Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Ch. 9.08 Building Moving

For the purposes of this chapter, permits for the moving of buildings and structures are hereby classified as follows:

A. Class A permit. For any building or structure which when loaded on house-moving dollies or rollers does not exceed twenty-two (22′) feet in height or thirty (30′) feet in width.

B. Class B permit. For any building or structure which when loaded on house-moving dollies or rollers is more than twenty-two (22′) feet in height, but does not exceed twenty-eight (28′) feet in height and is more than thirty (30′) feet in width but does not exceed forty (40′) feet in width.

C. Class C permit. For any building or structure which when loaded on house-moving dollies or rollers exceeds twenty-eight (28′) feet in height or exceeds forty (40′) feet in width.

D. Class D permit. For any building or structure the walls of which are constructed of brick or of concrete when loaded on house-moving dollies or rollers exceeds twenty-two (22′) feet in height or exceeds thirty (30′) feet in width.

It shall be unlawful for any person to move or cause to be moved any building or structure, or any section of any building or structure over, upon, along or across any public street, place or alley in the City, or from one location to another in the City, without first obtaining a permit so to do from the Building Inspector.

(§ 2, Ord. 817)

Applications for Class A, B, C, and D permits shall be filed with the Building Inspector. Such applications shall show the following:

A. The name of the owner, the type of building or structure, the present and proposed location, the fair value and approximate age of the building or structure to be moved, the route proposed to be followed, the method of moving, and the time within which the work of moving will be commenced and completed;

B. That all necessary authority and permits have been obtained from the operators of public utilities which might be affected by such moving operations; and

C. Such other pertinent information as the Building Inspector may require.

(§ 3, Ord. 817)

In addition to the application, there shall be filed with the Building Inspector a plan showing the location upon the property to which the building or structure is to be moved, together with photographs, not less than eight (8″) inches by ten (10″) inches in dimension, of all sides of such building or structure, showing the general architectural design and appearance thereof. If any material alteration, repair work or other work is proposed to be done after removal has been completed, there shall also be filed plans showing the general architectural design and appearance of the building or structure on all sides after such work has been competed.

Each application for a permit shall be accompanied by a filing fee, established by the Council under separate resolution, to cover the cost of making maps, sending out notices and other incidental administrative expenses involved. The fee shall be retained by the City as an application fee whether a permit is issued or not. If the application is approved by the Council there shall be paid to the City a permit fee as established by the Council under separate resolution.

(§ 30, Ord. 1458, eff. June 17, 1976)

Before a permit is issued, the house mover shall furnish and file with the City Clerk a good and sufficient surety bond in the principal sum of Five Thousand and no/100ths ($5,000.00) Dollars in favor of the City for the benefit of any person who may be damaged directly by the moving of said building or structure; provided, however, that any person engaged in the business of moving buildings may file with the City Clerk a surety bond in the sum of Ten Thousand and no/100ths ($10,000.00) Dollars indemnifying the City for like purposes, and in that event such person need not file the Five Thousand and no/100ths ($5,000.00) Dollars bond required by this section for any single moving operation.

(§ 6, Ord. 817)

In case of any damage to any street or other public property or public utility, the proper City departments shall do such work as may be necessary to restore the street or other public property or public utility to as good a condition as the same was in prior to such damages, and shall charge the cost thereof to whom the permit was issued for the moving of such building or structure, or section or portion thereof. No final inspection will be made of the reconstruction or repairing of any building or structure until all charges, costs and fees due the City incident to said moving have been paid.

(§ 7, Ord. 817)

The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all persons moving buildings or structures within the City to a location within the City providing that upon a proper showing the Council may modify the requirements of this chapter or may waive or reduce the deposit and permit fees where the building or structure to be moved is owned or is to be used or occupied by another public agency, or is located within the City or where the distance which such building or structure is moved is so short as to warrant a modification of the fees or other requirements of this chapter.

(§ 8, Ord. 817)

All applications for permits shall first be submitted to the Planning Commission for its recommendation. No permit shall be issued until the same has been approved by the Council. When the building or structure is to be moved out of the City, the requirements of this section are not applicable. Upon the filing of any application, the same shall be set for hearing before the Planning Commission and notice of the time and place of such hearing, and the purpose thereof, shall be given by the mailing of notices to all owners of property within a distance of five hundred (500′) feet from the exterior limits of the property to which any building or structure is to be moved. Such mailing of notices shall be completed at least ten (10) days before the hearing. No permit shall be granted for the moving of any structure or building from one location to another within the City. If the structure or building, in the opinion of the Council, is so old, dilapidated and in such a state of disrepair as to be insanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use, or which by reason of its external appearance would be detrimental to the residential character of the neighborhood in its new location. All applications for moving buildings and structures shall be accompanied by architectural plans of the completed structure, a faithful performance bond executed by a responsible surety company authorized to do business in the State in an amount as recommended by the Building Inspector as being necessary to bring such structure up to existing building codes and to the standard of the residences in the immediate area of the proposed new location, and that all of the work required to be done pursuant to the conditions of the house moving permit be completed within the time limit specified by the Building Inspector.

No permit shall authorize the moving of more than one building or structure, or more than one section or portion thereof, in any case in which any building or structure is to be moved in two (2) or more sections or portions, but a separate permit shall be required for each such section or portion.

(§ 10, Ord. 817)

All permits shall become and be void unless the moving operations shall be completed within the time specified in the application for such permit: provided, however, that the Council may extend such time when the moving of any building or structure, or any section or portion thereof, is rendered impracticable by reason of inclemency of the weather, strikes, or other causes not within the control of the house mover, or for any other cause which, in its opinion, will warrant such extension of time.

(§ 10, Ord. 817)

The permits herein authorized shall be in addition to all permits required under any other law of the City, and all such relocated buildings or structures shall be subject to the inspection of the Building Inspector and must conform to all requirements of the Building Code and other codes or laws relating to building construction and necessary installations incident thereto.

(§ 11, Ord. 817)

It shall be unlawful for any person who shall move or cause to be moved any building or structure, or section or portion thereof, over, upon, along or across any public street, alley or other public place, to fail, refuse or neglect to keep a red light burning at all times between sunset and sunrise at each corner of such section or portion of such building or structure, or at the end of any projection thereof at intervals of not more than ten feet (10′) on the side thereof facing the open street while located in or upon any public street, highway, alley or public place, and during all the time while said building or structure is being moved and in motion sufficient look-outs shall be maintained to safeguard persons or property against injury or damage which might result from such moving operations.

(§ 12, Ord. 817)