Chapter 4 · Buildings and Construction

Article 1. Building Code

Sections 4-101 to 4-115 · 15 sections

4-101 Definitions.

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 Benton, 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 Benton;

(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 1991)

4-102 Building code incorporated.

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, 2006 Edition and the International Residential Code, 2006 Edition, as published by the International Code Council, 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, 2006 Edition and International Residential Code, 2006 Edition shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by the Code of the City of Benton,” and shall be filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours of business. Any person violating any provision of such code shall be punished as provided in section 1-116 of this code.

(Code 2010; Ord. 2015-04)

4-103 Additional provisions.

The following sections of this article are in addition to the provisions of the standard code incorporated by reference in section 4-102.

(Code 1991)

4-104 Powers of building inspector.

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 contained in this chapter;

(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 of this chapter 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.

(Ord. 231, Sec. 3; Code 1991)

4-105 Same; right of entry.

(a)Whenever necessary to make an inspection of any building, structure or premises to discharge his or her official duties, the building inspector is authorized to enter such building, structure or premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same and to exercise any power or authority or to perform any duty imposed upon the public officer under this code.

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

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

(2)If such property is unoccupied, the inspector 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 inspector 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.

(Ord. 231, Sec.3; Code 2010)

4-106 Clarification; modification.

(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 1991)

4-107 Building permit required; application; approval.

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 therefore 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.

(Ord. 231, Sec. 1; Code 1991)

4-108 Same; application information required.

(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 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 under this section 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 for the purpose of this section 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.

(Ord. 231, Sec. 2; Code 1991)

4-109 Same; plans and specifications.

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 1991)

4-110 Same; fees.

The fee for a building permit shall be as set by city ordinance. The fee 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 1991)

4-111 Same; posting.

A copy of the building permit shall be kept on the premises for public inspection during the performance of the work and until the completion of the same. The building inspector may require a certified copy of the approved plans to be kept on the premises at all times from the commencement of the work to the completion thereof.

(Code 1991)

4-112 Certificate of approval.

Upon the completion of any work under a building permit, the chief building official, the building inspector or his or her designee is authorized to issue a certificate of approval for the occupancy and use of the building or structure. The certificate shall show the number of inspections made and the orders and corrections required during the course of the work. A copy of such certificate shall be given the owner.

(Code 1991)

4-113 Work by property owners.

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 1991)

4-114 Liability.

This article shall not be construed to relieve from any liability or lessen the liability of any person performing any activity connected herewith, nor shall the city be held as assuming any liability by reason of any inspection authorized herein, by reason of any certificate of inspection issued by it or by reason of any permit or license granted herein.

(Code 1991)

4-115 Severability.

If any section of the building code or of this article shall be held unconstitutional or otherwise invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, then such section shall be considered separate and apart from the remaining sections, the section to be completely severable from the remaining provisions which shall continue in full force and effect.

(Code 1991)