As used in this article, the words and phrases herein defined shall have the following meanings unless the context otherwise requires:

(a)   Whenever the word municipality is used in the building code, it shall be held to mean the City of Plainville, Kansas;

(b)   Whenever the term corporation counsel is used in the building code, it shall be held to mean the city attorney of the City of Plainville;

(c)   Whenever the term building official is used in the building code, it shall be held to mean the building inspector or his or her authorized designee.

(Code 2019)

It shall be unlawful for any person to hereafter erect or cause to be erected within the city any building or structure of any kind or enlarge or add to the outside dimension thereof, or relocate any building or structure already erected or which may hereafter be erected or remodel any building or structure within the city without a building permit being first obtained therefor from the city clerk, after approval by the chief building official or his or her duly authorized assistant. The application for such permit shall be made and the permit obtained before work is commenced upon any building or structure or the foundation thereof, or before the removal of any building begins.

(Code 2019)

(a)   A building permit shall be issued upon an application in writing to the office of city clerk on a form or forms provided for the purpose. This application shall, among other things, disclose the following:

(1)   The name of the owner of the lot or tract of ground;

(2)   The location of the building or structure;

(3)   The building work proposed;

(4)   The outside dimensions of the building by floors and dimensions of the basement (if any);

(5)   The class of occupancy;

(6)   The class of construction;

(7)   The kind of materials to be used for walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, and foundations;

(8)   The estimated cost of the work;

(9)   The date work will commence;

(10) Expected date of completion;

(11) Name and address of contractor or contractors doing the work;

(12) Such other information as may be pertinent to the issuance of the required permit.

(b)   An application for a building permit shall be signed by the owner or his or her duly authorized agent, or a building contractor licensed by the city. If the application is made by the owner or his or her agent, it shall contain the name(s) of the licensed contractor(s) doing the work described, or a building permit may be issued to the owner upon his or her application disclosing satisfactory evidence that the proposed work will be performed by the owner, himself or herself, and not by a licensed contractor, and likewise subject to the final approval of the building inspector for work performed.

(c)   Upon approval of the completed application and a determination that a permit should be issued, the chief building official or his or her assistant shall issue a permit to the owner or contractor authorizing the building work covered by the application.

(d)   Every building permit issued under the provisions of this Code shall expire twelve (12) months from the date of issue, unless the application is accompanied by a construction schedule of specific longer duration, in which instance the permit may be issued for the term of the construction schedule, with approval in writing by the City’s building official. If the work has not been completed by the expiration date of the permit, no further work shall be done until a new permit has been issued to the owner or the owner’s agent and by payment of any required fees.

(e)   Anytime work is suspended or abandoned for more than thirty (30) days, the building official may determine to suspend or revoke the permit due to neglect if the site is not properly secured, including:

(1)   Removal of all construction debris, materials, weeds, etc. that make the area unsightly and create a public nuisance.

(2)   Excavations, including open basement foundations, shall be protected by a fence to help prevent an attractive nuisance in an occupied neighborhood.

(3)   Erosion prevention measures as set forth in Chapter II Article 6 shall be provided to prevent erosion, damage, and nuisance to surrounding properties, including public right-of-ways, sidewalks, streets, etc.

(Code 2019)

Whenever an application for a building permit is made, the chief building official may, if he or she finds it necessary to determine whether building work described in the application will comply with the laws pertaining to such work, require that the applicant file a written description or drawing of the proposed building as may be prepared for the purpose. If such drawing or description is insufficient for the purposes of determining whether a permit should be issued, the building official may require the applicant to file complete architectural and engineering plans and specifications for such building, or any part thereof, as may be necessary for the inspector to determine compliance with this article. The filing of such plans and specifications and the approval thereof in connection with an application for a permit shall not in any way affect the authority of the city to deny or issue a permit, or to inspect any building work for conformity with this article.

(Code 2019)

The following fee shall be paid to the city clerk before work can begin on any such project in the city:

(a)   Remodeling or Building Permit (required for $100.00 or more) is $15.00.

(Code 2019)

(a)   A builder or building contractor for purposes of this article shall be any person, firm, co- partnership, corporation, association, or any combination thereof, whether a resident or not of the city:

(1)   Who or which undertakes with or for another, for a fixed sum, price, fee or any compensation other than wages, to build, construct, alter, repair, add to, wreck or move any building or structure (or any portion thereof), or any sidewalk, driveway entrance or structure in any street, or any advertising sign, panel poster or billboard, or any other structure, in the city, for which a building or construction permit may now or hereafter be required by the laws of the city; or

(2)   Who or which advertises or represents himself, herself, or itself to the public to have the capacity or ability to undertake, or submit a bid or offer to build, construct, alter, repair, add to or wreck, remove, restore or replace any building, structure or construction work or any portion thereof; or

(3)   Who or which builds, constructs, alters, adds to or wrecks any buildings or structures either on his or her own or other property for purposes of sale or speculation.

(b)   A builder or building contractor as defined shall not mean or include:

(1)   Any subcontractor working under the supervision of a general contractor; or

(2)   Any plumbers, gas fitters, electricians, or other specialized occupation for which special licenses or bonds are required by other city laws; or

(3)   Any owner or his or her authorized agents or employees making ordinary repairs to his, her or its own building or structure not involving the structural parts of the building for which a permit is not required or on which a contractor, as defined, is not required, employed or engaged to perform; or

(4)   Any property owner personally performing any improvements, alterations or building construction within or upon his or her own residence and intended for his or her own personal use and permanent occupancy; provided, the owner shall satisfy the building official as to his or her ability to perform such work secure a permit, pay required fees, do work in accordance with this article, and apply for an inspection and receive approval. Personal building construction by an owner under this section shall be by himself, herself, for himself or herself on his or her own residence, without compensation and no person shall be employed to assist him or her in any way on such work except a builder or building contractor licensed by the city.

(Code 2019)

(a)   Each builder or building contractor shall before entering upon any building or construction work subject to regulation by city laws, apply to the city clerk for a builder’s or building contractor’s license and receive the same as hereinafter provided and have in his or her possession a valid license authorizing him, her or it to engage in the trade or occupation of a builder or building contractor in the city.

(b)   No permit for any building or construction work shall be issued for any such work to be performed by a builder or building contractor, as defined, who has not first obtained a license upon making a proper application and payment of the license fee as required.

(c)   It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, company, association or corporation to enter into a contract or agreement with another so as to bring himself, herself, or itself under the definition of builder or building contractor herein, or to perform any work as a builder or building contractor or any work under a contract for any work involving the construction, wrecking or moving of any building, without first having obtained a builder’s or building contractor’s license issued by the city.

(Code 2019)

Application for a builder’s or building contractor’s license shall be made upon a form which shall disclose the name of the applicant, his or her place of business, and the kind of contracting work engaged in such as general contracting, roofing, siding, masonry, plastering, lathing, excavating, waterproofing, metal work, foundation work, sign hanging, cement work, painting, structure moving or demolition, or any other type of work. The application shall be signed by the builder or building contractor or his or her authorized agent. Such license shall be issued by the city clerk, upon payment of the fees as stated in Section 2-209.

(Code 2019)

(a)   The following license fees shall be paid for the calendar year or major fraction thereof:

(1)   General Builder or Building Contractor, who shall qualify to engage in more than one kind of contract work, except house moving, the sum of $55.00;

(2)   Limited Builder or Building Contractor, who shall qualify to engage in not more than one kind of contract work, the sum of $55.00;

(3)   House Wreckers or Movers, the sum of $55.00;

(4)   Sign Hangers and Panel Posters, the sum of $15.00.

Any license issued on or after July 1 of each year shall be issued upon payment of one-half the annual license fee.

(b)   Each such license shall set forth the kind of contract work in which the licensee may engage. The licensee shall display his or her license at any place where he or she may be engaged in contract work or produce the same on demand of any city officer. All licenses shall be renewable annually as in the case of an original license on or before the first day of January of the year for which issued.

(c)   It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to contract for any kind of work covered by this article without having a valid license issued by the city to perform such contracts.

(Code 2019)

A builder or building contractor must procure and maintain a liability insurance policy in the amount of $500,000 as a combined single limit, notwithstanding this requirement, the city clerk may waive this requirement for good cause. Such policies of insurance shall be issued by some insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Kansas. A builder or building contractor may qualify as to the insurance requirements by filing a certificate with the city clerk executed by the resident agent of such company stating that the required policy of insurance has been issued by such company for the purpose required by this article and that such insurer will not cancel the policy except upon giving 30 days’ notice in writing to the city; and that the certificate shall be filed for an annual period beginning January 1 and ending December 31 of such year.

(Code 2019)

(a)   The license of any builder or building contractor may be suspended temporarily, for a period of not to exceed 30 days at any one time, by the chief building official upon his or her own motion or upon a complaint of the city building inspector. Notice shall be given in writing to such builder or building contractor giving reasonable notice of a time of hearing of the complaint or the matter alleged against such builder or building contractor involving any one or more of the following:

(1)   Misrepresentation of a material fact by applicant in obtaining a license;

(2)   Use of license to obtain a building permit for another;

(3)   Failure or neglect to observe conditions of permit authorizing encumbering of streets or sidewalks for safety of public;

(4)   Performance of any building or construction work without a permit where one is required by law; or

(5)   Willful disregard of any violation of the building and construction laws, or failure to comply with any lawful order of the city building inspector.

(b)   Any licensee may within 15 days appeal in writing to the governing body from any order of the chief building official suspending his or her license for its final decision thereon. The governing body may upon such hearing terminate such suspension within not more than 30 days thereafter or may revoke such license. If any license shall be revoked, the builder or building contractor shall not be eligible for a new license during a period of six months thereafter. No fee shall be refunded in event of the suspension or revocation of any contractor’s license.

(c)   It shall be unlawful to engage in the occupation or trade of builder or building contractor during the time any license of such builder or building contractor has been suspended or revoked.

(Code 2019)

Nothing herein contained shall prohibit any property owner from personally performing any building or construction work within and upon his or her own residence and intended for his or her personal use and permanent occupancy; provided, the owner shall satisfy the building inspector as to his or her ability to perform such work, secure a permit, pay required fees, do work in accordance with this article, and apply for an inspection and receive a certificate of approval. Personal building or construction performed by an owner under this section shall be by himself, herself, for himself or herself on his or her own residence, without compensation and no person shall be employed to assist him or her in any way on such work except a builder or building contractor licensed by the city.

(Code 2019)