Napa County Municipal Code Ch. 15.56 Moving of Buildings

For the purposes of this chapter, the words "building or structure" mean and include any building or structure which is disassembled for the purpose of being reassembled on any site within the unincorporated area of the county.

(Prior code § 4200)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to move any building or structure into or out of or within the unincorporated area of the county upon, across or along any county road or public way without first having secured a house-moving permit, and having complied with all the provisions of this chapter.

(Prior code § 4201)

The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any contractor's office, real estate office, or other such structure of a temporary nature not exceeding two hundred square feet of floor area.

(Prior code § 4209)

Applications for house-moving permits shall be made to the director of planning, building and environmental services on a form provided by his department and shall be accompanied by that fee established by resolution of the board of supervisors. The application shall specify the character and size of the building or structure to be moved, the location from which and to which it is to be moved, and the roads upon, across and along which it is intended to be moved.

(Ord. 906 § 3, 1989: Ord. 837 § 7, 1987: prior code § 4202)

(Ord. No. 1379, § 73, 1-29-2013)

The application shall be accompanied by a bond approved by the county counsel in favor of the county in the sum of five hundred dollars, executed by a responsible surety company, conditioned that the principal will strictly comply with all requirements of this chapter and other ordinances now and hereafter in effect regulating the moving of buildings and structures and locating them within the county; that the principal will pay for any and all damages to any fence, tree, pavement, street or sidewalk, or any other property belonging to the county resulting from the moving of any building or structure by him; and that the principal will indemnify and save harmless the county against any and all damages, judgments, costs and expenses which may in any wise accrue in the county in consequence of the granting to him or exercise by him of any permit under this chapter, which bond shall operate as a continuing bond for the purpose of this chapter for a term of two years from and after the date thereof.

(Prior code § 4203)

The director of planning, building and environmental services shall, within ten days from the date of filing, refer such application to the planning commission, and the commission shall cause notice of public hearing to be given on the permit application by one publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county at least ten days prior to the date of hearing, and by posting a copy of such notice in a conspicuous place on the property where it is proposed to relocate or reassemble such removed building or structure at least ten days prior to the date of the hearing.

(Prior code § 4204)

(Ord. No. 1379, § 74, 1-29-2013)

A. After such hearing, the commission shall make its recommendation to the board of supervisors either approving or disapproving the granting of such permit. Upon such recommendation, the board of supervisors shall then either issue such permit or instruct the applicant that the application has been denied.

B. In considering its recommendation, the commission shall take into account the following factors:

1. The architectural integrity of the structure to be moved and/or reassembled; and

2. The architectural plan of the structure to be moved and/or reassembled, as considered in the locality to which it is to be moved.

(Prior code § 4205)

The board of supervisors may, in its discretion after the hearing and recommendation of the commission, approve the issuance of such permit subject to the applicant's performing certain acts with respect to conforming such structure to the architecture of the locality where it is to be moved. In the event the board of supervisors does make such conditions, then and in that event the applicant shall post with the board a bond in such sum as the board may deem sufficient to guarantee performance of such condition before the permit is granted.

(Prior code § 4206)

A. Where the moving of any building or structure upon, across or along any public street or way in the county will require the removal and replacement of any overhead wires, cables or guys, or any poles, the house mover shall give the person, firm or corporation owning or operating the same a notice in writing at least forty-eight hours in advance of the moving, which notice shall specify the height of the building or structure mounted on cribs and rollers, and the street upon, along or across which it is to be moved. The house mover shall not, at the expiration of such forty-eight hours, nor at any time, move or in any way disturb such wires, cables, guys or poles, and such work shall be done only by the workman or person, firm or corporation owning or operating the same.

B. Within twenty-four hours after receipt of such notice, the person, firm or corporation owning or operating such wires, cables, guys and poles shall furnish the house mover an estimate of the cost of the removal and replacement of such wires, cables, guys and poles, and such removal or replacement shall be done in such manner as the person, firm or corporation owning or operating the same shall determine will be necessary for the safety of the public, and the entire expense of such removal and replacement shall be borne by the house mover; provided, however, that the house mover shall not be required to pay the expense of removing, replacing or raising any wires, cables or guys which are below the minimum height above the street specified therefrom by the rules of overhead electric line construction prescribed by the Railroad Commission of the state in its general orders, if the height of the building or structure to be moved when mounted on cribs and rollers is less than minimum height.

(Prior code § 4210)

A. During the period from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, lighted lanterns shall be hung at least every five feet along each end or side of any building or structure while in a public street or way.

B. At all times while any building or structure is in a public street or way, the house mover shall maintain "Street Closed" warning barriers at both ends of the block, and during the period from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, lighted lanterns shall be maintained not more than five feet apart on such barriers, but not less than three in all on each barrier.

C. The house mover shall keep the fire department advised at all times of the location of any building or structure on any public street or way.

(Prior code § 4208)

No building or structure in process of moving shall be permitted to remain in any one location on any public street or way for a period longer than twenty-four hours, except by written permission first obtained from the director of planning, building and environmental services, or the director's designee, and no such building or structure shall be permitted to obstruct traffic on any railroad longer than is necessary, and the railroad company shall be notified at least twenty-four hours in advance by the house mover of the intention to move any building or structure across any such railroad.

(Prior code § 4207)

(Ord. No. 1379, § 75, 1-29-2013)