A. Permit required. No building or sign or part thereof shall be constructed, structurally altered, enlarged, or moved unless a permit for such action has been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer or his or her agent, except as otherwise exempted from a permit in this chapter. The contractor, builder, and developer, as well as the property owner, shall be responsible for any and all permits. Site plan approval, in accordance with Article XVI: Site Plan Review, may be required prior to the issuance of a building permit for certain types of uses, including commercial, industrial and multifamily residential construction.

B. Compliance with this chapter. No building permit for a building, sign or structure on any lot shall be issued except to the owner of record thereof, or his or her authorized agent, until the proposed construction or alteration of a building or structure shall comply in all respects with the provisions of this chapter or with a decision rendered by the Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Site Plan Review Committee, and/or others under this chapter.

C. Applications for permits. All applications for building, sign, or use permits shall be submitted in writing to the Code Enforcement Officer on forms provided for the purpose. The application shall be accompanied by the following information:

(1) A plot plan drawn to scale showing the shape and dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the location and size of all buildings, signs, or structures already existing on the lot, the locations of new buildings, signs, or structures to be constructed, and the lines within which all buildings and structures are to be constructed;
(2) A statement of the use intended to be made of the lot and buildings;
(3) Approved plumbing permits where applicable;
(4) A drawing of proposed and existing signs, indicating dimensions, where applicable;
(5) Building elevation drawings for all attached signs, indicating the proposed location and specifications; and
(6) Evidence of site plan approval if required by Article XVI: Site Plan Review.

D. Action on applications. Within seven (7) days of filing of an application for a building or use permit, the Code Enforcement Officer shall approve, deny, or refer to the Planning Board for conditional use approval all such applications. If the proposed activity requires site plan review in accordance with Article XVI: Site Plan Review, the Code Enforcement Officer shall refer the applicant to the Planning Director. His/her decision shall be in writing on a form designed for the purpose and communicated directly to the applicant. One (1) copy of the Code Enforcement Officer's decision shall be filed in the Code Enforcement Officer's office. In cases where the Code Enforcement Officer deems that a conditional use permit is required, s/he shall also provide a copy of his decision to the Planning Board.

E. Plumbing permit required. No building permit shall be issued for any structure or use involving the construction, installation, or alteration of plumbing facilities unless a valid plumbing permit has been secured by the applicant or his or her authorized agent.

F. Start of work. No work shall be begun on a project requiring a building permit, plumbing permit, site plan approval, and/or other municipal approval or permit until all required permits and/or approvals have been obtained. Start of work shall include clearing and grubbing of the site, grading, excavation, or construction of buildings or structures.

G. Revision of proposed work. A new permit is required if any changes in plans, construction, size, or use of any building, structures, or parts thereof are made after issuance of the previous permit.

H. Time valid.

(1) A building permit secured under the provisions of this chapter shall expire if the work or change is not commenced within six (6) months of the date on which the permit is granted and if the work or change is not substantially completed within eighteen (18) months of the date on which the permit is granted.
(2) Extensions of up to six (6) months beyond the commencement or completion dates may be granted by the Code Enforcement Officer upon written request.
 

I. Pending applications. Nothing in this chapter shall require any change in the plans, construction, size, or designated use for any building, structure, or part thereof for which an application for a building permit has been made or a building permit has been issued or upon which construction has been commenced prior to the adoption or amendment of this chapter, provided construction shall start within sixty (60) days after the issuance of such permit.

J. Required records. Applications for permits with their accompanying plans and building permits shall be maintained as a permanent record by the Code Enforcement Officer.

K. Rights related to a public right-of-way. Neither the granting of a permit nor the installation or placement of a sign in the public right-of-way conveys permanent property rights relating to the public right-of-way. An illegal sign in the public right-of-way may be removed by the City without notice, at the owner's expense if the illegal sign is within the public right-of-way.

See Applications and Fees for more information.
See Permit Applications for more information.