§ 408. Building permit required.

A.

The developer or other person wishing to do any of the following must first apply to the building official for a building permit:

1.

Excavation or filling of a lot for the construction of a building.

2.

Erection, movement, extension, or enlargement of a building.

3.

Installation of a manufactured home or industrialized building.

B.

No electrical service will be made available to the site of new construction until a building permit is secured.

C.

The building permit must be applied for either by the owner of the land upon which the propose building or alteration is to be located, or by the contractor doing the work.

D.

Any contractor, other than the owner who will perform work which is the object of a building permit, shall present his state license to the building official before the permit shall be issued.

E.

The applicant may obtain a building permit application from the building official. He should complete the application form and submit it to the building official, together with any supporting documentation which the building official may specify.

F.

No application will be accepted from any person who is in violation of the zoning ordinance. If an applicant for a building permit is, at the time of such an application, determined by the building official to be in violation of the zoning ordinance, then the building official will be prohibited from accepting or processing any application from that applicant until the applicant voluntarily removes or changes the cause of the violation and ceases to be in violation. The applicant must notify the building official that he has ceased the violation and obtain a release from the zoning administrator as to the violation.

G.

When the applicant has ceased to be in violation of this ordinance, the building official will then accept the application for [a] building permit.

H.

Before a building permit is issued by the building official, the Screven County Health Department must approve the proposed water supply and sewage disposal facilities required in connection with the proposed building or structure. In areas served by a public water and sewage system, the health department may elect to waive the requirement for approval. After study of the site of a proposed use, the health department may require for health reasons that all or any portion of the site not be used for the intended purpose. The health department may also set a minimum lot size larger than that required by this ordinance. The Screven County Health Department will either approve or disapprove the water and sewer facilities within 30 days of receipt of the application from the building official, providing a written decision, including reasons for the decision.

I.

An existing use which is altered or extended must meet applicable Screven County building codes and development regulations. When an applicant seeks a building permit for the extension or alteration of an existing use, the building official will inspect the use and determine what, if anything, is needed to bring the use into conformance with the applicable building codes and development regulations before a building permit may be issued.

J.

The building official is in charge of issuing building permits. The building permit will be issued if, upon review of the application, the building official is satisfied that the proposed project can meet the requirements of this ordinance and all other applicable ordinances. The building official may require the submission of additional information in order to determine if the proposed project meets the requirements of this ordinance.

K.

If the building official determines that the proposed project as presented in the building permit application will not satisfy the requirements of this ordinance, he will not issue a building permit. He will notify the applicant in writing within ten working days of the submission of the application, stating reasons for the refusal. The applicant will then need to confer with the building official to determine what he needs to do in order to comply with the ordinance and be eligible for a building permit.

L.

Construction on an approved project must start within six months from the date of issue of the building permit, or the permit will become invalid and a new one must be applied for if construction of the project is desired at a future date. If construction has begun on an approved project and then ceases before the project is completed, construction must be restarted within 12 months from the time that it was stopped, or the permit will become invalid and a new one must be applied for if construction of the project is desired to resume at a future date. Records of building permit applications and supporting materials will be maintained by the building official.

M.

All newly constructed buildings, as well as additions, extensions or enlargements of structures must comply with all building codes in effect in Screven County. The building official will explain the procedures and timing of inspections to determine if work meets applicable codes.

N.

The building official may revoke any building permit where there has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to a material fact or condition in the application or plans on which the permit was based, and upon such revocation, all construction, improvements or alterations as authorized by such permit or approval, shall cease until a valid building permit is issued.

O.

No person or entity is entitled to rely on any permit, document, promise, or assurance given or issued by Screven County, unless it is consistent with and in compliance with local ordinances.