Source: https://www.ecode360.com/34448447
Timestamp: 2020-01-23 06:10:10
Document Index: 95076053

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 10', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 65', '§ 381', '§ 381']

Town of Rochester, NY Building Construction
§ 65-3 Code Enforcement Officer and inspectors.
§ 65-4 Building permits.
§ 65-7 Certificates of occupancy/certificates of compliance.
§ 65-9 Unsafe building and structures.
§ 65-10 Operating permits.
§ 65-11 Fire safety and property maintenance inspections.
§ 65-12 Complaints.
§ 65-13 Recordkeeping.
§ 65-14 Program review and reporting.
§ 65-15 Violations; penalties for offenses.
§ 65-16 Conflict with state law.
§ 65-17 Fees.
§ 65-18 Intermunicipal agreements.
§ 65-19 Severability.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Rochester 5-3-2007 by L.L. No. 2-2007.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
Editor's Note: This local law was originally adopted as Ch. 111 but was redesignated for organizational purposes.
This chapter provides for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (the Uniform Code) and the State Energy Conservation Construction Code (the Energy Code) in the Town of Rochester. This chapter is adopted pursuant to § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law. Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, other state law, or section of this chapter, all buildings, structures, and premises, regardless of use or occupancy, are subject to the provisions of this chapter of the Town Code.
A permit issued pursuant to § 65-4 of this chapter. The term "building permit" shall also include a building permit which is renewed, amended or extended pursuant to any provision of this chapter.
A certificate issued pursuant to Subsection B of § 65-7, § 65-15A, or other sections of this chapter.
The Code Enforcement Officer appointment pursuant to Subsection B of § 65-3 of this chapter and/or the "Building Inspector" or "Zoning Inspector," as set forth in other sections of this Code, or state law, as determined by the Town Board.
An order issued by Code Enforcement Officer pursuant to Subsection A of § 65-15 of this chapter.
An order issued by the Code Enforcement Officer pursuant to Subsection A of § 65-15 of this chapter.
An inspector appointed pursuant to Subsection D of § 65-4 of this chapter.
A permit issued pursuant to § 65-10 of this chapter. The term "operating permit" shall also include an operating permit which is renewed, amended or extended pursuant to any provision of this chapter.
An order issued pursuant to § 65-6 of this chapter.
A certificate issued pursuant to Subsection D of § 65-7 of this chapter.
The office of Code Enforcement Officer is hereby created. The Code Enforcement Officer shall administer and enforce all the provisions of the Uniform Code, the Energy Code, this chapter of the Town Code, and any other chapters of this Code. The Code Enforcement Officer shall have the following powers and duties under this chapter of the Town Code, but may have others under other chapters of the Town Code or state law:
To issue orders pursuant to Subsection A of § 65-15, Violations; penalties for offenses, of this chapter or other chapters of the Town Code;
In consultation with the Town's Attorney and Town Board, to pursue such legal actions and proceedings as may be necessary to enforce the Uniform Code, the Energy Code and this chapter of the Town Code, or to abate or correct conditions not in compliance with the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or this chapter;
To enforce the Town's Zoning Law in Chapter 140 of the Town Code, if such duties are assigned by the Town Board by resolution or local law;
To exercise all other powers and fulfill all other duties conferred upon the Code Enforcement Officer by this chapter of the Town Code.
Neither the Code Enforcement Officer nor any officer or employee of the Building Department shall engage, in the Town, in any activity inconsistent with his or her duties, or directly or indirectly in any building contracting or construction business, or in the furnishing of labor, materials, supplies, equipment or appliances for any building, contracting or construction business, or any demolition or salvage business, or any architectural or engineering business. This provision shall not prohibit any such person from engaging in such activities in connection with the construction or alteration of a building or structure owned by him or her, but in such case said person shall be disqualified from acting in his or her official capacity as Code Enforcement Officer or employee of the Building Department.
Exemptions. No building permit shall be required for work in any of the following categories, unless required under Zoning or other sections of the Town Code:
Construction of a temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery;
Installation of window awnings supported by an exterior wall of a one- or two-family dwelling or multiply single-family dwellings (townhouses);
Installation of listed (including but not limited to UL listings) portable electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation or cooling equipment, or appliances;
Replacement of any equipment provided the replacement does not alter the equipment's listing or render it inconsistent with the equipment's original specifications;
Repairs, provided that such repairs do not involve (i) the removal or cutting away of a load-bearing wall, partition, or portion thereof, or of any structural beam or load bearing component; (ii) the removal or change of any required means of egress, or the rearrangement of parts of a structure in a manner which affects egress; (iii) the enlargement, alteration, replacement or relocation of any building system; or (iv) the removal from service of all or part of a fire protection system for any period of time;
Nonresidential farm buildings including barns, sheds, poultry houses and other buildings used directly and solely for agricultural purposes.
Exemption not deemed authorization to perform noncompliant work. The exemption from the requirement to obtain a building permit for work in any category set forth in Subsection B of this section shall not be deemed an authorization for work to be performed in violation of the Uniform Code and the Energy Code.
Standards of other chapters of the Town Code. In the event another section or chapter of the Town Code requires a permit and sets forth a higher standard for compliance than this chapter or the state standards, the provisions of that section or chapter of the Town Code shall apply and prevail over the requirements in this chapter.
Applications for building permits. Applications for a building permit shall be made in writing on a form provided by or otherwise acceptable to the Code Enforcement Officer. The application shall be signed by the owner of the property where the work is to be performed or an authorized agent of the owner. The application shall include such information as the Code Enforcement Officer deems sufficient to permit a determination by the Code Enforcement Officer that the intended work complies with all applicable requirements of the Uniform Code and Energy Code. The application shall include or be accompanied by the following information and documentation:
At least two sets of construction documents (drawings and/or specifications) which (i) define the scope of the proposed work; (ii) are prepared by a New-York-State-registered architect or licensed professional engineer where so required by the Education Law but only to the extent required by state law: (iii) indicate with sufficient clarity and detail the nature and extent of the work proposed; (iv) substantiate that the proposed work will comply with the Uniform Code and Energy Code; and (v) where applicable, include a site plan that shows any existing and proposed buildings and structures on the site, the location of any existing or proposed well or septic system, the location of any existing or proposed well or septic system, the location of the intended work, and the distances between the buildings and structures and the lot lines.
Construction documents. Construction documents will not be accepted as part of an application for a building permit unless they satisfy the requirements set forth in Subsection E(5) of this section. Construction documents which are accepted as part of the application for a building permit shall be marked as accepted by the Code Enforcement Officer in writing or by stamp. One set of the accepted construction documents shall be retained by the Code Enforcement Officer, and one set of the accepted construction documents shall be returned to the applicant to be kept at the work site so as to be available for use by the Code Enforcement personnel. However, the return of a set of accepted construction documents to the applicant shall not be construed as authorization to commence work, nor as an indication that a building permit will be issued. Work shall not be commenced until and unless a building permit is issued.
Time limits. Building permits shall expire 12 months after the date of issuance and shall be renewable one time only unless a further extension is approved by the CEO. A building permit which has become invalid or which has expired pursuant to this subsection may be renewed upon application by the permit holder, payment of the applicable fee, and approval of the application by the Code Enforcement Officer.
Fee. The fee specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in the fee schedule set by the Town Board must be paid at the time of submission of an application for a building permit, for an amended building permit, or for renewal of a building permit.
Fee. The fee specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Town Board's fee schedule must be paid prior to or at the time of each inspection performed pursuant to this section.
Service of stop-work orders. The Code Enforcement Officer shall cause the stop-work order, or a copy thereof, to be served on the owner of the affected property (and, if the owner is not the permit holder, on the permit holder) personally or by certified mail. The Code Enforcement Officer shall be permitted, but not required, to cause the stop-work order, or a copy thereof, to be served on any builder, architect, tenant, contractor, subcontractor, construction superintendent, or their agents, or any other person taking part or assisting in work affected by the stop-work order, personally or by certified mail; provided, however, that failure to serve any person mentioned in this sentence shall not affect the efficacy of the stop-work order. Refusal to accept certified mail shall constitute personal service.
Remedy not exclusive. The issuance of a stop-work order shall not be the exclusive remedy available to address any event described in Subsection A of this section, and the authority to issue a stop-work order shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the right and authority to pursue any other remedy or impose any other penalty under § 65-15, Violations; penalties for offenses, of this chapter or under any other applicable local law or state law. Any such other remedy or penalty may be pursued at any time, whether prior to, at the time of, or after the issuance of a stop-work order.
Unsafe structures and equipment in this Town shall be identified and addressed in accordance with the procedures established by Chapter 66 of the Town Code, as now in effect or as hereafter amended from time to time.
A building or structure, or any part thereof, which is an imminent danger to life or the public health and safety due to damage from natural or unnatural causes is hereby declared to be a public nuisance.
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer determines a building or structure, or part thereof, to be a public nuisance, he or she may cause it to be demolished and removed or may cause such work to be done in and about the building or structure as may be necessary to remove the danger.
The Code Enforcement Officer may require the occupants of any such building, structure or premises, or any part thereof, to immediately vacate the same. No person shall use or occupy such building, structure or premises, or part thereof, until he or she has the Code Enforcement Officer's permission to do so. Except for the owner, no person shall enter any building, structure or premises which have been ordered vacated unless authorized to do so by the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer shall give and post reasonable notice of his order to vacate any building, structure or premises.
All costs and expenses incurred by the Town to remove the dangerous condition of, or to remove or demolish any such building or structure, shall be assessed against the land on which such building or structure is located, and a bill for said expenses shall be presented to the owner of the property. If the owner cannot be ascertained, then the bill shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises. Such assessment shall constitute a lien upon the real property. If the owner shall fail to pay said expenses within 10 days after the bill is presented or posted, legal action may be brought to collect said expenses or to foreclose the lien. As an alternative to the maintenance of legal action, the Code Enforcement Officer may file with the Town Assessor a certificate of the actual expenses incurred by the Town as aforesaid, together with a statement identifying the real property and the owner thereof, and thereupon the Assessor shall assess such expenses against the real property. Such assessment shall be included in the levy against the real property and shall constitute a lien and shall be collected and enforced in the same manner, by the same proceedings, at the same time, and under the same penalties, as is provided by law for the collection and enforcement of real property taxes in the Town.
Duration of operating permits. Operating permits shall be issued for such period of time, not to exceed one year in the case of any operating permit issued for an area of public assembly and not to exceed three years in any other case, as shall be determined by the Code Enforcement Officer to be consistent with local conditions. Where permits are issued by a state agency, the length of the Town permit shall be coterminous with that issued by the state. The effective period of each operating permit shall be specified in the operating permit. An operating permit may be reissued or renewed upon application to the Code Enforcement Officer, payment of the applicable fee, and approval of such application by the Code Enforcement Officer.
Fee. The fee specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Town Board's schedule of fees must be paid at the time submission of an application for an operating permit, for an amended operating permit, or for reissue or renewal of an operating permit.
Fire safety and property maintenance inspections of all multiple dwellings not included in Subsection A(1) or (2), and all nonresidential buildings, structures, uses and occupancies not include in Subsection A(1) or (2), shall be performed at least once every 24 months.
In addition to the inspections required by Subsection A of this section, a fire safety and property maintenance inspection of any building, structure, use, or occupancy, or of any dwelling unit, may also be performed by the Code Enforcement Officer or an inspector designated by the Code Enforcement Officer at any time upon:
Fee. The fee specified in or determined in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Town Board's fee schedule must be paid prior to or at the time each inspection performed pursuant to this section.
If a violation is found to exist, providing the owner of the affected property and any other person who may be responsible for the violation with notice of the violation and opportunity to abate, correct or cure the violation, or otherwise proceeding in the manner described in § 65-15, Violations; penalties for offenses, of this chapter;
All other features and activities specified in or contemplated by §§ 65-4 through 65-12, inclusive, of this chapter; and
The Code Enforcement Officer shall annually submit to the Town Board of this Town a written report and summary of all business conducted by the Code Enforcement Officer and the inspectors, including a report and summary of all transactions and activities described in § 65-13, Recordkeeping, of this chapter and a report and summary of all appeals or litigation pending or concluded.
Civil penalties. In addition to those penalties prescribed by state law, any person who violates any provision of the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or this chapter, or any term or condition of any building permit, certificate of occupancy, certificate of compliance, temporary certificate, stop-work order, operating permit or other notice or order issued by the Code Enforcement Officer pursuant to any provision of this chapter or state law, shall be liable to a civil penalty of not more than $200 for each day or part thereof during which such violation continues. The civil penalties provided by this subdivision shall be recoverable in an action instituted in the name of this Town by the Code Enforcement Officer.
Remedies not exclusive. No remedy or penalty specified in this section shall be the exclusive remedy or remedy available to address any violation described in this section, and each remedy or penalty specified in this section shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the other remedies or penalties specified in this section, in § 65-6, Stop-work orders, of this chapter, in any other section of this chapter, or in any other applicable law. Any remedy or penalty specified in this section may be pursued at any time, whether prior to, simultaneously with, or after the pursuit of any other remedy or penalty specified in this section, in § 65-6, Stop-work orders, of this chapter, in any other section of this chapter, or in any other applicable law. In particular, but not by way of limitation, each remedy and penalty specified in this section shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the penalties specified in Subdivision (2) of § 381 of the Executive Law, and any remedy or penalty specified in this section may be pursued at any time, whether prior to, simultaneously with, or after the pursuit of any penalty specified in Subdivision (2) of § 381 of the Executive Law.
Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to vary or modify any federal or state law, rule or regulation, except to the extent that the Town can lawfully supersede or modify same by local law, in which case the provisions of this chapter shall control in the event of a conflict.
A fee schedule shall be established by resolution of the Town Board of this Town. Such fee schedule may thereafter be amended from time to time by like resolution. The fees set forth in, or determined in accordance with, such fee schedule or amended fee schedule shall be charged and collected for the submission of applications, the issuance of building permits, amended building permits, renewed building permits, certificates of occupancy, certificates of compliance, temporary certificates, operating permits, fire safety and property maintenance inspections, and other actions of the Code Enforcement Officer described in or contemplated by this chapter.