STATE OF
CITY OF
AN ORDINANCE REGULATING AND
RESTRICTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES; ADOPTING THE LATEST EDITIONS OF THE
INTERNATIONAL CODES AS PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL AND THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION
ASSOCIATION; REQUIRING A SURETY BOND FOR
PERSONS CONTRACTED TO PERFORM HOME IMPROVEMENTS, SIGN INSTALLATION, FENCE
INSTALLATION AND ELECTRICAL BUSINESS; ESTABLISHING APPROPRIATE FEES FOR THE
REQUIRED PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS; AND SUPERSEDING OTHER ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT.
Whereas, it is the desire of the City Council to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Converse; and,
Whereas, quality control and assurance of building construction is imperative to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Converse; and,
Whereas, the latest editions of the international codes as published by the International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association provide a means of providing quality control and assurance of building construction; and,
Whereas, the costs and fees associated with implementing the building codes and performing the necessary inspections should be paid by the users of the services rather than the taxpayers;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of
SECTION
I. BUILDING INSPECTIONS DEPARTMENT:
A. The Building Department shall be administered by the
Building Official under the direction of the City Manager. The Building Department shall process
applications for construction, review plans, assess appropriate fees, and
conduct the following types of inspections.
1. Code Compliance inspections
2. Building inspections
3. Heating/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
4. Plumbing inspections
5. Electrical inspections
6. Sidewalk/flatwork inspections
7. Manufactured/Mobile home inspections
B. The Building Department shall, in addition to all
other duties and functions imposed by ordinances, furnish administrative
assistance to the Planning Commission, Zoning Commission and the Building and
Standards Commission in the performance of their duties.
SECTION
II. BUILDING CODE:
A. The following International Codes, including the
current editions and all updated and amended editions are hereby adopted by
reference as though they were copied herein fully:
1.
2. International Plumbing Code
3. International Mechanical Code
4. International Residential Code
5. International Fuel Gas Code
6. International Property Maintenance
7. National
Electric Code - Published by National Fire Protection Association, Inc.
B. All construction within the city limits of Converse shall comply
with the latest editions as published by the International Code Council. It shall be unlawful for any person to erect,
construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, equip, use,
occupy or maintain any building or structure in the city or cause the same to
be done, contrary to or in violation of any of the provisions of the codes
adopted herein and this Ordinance.
SECTION III. LICENSES: In addition to filing an application for and receiving a permit from the Building Department for each Project undertaken, any person contracted in home improvement, heating/air conditioning, plumbing and electrical business shall have a license from the City of Converse, a Texas Municipality, or from the State authorizing them to perform such work.
SECTION IV. SURETY BONDS:
A. In addition to filing the permit application discussed
above, any person contracted in the home improvement and electrical business
shall file a surety bond. A properly
executed Surety bond, issued and validated by a company duly authorized to do
business in the State of
B. This bond shall assure the faithful performance of all
work contracted in strict compliance with the terms, requirements and
provisions of the applicable codes adopted by this Ordinance. Further, the bond shall assure that the
contractor shall, without additional cost to the person, firm or corporation
for which such contract work is done, correct any defect due to the faulty
workmanship, materials, or noncompliance with the provisions of the applicable
code. Such corrections shall be
accomplished within seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of notification by the
building official.
C. The company issuing the surety bond shall include a
provision in the surety bond for notification of surety cancellation or
reduction in the amount of surety. Such
notification shall be given in writing to the Building Department and shall
become effective at 12:00 p.m. after five (5) consecutive working days of
receipt by the Building Department of such notification of cancellation or
reduction in the amount of the surety
bond. No permit shall be issued to the
principal (contractor) until such time as the surety bond has been revalidated
to the amount stated above.
D. All surety bonds shall terminate one year from date of
issue.
SECTION V.
SCHEDULE OF PERMIT FEES:
A. Building Permit Fees: Building permit fees are based on the value of construction as follows:
Total Valuation Fee
$1,000.00 and less $20.00
$1,001.00 to
$50,000.00 $20.00
for the first $1,001.00 plus $5.00 for each additional thousand or fraction
thereof, to and including
$50,001.00
to $100,000.00 $265.00
for the first $50,001.00 plus $4.00 for additional thousand or fraction
thereof, to and including $100,000.00
$100,001.00 to
500,000.00 $465.00
for the first $100,001.00 plus $3.00 for each additional thousand or fraction
thereof, to and including $500,000.00.
$500,001.00 and up. $1,665.00
for the first $500,001 plus $2.00 for each additional thousand or fraction
thereof.
B. Re-Roof. $25.00
C. Curb Cuts. $35.00
D. Certificate Of Occupancy. $50.00
(non-refundable)
E. Variance Request. Based
on valuation of construction
maximum
fee $100.00
F. Moving
Fee. For
the moving of any building or structure,
the
fee $100.00.
G. Demolition. For
the demolition of any building or
structure, the fee shall be
$50.00 up to 1,000 square feet and $.50 per 1,000 square feet over.
H. Plan Checking Fee. When the
value of the proposed
construction exceeds $1,000.00
and a plan is required to be submitted, a plan-checking fee shall be paid to
the building official. Said plan checking fee shall be equal to one-half of the
building permit fee. Such plan-checking fee is in addition to the building
permit fee.
I. Non Compliance Fees. Where
work for which a permit is required
is started or
proceeded prior to obtaining said permit, the fees herein specified shall be
doubled, but the payment of such double fee shall not relieve any persons from
fully complying with the requirements of the code in the execution of the work
nor from any other penalties prescribed herein.
A fee of $100.00 shall be
assessed for proceeding with any work without having an approved inspection at
the required stage of construction.
A re-inspection fee of $50.00 shall be assessed for each failed
inspection. A fee of $100.00 shall be assessed for failure to correct any code
violations as directed by the inspector.
J. Licensing/Registration Fees:
General or New Home Contractor. $75.00
initial fee and $50.00 renewal fee.
Master Electrical. $75.00
initial fee and $50.00 renewal fee.
State
Licensed Plumbers. $15.00
registration fee.
State
Licensed Hvac. $15.00
registration fee.
State
Licensed Irrigators. $15.00
registration fee.
Sign Contractor. $50.00
initial fee and $25.00 renewal fee.
Fence Contractor. $50.00
initial fee and $25.00 renewal fee.
K. Gas Permit Fees (Base Permit): $30.00
In addition to the permit fee, the following fees
shall be assessed:
1) The fees for inspection of consumers' gas piping
at one location (including both rough and final piping inspection) shall be
$5.00 for one to four outlets, inclusive, and $1.00 for each additional outlet;
2) The fees for inspection
conversion burners, floor furnaces, incinerators, boilers, or central heating
or air conditioning unit. shall be $5.00 for one unit and $1.00 for each
additional unit;
3) The fee for
inspection vented wall furnaces and water heaters shall be $2.50 for one unit
and $1.00 for each additional unit.
L. Fuel Tanks (Base Permit Fee) $30.00 plus:
0 to 1,000 gallons $25.00
over 1,000 gallons $35.00
Pump $15.00
(each)
M. Plumbing
Permit Fees (Base Permit Fee) $30.00;
Plus the following when provided:
For each plumbing fixture, floor drain $2.50
or trap
(including Water and Drainage
Piping)
For
each House Sewer $
5.00
For each House Sewer having to
be $ 5.00
replaced
or repaired.
For each Septic Tank and Seepage $10.00
Pit
or Drain field.
For each Water Heater and/or Vent. $ 2.50
For installation, alteration or repair $ 2.50
of water piping and/or water treating
equipment.
For repair or alteration of $ 5.00
Drainage or Vent Piping.
For Vacuum Breakers or back
flow $ 2.50 for one to
five.
protective devices installed
subsequent $ 1.50 each for all over
five.
to the installation of the piping
or
equipment served;
Irrigation/Sprinkler
System $30.00
plus $1.00 per head.
Fire
Sprinkler System $35.00
plus $1.00 per head.
N. Hvac/Mechanical Permits (Base Fee) $30.00
Fee for inspecting heating, ventilating, ductwork, air
conditioning and refrigeration Systems shall be $10.00 for the first $1,000.00,
or fraction thereof, of valuation of the installation plus $2.00 for each
additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof.
Fee for inspecting repairs,
alterations and additions to an existing system shall be $5.00 plus $2.00 for
each $1,000.00 or fraction thereof.
O. Electrical Permit Fees (Base Fee) $30.00
plus the following as appropriate:
1. Private Swimming Pools. $44.25
each Pool.
For new private, in-ground
swimming pools for single-family and multifamily occupancies including a
complete system of necessary branch circuit wiring, bonding, grounding,
underwater lighting, water pumping and other similar electrical equipment
directly related to the operation of a swimming pool.
2. Temporary Power Service. $30.00
each
For a temporary service pole
or pedestal including all pole or pedestal-mounted receptacle outlets and
appurtenances.
3.
Receptacle,
Switch and Light $25.00
each for the first 20 fixtures.
Outlets. $0.65
each for additional fixtures.
For receptacle, switch, light or other outlets at
which current is used or controlled, except services, feeders and meters: (Note: For multi-outlet assemblies, each 5
feet or fraction thereof may be considered as one outlet).
4. Signs Outline Lighting and Marquees. $30.00 each
For signs, outline lighting systems or marquees
supplied from one branch circuit.
For additional branch circuits
within $ 4.25 each
the same sign, outline. lighting system or marquee.
4.
Services.
For services of 600 volts or
less and $27.25 each
not over 200 amperes in rating.
For
services of 600 volts or less and $55.50
each
over 200
amperes to 1,000 amperes.
For
services over 600 volts or over $111.00
each.
1,000 amperes
in rating.
5.
Miscellaneous
Apparatus, Conduits and Conductors.
For
electrical apparatus, conduits and $16.25
conductors for which a permit
is required but for which no fee is herein set forth.
O. Expiration:
Every permit issued shall become invalid if work has not commenced 180
days after issuance. Every permit
expires 365 days after issuance. The
building official may grant an extension of no more than 180 days. The renewal fee shall be fifty percent of the
original permit fee. Any person, firm or
corporation may apply to the City Council for any further extensions.
P. Fee Refunds:
The Building Official shall authorize the refunding of fees as follows
1.
No more than
seventy-five percent of the permit fee paid when no work has been done under a
permit issued.
2.
Written
application must be filed with the City of
SECTION VI. SEVERABILITY: If
any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word in this
Ordinance, or application thereof to any person or circumstance is held
invalid, such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion
despite such invalidity.
SECTION VII. PENALTY:
Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of
the provisions of this code may be charged with a misdemeanor. Each day or portion thereof during which any
violation of any of the provisions of this Ordinance or the codes adopted
herein is committed, continued or permitted shall justify a separate charge
with a misdemeanor. Upon conviction, a
person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this Ordinance
shall be liable for a fine not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00), not
more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) for each separate offense.
SECTION VIII. SUPERSCESSION: This
Ordinance supersedes City of
PASSED AND APPROVED this 20th Day Of January 2004.
_____________________________
Craig Martin, Mayor
.
ATTEST:
____________________________
A. I. Hieronymus, City Secretary