Chapter 15.32 — BUILDING PERMIT CONDITIONS

Article 1. - General Provisions

This chapter may be cited as the Building Permit Conditions Ordinance. (Prior code § 4-101)

The City Council declares that the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Orinda require regulation of construction activities undertaken pursuant to a building permit and the imposition of requirements for improvements to streets, including sidewalks, paths, curbs, gutters and drainage whenever major improvements are made. The purpose of this chapter is to provide reasonable regulations for construction related to the issuance of building permits. (Prior code § 4-102)

The objectives of this chapter are to: A. Preserve, protect, perpetuate and enhance the quiet enjoyment of the citizens of Orinda by mitigation of the impacts of construction activity on traffic and neighbors;

B. Limit construction noise to the shortest duration possible; and C. As development occurs, improve substandard streets and frontage improvements so that they will meet minimum standards. (Prior code § 4-103)

This chapter is adopted under the police power of the city, Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution. (Prior code § 4-104)

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: "Frontage" is the area of a lot or the area in front of a lot which is adjacent to a street or private road easement. "Frontage improvement" means the curb, longitudinal drainage, sidewalk, path, street, paving or any combination of these. "Major improvement" includes the following activity: 1. Construction of a habitable structure on a vacant lot; 2. Improvement of an existing habitable structure when the cost of improvement is estimated to exceed fifty (50) percent of the market value of the existing structure; or 3. An increase of one thousand (1,000) square feet in the size of an existing habitable structure. "Path" is a multi-purpose, all-weather way for pedestrian or bike use not directly adjacent to a street. "Rehabilitate" means the repair or reconstruction of the structural section of the street in order to meet current standards. "Sidewalk" is a hard surface for pedestrian use only and located immediately adjacent to a roadway. "Street" means any way, excluding a path, sidewalk or alley, intended primarily for vehicular traffic.

"Vicinity" is the area within a radius of one quarter of a mile. (Prior code § 4-105)