Title 17 — BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
Petaluma Municipal Code Ch. 17.16 Moving Buildings
Petaluma Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · Petaluma
Cite as: Petaluma Municipal Code Chapter 17.16 · Text as of 2026-10-04
17.16.010 Compliance required.¶
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.)
17.16.020 Permit required—Application generally.¶
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.)
17.16.030 Consent of electric line owners required—Wire removal bond.¶
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.)
17.16.040 Permit fee.¶
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.)
17.16.050 Insurance requirements.¶
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.)
17.16.060 Prosecution and supervision of work.¶
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.)
17.16.070 Time building may stand in street.¶
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.)
17.16.080 Wilful injury to property.¶
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.)
17.16.090 Repair of damage.¶
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.)
Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.
Ask AI about this code