107A.5 Investigation Fees: Work Without a Permit.

107A.5 Investigation Fees: Work Without a Permit. Whenever any work, for which a permit is required under the provisions of this code, has been started without a permit and where no specific additional fees are imposed as penalties as provided in this chapter, a special investigation shall be

made before a permit may be issued for such work. See Section 110A, Table 1A-K – Penalties, Hearings, Code Enforcement Assessments – for applicable fee. Where only a portion of the work has been commenced without a permit, the investigation fee shall be based upon the portion of the work done without a permit. The cost of any penalty for any work done, in conjunction with the investigation fee, shall be borne by the owner.

The owner or owner’s agent may appeal the amount of the investigation fee if they can provide just cause, such as unfamiliarity with this code or demonstrable negligence on the part of one of their employees.

The Building Official may reduce the investigation fee to two times the amount of the permit fee as called for in Section 110A, Table 1A-A – Building Permit Fees – of this code for work that was constructed prior to the current building ownership, provided that substantiating documentation is provided.

Where the Building Official rules against the applicant, appeals of such investigation fee shall be filed with the Board of Appeals in the manner provided in Section 8 et seq. of the Business & Tax Regulations Code. Such filing shall be subject to the fees and rules of the Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals, in reviewing the appeal of the investigation fee assessed for doing work without a permit, may reduce the amount of said fee, but in no case shall such reduced investigation fee be less than two times the amount of the permit fee as called for in Section 110A, Table 1A-A – Building Permit Fees – of this code.