Agenda - Council Work Session - 07/10/2012

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1300.0110 DUTIES AND POWERS OF BUILDING OFFICIAL. Subpart 1. General. The building official shall enforce the code. The building official may render interpretations of the code and adopt policies and procedures in order to clarify its application. The interpretations, policies, and procedures shall be in conformance with the intent and purpose of the code. The policies and procedures shall not have the effect of waiving requirements specifically provided for in the code. Subp. 2. Deputies. According to the prescribed procedures of the municipality and with the concurrence of the appointing authority, the building official may designate a deputy building official and related technical officers, inspectors, plan examiners, and other employees. The employees have the powers delegated by the building official. Subp. 3. Applications and permits. The building official shall receive applications, review construction documents, and issue permits for the erection, alteration, demolition, moving, and repair of buildings and structures, including all other equipment and systems regulated by the code. The building official shall inspect the premises for which the permits have been issued and enforce compliance with the code. Subp. 4. Notices and orders. The building official shall issue all necessary notices and orders to ensure compliance with the code. Notices and orders shall be in writing unless waived by the permit applicant, contractor, owner, or owner's agent. Notices and orders shall be based on the edition of the code under which the permit has been issued. Subp. 5. Inspections. The building official shall make all of the required inspections or accept reports of inspection by approved agencies or individuals. Results of inspections shall be documented on the job site inspection card and in the official records of the municipality, including type of 6 inspection, date of inspection, identification of the responsible individual making the inspection, and comments regarding approval or disapproval of the inspection. The building official may engage expert opinion necessary to report upon unusual technical issues that arise. Subp. 6. Identification. The building official and deputies shall carry proper identification when inspecting structures or premises in the performance of duties under the code. Subp. 7. Right of entry. If it is necessary to make an inspection to enforce the code or if the building official has reasonable cause to believe that there exists in a structure or upon a premises a condition contrary to or in violation of the code that makes the structure or premises unsafe, dangerous, or hazardous, the building official or designee may enter the structure or premises at reasonable times to inspect or to perform the duties imposed by the code, provided that if the structure or premises is occupied, credentials must be presented to the occupant and entry requested. If the structure or premises is unoccupied, the building official shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other person having charge or control of the structure or premises and request entry. If entry is refused, the building official shall have recourse to the remedies provided by law to secure entry. Subp. 8. Department records. The building official shall be responsible for official records of applications received, plans, specifications, surveys, plot plans, plan reviews, permits and certificates issued, reports of inspections, and notices and orders issued. The records shall be retained for the period required for the retention of public records under Minnesota Statutes, section 138.17. Department records shall be maintained by the municipality and readily available for review according to Minnesota Statutes, section 13.37.