CHAPTER 4. BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTIONCHAPTER 4. BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION\Article 2. Building Code

Article 2. Building Code

As used in this article, the words and phrases herein defined shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)   Whenever the word municipality is used in the building code, it shall be held to mean the City of Mayetta, Kansas;

(b)   Whenever the term corporation counsel is used in the building code, it shall be held to mean the city attorney of the City of Mayetta;

(c)   Whenever the term building official is used in the building code, it shall be held to mean the building inspector or his or her authorized designee.

(Code 2016)

There is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings and structures, the International Building Code, 2015 Edition, as recommended by the International Conference of Building Officials, such code being made as a part of the ordinances and code of the city as if the same had been set out in full herein, all as authorized and in the manner prescribed by K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012 including any amendments thereto. One copy of the International Building Code, 2015 Edition, shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by the Code of the City of Mayetta,” and shall be filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours of business.

Any person violating any provision of such code shall be punished as provided in section 1-116 of this code.

(Code 2016)

The following sections of this article are in addition to the provisions of the standard code incorporated by reference in section 4-202.

(Code 2016)

(a)   This and other articles of the city relating generally to building and structures shall be administered and enforced by the building inspector. The mayor shall act as chief building official and may assume the responsibilities of or with the consent and approval of the governing body appoint a building inspector and such other assistants as may be advisable for the issuance of building permits and the inspection of building work.

(b)   The city clerk shall prepare such application, permit, inspection and record forms as may be required for the purposes of the article. The city council may make and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to obtain conformity with this article pertaining to the making of applications for building permits, issuing of building permits and inspecting of buildings and building works.

(Code 2016)

The mayor may assume the responsibilities of or appoint some qualified officer or employee of the city to be and perform the duties of building inspector as may be required, subject to the consent and approval of the governing body. 

(Code 2016)

The building inspector shall have the following duties:

(a)   To enforce all regulations relating to construction, alteration, repair, removal and demolition of building and structures;

(b)   May permit, with the approval of the governing body, on the basis of duly authenticated reports from recognized sources, the use of new materials or modes of construction, not provided for in this article, and may, for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this article adopt an accepted standard of material or workmanlike practices of federal or state bureaus, national, technical organizations or fire underwriters;

(c)   To examine all buildings in the process of erection, construction, alteration or relocation in the city for the purpose of determining whether the work is in compliance with the permit given and in compliance with the regulations of the city pertaining to such work, including zoning regulations; and;

(d)   To keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits or certificates issued, of inspections made, of reports rendered, and of notices or orders issued. All such records shall be open to public inspection during stated office hours, but shall not be removed from the office of the building official without his or her written consent.

(Code 2016)

The building inspector shall have the following powers:

(a)   To enter any building or structure or premises at any reasonable hour, whether complete or in the process of erection, to perform the duties contained in this chapter;

(b)   To adopt and enforce all such prudent emergency measures as he or she may deem necessary and expedient for the public safety under the laws of the city;

(c)   May cause any work done in violation of this chapter to be discontinued until he or she shall have satisfactory evidence that the work will be done in accordance with the building regulations of the city, subject to the right of any builder or owner to appeal to the governing body.

(Code 2016)

The building inspector, or his or her agent, upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour to perform his or her duties as set out in this chapter. 

(Code 2016)

(a)   The governing body shall be the final determiner of the scope and meaning of all provisions of the building code which may be unclear, ambiguous, or requiring interpretation.

(b)   The building inspector shall have power to modify any of the provisions of the building code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee or his or her authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code. In approving modifications, the building inspector shall see that the spirit of the code is observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of a modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the inspector thereon shall be entered upon the records of the building inspector and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant. 

(Code 2016)

It shall be unlawful for any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to cause any such work to be done within the city without a building permit being first obtained therefor from the city clerk, after approval by the chief building official or his or her duly authorized assistant. 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 2016)

(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)  

(1)   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.

(2)   If an application for a building permit indicates that it is for commercial or residential roofing services, including construction, installation, renovation, repair, maintenance, alteration or waterproofing, the application shall include the contractor’s name, the contractor’s place of business within the city (and home office if not a resident), the contractor’s state registration number as issued under the Kansas Roofing Registration Act (K.S.A. 2013 Supp. 50-6,121, et seq.), and shall also be signed by the roofing contractor or contractor’s authorized agent. Provided, however, that this subsection shall not apply to:

(i)    An actual owner of commercial or residential property who physically performs, or has employees who perform, roofing services on such owner’s own dwelling or other structures located on the residential property without the assistance of a registered roofing contractor.

(ii)   to those persons identified in K.S.A. 2014 Supp. 50-6,129(a)(1:8), and amendments there to.

(iii)  to an “exempt general contractor”, as defined in K.S.A. 50-6,122, and amendments thereto.

(3)   If the application for a building permit indicates that it involves renovation, repairing or painting of a home or child-occupied facility, including day care centers and schools, built before 1978 and will disturb six square feet of painted interior surfaces or 20 square feet of painted exterior surfaces, the contractor performing the services must furnish proof of Kansas certification as a licensed renovation firm or renovator. Provided, however, that this subsection does not apply to a home owner performing work on an owner-occupied residence. In addition, this subsection does not apply to any other exception or exemption set forth in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, as described in K.A.R. 28-72-1:54 and in 40 CFR Part 745, and amendments thereto.

(c)   Upon approval of the completed application, including, if required, the verification of state roofer registration or other state certification, and a determination that a permit should be issued, the chief building official or his or her assistant shall issue a permit to the owner or contractor authorizing the building work covered by the application. If applicable, the permit shall include the roofer registration number or any other certification or license number issued by the state.

(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 2016)

Whenever an application for a building permit is made, the chief building official 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 building official may require the applicant to file complete architectural and engineering plans and specifications for such building, or any part thereof, as may be necessary for the inspector to determine compliance with this article. 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, or to inspect any building work for conformity with this article. 

(Code 2016)

The fee for a building permit shall be set by a building permit fee ordinance; however 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 $1,000. The fee herein shall be paid to the city clerk upon obtaining a building permit and the same shall be credited to the general operating fund of the city. 

(Code 2016)

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 building inspector 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 2016)

Upon the completion of any work under a building permit, the chief building official, the building inspector or his or her designee is authorized to issue a certificate of approval for the occupancy and use of the building or structure. The certificate shall show the number of inspections made and the orders and corrections required during the course of the work. A copy of such certificate shall be given the owner. 

(Code 2016)

The contractor or builder having a permit for new construction, or additions to existing buildings, shall notify the chief building official or building inspector immediately upon the marking or laying out of the site and foundation for such work. The official or inspector shall inspect the layout for conformity with this article and with respect to lot lines, setbacks and location of the proposed buildings to determine conformity with the city zoning regulations. In case of doubt respecting the required location, the chief building official may require an official survey of the lot lines to determine conformity, at the expense of the permit holder. 

(Code 2016)

Upon the completion of any building construction work covered by this article, it shall be the duty of the person doing such work to notify the building inspector and request that it be inspected; after which such work shall be inspected promptly as hereinafter provided. 

(Code 2016)

An initial inspection fee and subsequent inspections shall be set by a fee schedule ordinance and each shall be paid before any building or construction work will be approved or a certificate of approval issued.

(Code 2016)

(a)   A builder or building contractor for purposes of this article shall be any person, firm, co- partnership, corporation, association, or any combination thereof, whether a resident or not of the city:

(1)   Who or which undertakes with or for another, for a fixed sum, price, fee or any compensation other than wages, to build, construct, alter, repair, add to, wreck or move any building or structure (or any portion thereof), or any sidewalk, driveway entrance or structure in any street, or any advertising sign, panel poster or billboard, or any other structure, in the city, for which a building or construction permit may now or hereafter be required by the laws of the city; or

(2)   Who or which advertises or represents himself, herself, or itself to the public to have the capacity or ability to undertake, or submit a bid or offer to build, construct, alter, repair, add to or wreck, remove, restore or replace any building, structure or construction work or any portion thereof; or

(3)   Who or which builds, constructs, alters, adds to or wrecks any buildings or structures either on his or her own or other property for purposes of sale or speculation.

(b)   A builder or building contractor as defined shall not mean or include:

(1)   Any subcontractor, except for a roofing contractor, working under the supervision of a general contractor; or

(2)   Any plumbers, gas fitters, electricians, or other specialized occupation for which special licenses or bonds are required by other city laws; or

(3)   Any owner or his or her authorized agents or employees making ordinary repairs to his, her or its own building or structure not involving the structural parts of the building for which a permit is not required or on which a contractor, as defined, is not required, employed or engaged to perform; or

(4)   Any property owner personally performing any improvements, alterations or building construction within or upon his or her own residence and intended for his or her own personal use and permanent occupancy; provided, the owner shall satisfy the building official as to his or her ability to perform such work secure a permit, pay required fees, do work in accordance with this article, and apply for an inspection and receive approval. Personal building construction by an owner under this section shall be by himself, herself, for himself or herself on his or her own residence, without compensation and no person shall be employed to assist him or her in any way on such work except a builder or building contractor licensed by the city; 

(Code 2016)