§ 50-3. Plans examination, inspections, permits.

(a)

Levied permits. A separate fire department review fee associated with the building permit plans review process is hereby levied and imposed, and shall apply to the city's fire department reviews of building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits and other plans review activities associated with the permit plans review process undertaken by that department. Said fee shall be collected by the building department on behalf of the fire department. Inspections and other fees of the fire department of the city are hereby levied and imposed and shall apply to building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits and other activities undertaken by that department as outlined in appendix A.

(b)

Double fees. Any person who commences any work on a building, structure, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems before obtaining the building official's approval or the necessary permits shall be subject to a penalty of 100 percent of the required permit fee. in addition to the required permit fees, plus a penalty for the first, second and subsequent offenses as outlined in appendix A.

(c)

Reinspection fees.

(1)

With respect to inspections, if the city finds it necessary, in order to enforce compliance with state statutes, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101 Life Safety Code, the Florida Building Code, and the city's land development regulations to conduct an inspection, after an initial inspection and one subsequent reinspection, of any project or activity for the same code violation specifically and continuously noted in each rejection, including, but not limited to, egress, fire protection, structural stability, energy, accessibility, lighting, ventilation, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas systems, or other requirements identified by the rule of the Florida Building Commission, state statutes or the city's land development regulations, a fee of four times the cost of initial inspection or first reinspection, whichever is greater, for each subsequent reinspection shall be paid. The inspection cost is determined by multiplying the actual time spent by the inspector by the inspection fee hourly rate, as defined in subsection 15-31(g) and as specified in appendix A.

(2)

Payment of the reinspection fee shall be required before any subsequent permits will be issued to the person or entity owing same. Further inspections shall be withheld until payment of reinspection fees has been made.

(d)

Lost plans fee. When permitted set of plans are lost by the applicants, owners, contractors, or any of their representatives, a recertification fee will be required to reproduce, stamp and approve a new set of plans as a field copy. Such fee shall be based on a cost per page as specified in appendix A.

(e)

Revised plans review fee. The charge for plans review of revisions to a permitted set of plans shall be as specified in appendix A.

(f)

Lost permit card fee. After a permit has been issued, if the permit inspection card has been lost, a fee as specified in appendix A shall be charged to resign or recertify the replacement.

(g)

Inspection fee hourly rate. The inspection fee hourly rate, as specified in appendix A, is determined at the beginning of each fiscal year based on the department's approved overhead and indirect costs and the resources assigned to inspection program.

(h)

Plans re-review fee. When extra plans reviews are due to the failure to correct code violations specifically and continuously noted in each rejection, including, but not limited to, egress, fire protection, structural stability, energy, accessibility, lighting ventilation, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas systems, or other requirements identified by the rule of the Florida Building Commission, in compliance with F.S. § 553.80(2)(b), each time after the third such review that plans are rejected for the same code violation, a fee of four times the amount of the proportion of the permit fee shall be attributed to plans review.

(i)

Expedited plans review and inspection fee. Upon request from the applicant. the department may schedule an expedited plans review or inspection, on an overtime basis by city staff. When such service is provided, a fee as specified in appendix A shall be charged, in addition to the regular permit fee and other applicable fees. Expedited plan review service may be requested by the applicant with a cost plus fee incurred in addition to the regular permit fee and other applicable fees.

(j)

Permits for work not identified in appendix A. If it is determined that no specific fee category directly matches a permit application request, the fire marshal may identify a category that closely matches the level of effort or determine what the work will be charged at based on the time dedicated for plans review and inspection. The fire marshal may require an upfront fee and a deposit to cover the estimated cost of the services to be provided.

(k)

City projects. The cost of enforcing state statutes, building code or the city's land development regulations on city related projects will be reimbursed based on the actual time spent in the processing, review and inspection of such projects. The payment will be due prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy or completion for the project. Effective October 1, 2011, for any active permit applied for on or after February 1, 2010, fees shall be based on the permit fee schedule in place at the time of the permit application submittal, and should be paid accordingly.

(l)

[Annual adjustment of rates.] The rates in appendix A pertaining to this division will be administratively adjusted annually to reflect increase(s) or decrease(s) in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers, CPI-U.

(m)

Electronic concurrent plan processing. In order to create a more efficient permitting process, the building department will be implementing procedures to process plans electronically via an automated workflow. Once implemented, the department will request that applicants submit plans in an electronic format. If the applicant chooses to submit paper plans, the director, or his designee has the authority to invoice for reimbursement of the conversion of documents submitted to an electronic format.

(n)

Phase permits. The Building Official is authorized by the Florida Building Code to provide early start approval. The holder of such permit shall proceed at the holder's own risk with the building construction and without assurance that a permit for the entire structure will be granted. A fee as specified in appendix A shall be paid for the fire department's review if necessary.

(o)

Reserved.

(p)

Specialty permit. Such permits will include temporary and special event permits. A fee for plan review and inspections of these permits will be charged as specified in appendix A.

(Code 1964, § 14-7; Ord. No. 2003-3426, § 1, 9-18-03; Ord. No. 2010-3671, § 1, 1-13-10; Ord. No. 2011-3733, § 1, 9-14-11; Ord. No. 2012-3777, § 1, 9-27-12; Ord. No. 2015-3980, § 3, 12-9-15, eff. 4-1-16)