Chapter 17.16 — MOVING BUILDINGS

It is unlawful for any person to move any building in, on, upon, across, along or into any public street or highway in

the city, unless or until all of the provisions of this chapter and the building code have been complied with. (Ord.

185 NCS §1; prior code §21.41.)

Any person desiring to remove or have removed a building shall Zle an application for a permit to do so with the

central permit bureau, which application shall specify the following:

A. The character of the building to be removed;

B. The place or address from which, and the place or address to which the building is to be moved;

C. The date and hour when such removal is to be commenced and the route, including the streets on, over and

through which it is desired to make such removal.

(Ord. 185 NCS §2; prior code §21.42.)

Each application for a permit required by Section 17.16.020 shall be accompanied by a written consent signed by a

duly authorized o\cer or agent of any owner or operator of any telephone, telegraph, electric light or electric

power line which extends over or into any street along which, or over which the removal of a building is to be

made. Each owner of such utility line shall be required to grant consent to the removal of the building referred to

in the application, if the removal can be done without interfering with the lines along or in the streets, or, in the

event such removal cannot be completed without interfering with the lines, the consent must be given upon the

furnishing by the applicant of an indemnity bond, issued by a corporation satisfactory to and in an amount

determined adequate by the city manager, guaranteeing to the owner or operator of the utility line full and

complete reimbursement for any damages or expenses caused by such removal. The bond required by this

section may be combined with or included in the indemnity insurance required under Section 17.16.050; provided,

that the city and such utility owner or operator are both named as beneZciaries of the insurance. (Ord. 185 NCS

§3; prior code §21.43.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 51 of 170

No permit required by this chapter shall be issued until the applicant has paid the fee speciZed in the building

code, the amount of such fee to be determined by the estimated value of the building to be removed as

determined by the city manager. (Ord. 185 NCS §4; prior code §21.44.)

Each applicant for a permit required by this chapter shall take out and maintain during the time when such

removal is to take place workmen’s compensation insurance for all of the employees employed in the work as

required by the laws of the state, and also public liability and property damage insurance. The public liability

insurance shall be in an amount not less than twenty-Zve thousand dollars for injuries, including accidental death

to any one person; and subject to the same limit for each person, in an amount not less than Zfty thousand dollars

on account of one accident; and property damage insurance in an amount not less than ten thousand dollars. The

property damage insurance shall include and cover any damage caused to the streets or property of the city, the

lines or property of any utility, or the vehicles or property of any person in connection with, or as a result of the

moving of the building described in the application. The application shall furnish the city with satisfactory proof of

the carriage of the insurance required under this chapter, and each and every policy of insurance or agreement

shall be absolutely noncancellable for a period of less than Zve days after notice to the city and shall contain the

following provision or one substantially the same:

"This policy herein referred to is noncancellable or subject to a reduction in coverage by the insurance of less than

Zve days after the insured has received written notice of cancellation or reduction as evidenced by return receipt

of registered letter." (Ord. 185 NCS §5; prior code §21.45.)

All removals made under permits granted in accordance with this chapter shall be done in a careful manner, and

shall be prosecuted with diligence and shall be under the superintendence and control, and performed to the

satisfaction and approval of, the director of public works. (Ord. 185 NCS §6; prior code §21.46.)

No person owning or having charge of the removal of any building through the public streets shall permit the

building to be or stand on any street, lane, alley or public ground within the limits of one block for a longer period

than twenty-four hours, unless such time is extended by written permission of the city manager. (Ord. 185 NCS §7;

prior code §21.47.)

The Petaluma Municipal Code is current through Ordinance 2916 NCS, passed December 1, 2025.

Title 17 Building and Construction | Petaluma Municipal Code Page 52 of 170

No person owning or having charge of the removal of any building through the public streets shall wilfully allow or

cause the injury of any street, sidewalk, curb, tree, fence or public or private property by such removal. (Ord. 185

NCS §8; prior code §21.48.)

In the event of damage being done by or in the course of the removal of any building, as provided for in this

chapter, to any fence, tree, pavement, street or sidewalk, or to any pole or wire, the person removing the building

and causing the damage shall immediately repair or replace the damage so done, and in the event that repair or

replacement cannot be made, then the city may, at its option, cause the damage to be repaired and the person

who secured the permit for such removal, or who caused such damage, shall be liable for all the costs of such

repairs. (Ord. 185 NCS §9; prior code §21.49.)