City of Monroe, LA

ORDINANCE

STATE OF LOUISIANA

CITY OF MONROE                                                                                    NO.  11,853               

The following Ordinance was introduced by Mr.  Echols                 , who moved for its adoption and was seconded by Mrs.  Ezernack                        :

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CURRENT CHAPTER 9, BUILDINGS, OF THE MONROE CITY CODE, ARTICLE II, SECTION 9-24 – PERMIT FEES, AND SECTION 9-25 – PENALTIES.

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            WHEREAS, the current Monroe City Code of Ordinances contains Chapter 9, Buildings, of the Code of the City of Monroe, Article II, Section 9-24 – Permit Fees, and Section 9-25 – Penalties;

            WHEREAS, the current fee rates be amended to rates that better reflect the true cost of performing permitting and inspection services;

            WHEREAS, there is no current standalone selective demolition permit, where one is needed; and

            WHEREAS, the penalties for illegal work exist, but not in a clearly defined scaled increase.

            NOW THEREFORE it is hereby ordained that the current Chapter 9, Buildings, of the Code of the City of Monroe, Article II, Section 9-24 – Permit Fees, and Section 9-25 – Penalties is hereby enacted as follows:

            THEREFORE, the current Chapter 9, Buildings, of the Code of the City of Monroe, Louisiana, Section 9-24 and 9-25 be amended as follows:

Sec. 9-24. - Permit fees.

On buildings, structures, additions, alterations or remodels requiring a permit, a fee for each permit shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as established by the applicable governing authority. A permit shall be required regardless of whether the City inspectors or third-party inspectors conduct plan reviews and inspections.

(a)  For the issuance of a permit, for the new construction of a building or structure a fee shall be charged according to the following schedule:

(1)  Building permit fee, $25.00.

(1)  Re-inspection fee, $20.00.

                       Convenience re-inspection fee, $20.00.

                        Inspections after normal business hours, $100.00.

                        Inspections on weekends/ holidays, $200.00

                        Re-inspection fee for initial inspection failure:

                        First re-inspection, $35.00.

                        Second re-inspection, $50.00.

                        Third and subsequent re-inspections, $75.00 per re-inspection until inspection is passed.

                        Fees are to be assessed and collected prior to issuance of final Certificate of Occupancy.                                                 No final Certificate of Occupancy shall be issued for a project with outstanding fees.

(2)  Nonresidential construction and additions:

                            Plan Review Fee: $300.00

                             Administrative Fee for Third Party Plan Review and Inspections: $200.00    

                             Building Permit fee, $25.00. $250.00.

                             The first 5,000 square feet, 12¢ 36¢ per square foot.

                             The next 5,000 square feet, 8¢ 24¢ per square foot.

                             All over 10,000 square feet, 6¢ 18¢ per square foot.

 (3)  Residential construction:

                             Plan Review Fee: $250.00

                              Administrative Fee for Third Party Plan Review and Inspections: $200.00    

                              Permit fee, $ 25.00. $75.00.

                              8¢ 24¢ per square foot.

 (b)  For the purpose of calculating the square foot area in residential construction all non-heated areas           shall be included in the calculation.

 (c)  For the issuance of a permit for alteration or remodeling of a building or structure, the following                fees shall be charged:

(1)  Cost of alteration or remodeling:

         Permit fee ..... $  25.00 Residential, $75.00

                        Non-residential, $250.00

         $   0.00 to $ 2,000.00 ..... 25.00

         2,001.00 to  5,000.00 ..... 50.00

         5,001.00 to 10,000.00 ..... 75.00

      10,001.00 to 15,000.00 ..... 100.00

      15,001.00 to 25,000.00 ..... 150.00

      25,001.00 to 50,000.00 ..... 240.00

      50,001.00 to 100,000.00 ..... 360.00

     For each additional $100,000.00 ..... 120.00

(2)  Roofing replacements will be charged as follows:

         Permit fee, $25.00. $75.00.

         Up to the first ten (10) squares, $12.00 plus $6.00 for each additional 1,000 per roofing square.

(3)  For the issuance of a permit for the installation or removal of swimming pools the following fees              shall be charged:

         Permit fee, $25.00. $75.00.plus 12¢ per square foot.

(d)  For the issuance of a permit for the installation or removal of underground gasoline storage tanks,          pumps and other dispensing equipment, the following fees shall be charged:

         Underground storage tanks: $50.00.

         Pumps and dispensing equipment: $50.00 per pump.

(e)  For the issuance of a permit for the removal of a building or structure from one lot to another, the            fee shall be ninety dollars ($90.00).

(f)  For the issuance of a permit for the demolition of a building or structure shall be as follows:

            The fee shall be at the rate of thirty-five dollars ($35.00) up to one thousand (1,000) square feet               and five dollars ($5.00) for each additional one thousand (1,000) square feet residential and                     ($10.00) for each additional one thousand (1,000) square feet commercial. A selective interior                 demolition fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) for residential, and ($100.00) for non-residential work shall             be applied to all demolition of interior spaces with no changes to the structure of the building.                   This shall include wall coverings, framings, openings, mechanical systems, electrical and others.              An inspection shall be made prior to and after demolition by the Inspections office.

(g)  For the issuance of a permit, for the installation of or alterations to heat producing appliances, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, blower and exhaust systems, a fee shall be charged according to the following schedule:

(1)  For new installation of, or alterations (other than the addition of heating to existing air-systems) to          air conditioning-cooling only, air conditioning-cooling and heating combined, mechanical                 refrigeration, ventilation or exhaust systems fees shall be based on compressor horsepower, or tons   capacity in lieu of horsepower where refrigeration is accomplished by absorption, vacuum, or internal combustion engine. Fees for ventilation or exhaust systems shall be based on motor horsepower. Such fees shall be as follows:

Permit fee ..... $ 25.00 $75.00

From 0 through 5 tons ..... 15.00

From 6 through 10 tons ..... 30.00

From 11 through 100 tons ..... 60.00

From 101 through 500 tons ..... 105.00

From 501 through 900 tons ..... 150.00

Over 900 Tons ..... 175.00

(2)  For new installations of, or alterations to heating systems only, or for the addition of heating to an existing air-conditioning system. Fees are based on Btu input as follows:

Up through 100 M Btu ..... $ 15.00

From 101 M Btu through 200 M Btu ..... 22.00

From 201 M Btu through 500 M Btu ..... 30.00

Over 500 M Btu ..... 45.00

K.W. ..... 1.25

A/C Duct ..... 25.00

(h)  Fines and/or penalties of a demolition not in accordance to the post inspection shall be charged as follows:

Property owner and/or agent shall be fined according to the penalties written within this chapter (Refer to section 9-25).

(i)               No mobile home and/or trailer house shall be placed or located for habitation or occupancy within the city unless a permit shall have first been obtained from the office of the building inspector approving such placement or location. Upon application for such permit, a fee in the amount of sixty dollars ($60.00) one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be paid by the applicant to the building inspector.

(j)       The plan review fees, demolition permit fees, administrative fee applied to third party inspectors listed in section 9-24 (a)(3) & (4) shall be collected and retained by the Inspections Division without exception up to the amount of $15,000.00. These funds shall be used for equipment, books, travel, education, and other expenses incurred in the operations of the inspections division. If any remaining funds are unspent at the end of the fiscal year, they shall remain in the possession of the Inspections Division and not be transferred.

(Code 1958, § 6-6; Ord. No. 7252, 3-10-81; Ord. No. 10,197, 4-9-02; Ord. No. 10,470, 3-22-05; Ord. No. 11,610, 9-8-15)