Part 5 — PERMITS

Except as specified in this part, no building, structure or building service equipment regulated by this chapter and the technical codes shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate, appropriate permit for each building, structure or building service equipment has first been obtained from the Building Official.

(Ord. 1308, passed 12-19-07; Am. Ord. 1338, passed 11-17-10; Am. Ord. 1361, passed 12-18-13; Am. Ord. 1396, passed 2-1-17; Am. Ord. 1441, passed 11-6-19; Am. Ord. 1473, passed 11-16-22; Am. Ord. 1519, passed 12-3-25) Penalty, see § 10.99

(A) A permit shall not be required for the types of work in each of the separate classes of permit as set forth in this part.

(B) Exemption from the permit requirements of this chapter shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in violation of the provisions of the technical codes or any other laws or city ordinances. (Ord. 1308, passed 12-19-07; Am. Ord. 1338, passed 11-17-10; Am. Ord. 1361, passed 12-18-13; Am. Ord. 1396, passed 2-1-17; Am. Ord. 1441, passed 11-6-19; Am. Ord. 1473, passed 11-16-22; Am. Ord. 1519, passed 12-3-25)

• (A) A building permit shall not be required for the following:

(1) One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11 m[2), the building is 14 feet or less in height, and does not contain] electrical, mechanical or plumbing work.

• (2) Fences not over seven feet (2,134 mm) high.

• (3) Oil derricks.

• (4) Non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over five feet nine inches (1,753 mm) high.

(5) Retaining walls which are not over four feet (1,219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids.

(6) Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,925 liters) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed two to one.

• (7) Platforms, sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above adjacent grade, and not over any basement or story below, and are not part of an accessible route.

• (8) Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.

• (9) Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.

• (10) Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.

• (11) Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings.

• (12) Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of detached one- and two-family dwellings, and Group U Occupancies when projecting not more than 54 inches (1,372 mm) and do not require additional support.

(13) Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings. Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,925 liters), and less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep.

• (14) Replacement, repair or overlay of less than 10% of an existing roof within any 12 month period.

(15) Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over five feet nine inches (1,753 mm) in height.

(B) Unless otherwise exempted by this chapter, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted items.

(Ord. 1308, passed 12-19-07; Am. Ord. 1338, passed 11-17-10; Am. Ord. 1361, passed 12-18-13; Am. Ord. 1396, passed 2-1-17; Am. Ord. 1441, passed 11-6-19; Am. Ord. 1473, passed 11-16-22; Am. Ord. 1519, passed 12-3-25)

A plumbing permit shall not be required for the following:

(A) The stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided, however, that should any concealed trap, drainpipe, soil, waste or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection made as provided in this chapter.

(B) The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, including the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

(Ord. 1308, passed 12-19-07; Am. Ord. 1338, passed 11-17-10; Am. Ord. 1361, passed 12-18-13; Am. Ord. 1396, passed 2-1-17; Am. Ord. 1441, passed 11-6-19; Am. Ord. 1473, passed 11-16-22; Am. Ord. 1519, passed 12-3-25)

A mechanical permit shall not be required for the following:

• (A) A portable heating appliance;

• (B) Portable ventilating equipment;

• (C) A portable cooling unit;

• (D) A portable evaporative cooler;

(E) A closed system of steam, hot or chilled water piping within heating or cooling equipment regulated by the mechanical code;

(F) Replacement of any component part of assembly of an appliance which does not alter its original approval and complies with other applicable requirements of the technical codes;

(G) Refrigerating equipment which is part of the equipment for which a permit has been issued pursuant to the requirements of the technical codes; and

• (H) A unit refrigerating system as defined in the mechanical code.

(Ord. 1308, passed 12-19-07; Am. Ord. 1338, passed 11-17-10; Am. Ord. 1361, passed 12-18-13; Am. Ord. 1396, passed 2-1-17; Am. Ord. 1441, passed 11-6-19; Am. Ord. 1473, passed 11-16-22; Am. Ord. 1519, passed 12-3-25)

An electrical permit shall not be required for the following:

(A) Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved receptacle when that cord or cable is permitted by the electrical code.

• (B) Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers or fixed approved appliances of the same type and rating in the same location.

• (C) Temporary decorative lighting.

• (D) Repair or replacement of current- carrying parts of any switch, conductor or control device.

• (E) Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets therefore.

• (F) Replacement of any over current device of the required capacity in the same location, except service equipment.

• (G) Repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and capacity for signs or gas tube systems.

• (H) Taping joints.

• (I) Removal of electrical wiring.

• (J) Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental laboratories.

• (K) The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture or television stage sets.

• (L) Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy, except in hazardous (classified) locations.

• (M) Low-energy power, control and signal circuits of Class II and Class III as defined in the electrical code.

(N) A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment or the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electrical energy or in the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence by a public or private utility in the exercise of its function as a serving utility. (Ord. 1308, passed 12-19-07; Am. Ord. 1338, passed 11-17-10; Am. Ord. 1361, passed 12-18-13; Am. Ord. 1396, passed 2-1-17; Am. Ord. 1441, passed 11-6-19; Am. Ord. 1473, passed 11-16-22; Am. Ord. 1519, passed 12-3-25)