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 White City, 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 White City;

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

(Code 2000)

There is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, for the purpose of establishing rules and regulations for the construction, alteration, removal, demolition, equipment, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of buildings and structures, the International Building Code, 2000 Edition, as recommended by the International Conference of Building Officials, such code being made as a part of the ordinances and code of the city as if the same had been set out in full herein, all as authorized and in the manner prescribed by K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012 including any amendments thereto. No fewer than three copies of the International Building Code, 2000 Edition, shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by the Code of the City of White City,” and shall be filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours of business.

(Code 2000)

The following sections are in addition to the provisions of the standard code incorporated by reference in Section 4-202.

(Code 2000)

(a)   This and other articles of the city relating generally to building and structures shall be administered and enforced by the designated agent of the city council. The designated agent shall act as chief building official and may assume the responsibilities of or with the consent and approval of the governing body appoint a building inspector and such other assistants as may be advisable for the issuance of building permits and the inspection of building work.

(b)   The designated agent of the city council shall prepare such application, permit, inspection and record forms as may be required for the purposes of the article. The designated agent may make and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to obtain conformity with this article pertaining to the making of applications for building permits, issuing of building permits and inspecting of buildings and building works.

(Code 2000)

The mayor may assume the responsibilities of or appoint some qualified officer or employee of the city to be and perform the duties of building inspector as may be required, subject to the consent and approval of the governing body.

(Code 2000)

The building inspector shall have the following duties:

(a)   To enforce all regulations relating to construction, alteration, repair, removal and demolition of building and structures;

(b)   May permit, with the approval of the governing body, on the basis of duly authenticated reports from recognized sources, the use of new materials or modes of construction, not provided for in this article, and may, for the purpose of carrying out the intent of this article adopt an accepted standard of material or workmanlike practices of federal or state bureaus, national, technical organizations or fire underwriters;

(c)   To examine all buildings in the process of erection, construction, alteration or relocation in the city for the purpose of determining whether the work is in compliance with the permit given and in compliance with the regulations of the city pertaining to such work, including zoning regulations; and;

(d)   To keep comprehensive records of applications, of permits or certificates issued, of inspections made, of reports rendered, and of notices or orders issued. All such records shall be open to public inspection during stated office hours, but shall not be removed from the office of the building official without his or her written consent.

(Code 2000)

The building inspector shall have the following powers:

(a)   To enter any building or structure or premises at any reasonable hour, whether complete or in the process of erection, to perform the duties;

(b)   To adopt and enforce all such prudent emergency measures as he or she may deem necessary and expedient for the public safety under the laws of the city;

(c)   May cause any work done in violation to be discontinued until he or she shall have satisfactory evidence that the work will be done in accordance with the building regulations of the city, subject to the right of any builder or owner to appeal to the governing body.

(Code 2000)

(a)   The building inspector, or his or her agent, upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour to perform his or her duties.

(b)   The authority granted to the public officer by subsection (a) of this section is subject to the following:

(1)   If the building, structure or premises is occupied, the public officer shall first present proper credentials, explain the purpose for which admittance is desired and demand entry.

(2)   If such property is unoccupied, the public officer shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person having charge or control of the property, present proper credentials, explain the purpose for which admittance is desired and demand entry.

(3)   If the public officer is refused admission or cannot locate the owner or occupant, the public officer shall refrain from entering until authorized to do so by proper judicial authority.

(Code 2000; Code 2013)

(a)   The governing body shall be the final determiner of the scope and meaning of all provisions of the building code which may be unclear, ambiguous, or requiring interpretation.

(b)   The building inspector shall have power to modify any of the provisions of the building code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee or his or her authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code. In approving modifications, the building inspector shall see that the spirit of the code is observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of a modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the inspector thereon shall be entered upon the records of the building inspector and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant.

(Code 2000)

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 2000)

(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 date work will commence;

(9)   Expected date of completion;

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

(11) Such other information as may be pertinent to the issuance of the required permit;

(12) 180 day time limit.

(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 or names of the licensed contractor or contractors 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)   Any permit issued shall be valid and subsisting for a period of not more than six months from the date of issuance unless the permittee shall have commenced, within the period so limited, the building work authorized by such permit. Building work commenced shall mean the beginning of building work other than the preparation of plans or the staking out of the building location or the letting of a building contract.

(Code 2000; Code 2013)

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. 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.

(Code 2000)

The fee for a building permit shall be $25 for structures up to 400 square feet, and $100 for larger structures. The fee to erect a fence shall be $10. The fee herein shall be paid to the city clerk upon obtaining a building permit and the same shall be credited to the general operating fund of the city.

(Code 2000)