plumbing facilities of the building meet the minimum applicable code requirements. Such statements of inspection shall be presented to the building official within the 10-day period referenced in subsection (2) of this section. All buildings involved in a Class I or II move shall meet all minimum standards for plumbing and electrical facilities or shall be improved to such code standards prior to a permit being issued by the City. (Ord. 720 § 4, 2021)
21.61.070 Special requirements.
(1) Escort. For Class I, II, III and IV moves, the house mover shall provide at least two off-duty police officers or other appropriate agency employees which provide an escort service for the purpose of regulating traffic along the route such building is being moved; provided, that any such police or special agency escort shall be at the expense of the house mover in addition to any other fees or deposits heretofore required. No variances of the provisions of the permit shall be permitted by the escort.
(2) Time. Time of the movement shall be designated by the City. 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, strikes or other causes not within the control of the house mover.
(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 house mover 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 Class II or III move the area or lot upon which the structure was formerly located shall be cleaned up and satisfactorily graded; 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; and all trash removed therefrom to the satisfaction of the Director. (Ord. 720 § 4, 2021)