By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
A certificate of occupancy is issued, in Nephi, after the
building inspector completes and approves all required
inspections including the final inspection as outlined in
the code.
The council discussed a possible revision to the
city's policy regarding occupancy permits and the completion
of construction on commercial developments.
"This revision would put into place those regulations
we have discussed in the past," said Randy McKnight, city
administrator. "This ordinance explains what criteria should
be used to meet city requirements and was expanded to
include, as far as possible, those existing buildings which
are expanding and commercial development."
If council members were comfortable with the
philosophy, then it would be appropriate to put the changes
in place in the ordinance as it was approved and
revised.
The council was comfortable with the revised document
and did vote to adopt it.
A person could obtain a temporary occupancy
certificate but it would have an expiration date, McKnight
said, which would give the city legal authority to change
electric utilities back to the temporary and more expensive
power rate. In addition, all utilities would be put back on
the temporary rate.
It does give the city an element of control, said
McKnight.
"It is a violation of the building code and of Nephi
City ordinances to occupy a structure prior to the issuance
of a valid certificate of occupancy," he said.
In order to pass the final inspection, the payment of
all applicable connection and development fees and the
completion of all required site improvements will be
included in the final inspection.
Included as site improvements are curb, gutter,
sidewalk, and asphalt installation of new residential
construction and all improvements required by the approved
site plan for other types of construction.
No permanent electric connection will be made at
construction sites until the certificate of occupancy is
issued," said McKnight. "The permanent connection will be
made available for specific construction processes when
approved by the building inspector but will not be allowed
to remain for unauthorized occupancy."
Temporary utility rates remain in effect until the
certificate of occupancy is issued. The occupancy permit,
signed by the building inspector, must be delivered to city
hall at the time permanent power and regularly utility rates
are requested.
"Occupying new construction prior to the issuance of
an occupancy permit is a violation of the Uniform Building
Code and is a crime," McKnight said.
However, a temporary occupancy permit may be obtained
if no life-safety-related construction or improvements are
incomplete and if all other required construction or
improvements that are incomplete are guaranteed as required
by the city zoning ordinance.
In the case of existing commercial development
required to meet the commercial development standards, a
temporary occupancy permit may be obtained if no life-safety
related construction or improvements are incomplete and if
all other required construction or improvements that are
incomplete are guaranteed as required by the city or by a
lien on the property.
"If an expiration date is given for the temporary
occupancy permit, and the improvements are not complete,
temporary utility rates will be reinstated and the city may
take other action deemed appropriate to secure completion,"
said McKnight.
With each building permit issued, an inspection card
will also be issued. It is the contractor's responsibility
to post the inspection cared at the construction site so
that it is protected from weather but is available to the
building inspector at times.
The card becomes the record of inspections and must be
turned in, when completed before an occupancy permit will be
issued. A $50 replacement fee is charged if the card is
lost.
The contractor must call city offices and schedule
each inspection. The building code requires 24-hours notice
from the contractor for each inspection.
A re-inspection fee is charged when multiple trips are
required to accomplish a single inspection because the work
for which the inspection was requested was not complete or
when corrections specified have not been completed.
"This fee will not be assessed by Nephi City the first
time a job is rejected for failure to comply with the code,
but will be used to control the practice of calling for
inspections before the job is ready for inspection or
re-inspection," said McKnight.
In order for the city to monitor the licensing of
subcontractors, which has been requested by contractors
licensed by the city, the name and contractor license number
of each subcontractor must be listed on the back of the
inspection cared and approved by the building inspector
before the subcontractor performs work at the site.
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