Belmont Municipal Code Art. XIV Time Limits for Completion of Construction

(a) A continuous stream of new and ongoing construction projects within the city has resulted in adverse impacts on its residents and businesses from the associated construction activities. These adverse effects include: noise, loss of on-street parking, stress on neighbors, impact on roads and other infrastructure, and a disproportionate demand on staff time, which increases as the length of the project increases.

(b) It is in the interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Belmont to place a reasonable time limit on the duration of each construction project, so as to balance the needs of the owner of the project with those of his/her neighbors and the community, for the safe and peaceful enjoyment of their properties.

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)

(a) This article shall apply to all construction, including all additions, alterations, modifications, repairs, and improvements, which requires a building permit.

(b) The time limit for completion of any building permit issued after January 1, 2002 shall be extended from the effective date of this ordinance pursuant to the time limits specified in section 7-703 and section 7-704.

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)

As part of the building permit application, a reasonable valuation must be assigned to the project and approved by the building official. Based on that valuation, a construction time limit, commencing on the date of issuance of the building permit, shall be established in accordance with the table below.

Table of Time Limits

* For landscaping work required by the planning commission, the applicant shall have an additional ninety (90) days after the date of final inspection approval of the building permit by the building division for the main construction project.

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)

(a) In the event a project has not passed a final inspection in the allotted time period pursuant to section 7-703, the applicant shall be entitled to a six-month extension to complete the work. The request for an extension must be made in writing thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the building permit. The extension shall be granted only if the applicant pays a fee in the amount of one-thousand dollars ($1,000.00), and only if an inspection by the building division prior to the expiration of the original permit reveals no violations of any fire/health and safety codes at the project site.

(b) In the event a project has not passed a final inspection at the expiration of the initial six-month extension, the applicant shall be entitled to no more than three (3) additional sixty-day extensions. Each extension is subject to payment of the associated fees, which are based on the table below. Each extension is subject to an inspection by the building division, prior to the expiration of the previous extension, to verify there are no violations of fire/health and safety codes at the project site. A request for an extension must be made in writing thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of the building permit.

Fees for Additional Extensions

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)

For the purpose of this article, construction shall be deemed complete upon the final performance of all construction work, including, but not necessarily limited to, exterior repairs and remodeling, total compliance with all conditions of application approval, and the clearing and cleaning of all construction-related materials and debris from the site. Final inspection and approval of the construction work by the city shall mark the date of construction completion. Deadlines for the completions of landscaping are set forth in the table of time limits.

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)

It is hereby declared to be the intention of the city council that the sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this Code are severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section of this Code shall be declared unconstitutional, invalid or unenforceable by the valid judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such unconstitutionality, invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any of the remaining phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this Code.

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)

This article shall take effect and be in force thirty (30) calendar days after the date of its passage.

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)

This article is categorically exempt from the provisions of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 21100 of Division 13 of the Public Resources Code (California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)) pursuant to the State CEQA Guidelines Section 15305, minor alterations and land use limitations of the CEQA Guidelines as an action that assures the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. The city council further finds that adoption of this ordinance does not require review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project (CEQA Guidelines section 15378), and there is no possibility that the ordinance may have a significant effect on the environment (CEQA Guidelines section 15061.b).

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)

Any violation of this chapter shall constitute a public nuisance and, in addition to being subject to any other remedies allowed by law, may be abated as provided by law.

(Ord. No. 1034, § 1, 4-8-08)