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1. Can I continue work if job is posted with a Red Tag?

If you find yourself with a "Red Tag or Stop Work Order" posted on your job and/or property, you are required to cease and desist of all activities until you notify either the Chief Building Official, Code Enforcement Officer or the Building Inspector.

114.3 Unlawful continuance. Any person who shall continue
any work after having been served with a stop work order,
except such work as that person is directed to perform to
remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to penalties
as prescribed by law.

2. When am I required to apply for a Permit?

SECTION 105
PERMITS

105.1 Required. Any owner or authorized agent who intends
to repair, add to, alter, relocate, demolish, or change the occupancy
of a building or to repair, install, add, alter, remove, convert,
or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing
system, the installation of which is regulated by this code, or to
cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to
the code official and obtain the required permit.

3. What is exempt from requiring a Building Permit?

105.2 Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit
requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization
for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the
provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this
jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for the following:
Building:
1. Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches
(762 mm) above grade and not over any basement or
story below and that are not part of an accessible
route.
2. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter
tops, and similar finish work.
3. Temporary motion picture, television, and theater
stage sets and scenery.
4. Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural
purposes, and not including service systems.
5. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of
Group R-3 or Group U occupancies.
6. Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 69
inches (1753 mm) in height.

4. Am I allowed to construct in Flood Hazard Areas?

104.10.1 Flood hazard areas. For existing buildings
located in flood hazard areas for which repairs, alterations
and additions constitute substantial improvement, the code
official shall not grant modifications to provisions related to
flood resistance unless a determination is made that:
1. The applicant has presented good and sufficient cause
that the unique characteristics of the size, configuration
or topography of the site render compliance with
the flood-resistant construction provisions inappropriate.
2. Failure to grant the modification would result in
exceptional hardship.
3. The granting of the modification will not result in
increased flood heights, additional threats to public
safety, extraordinary public expense nor create nuisances'
cause fraud on or victimization of the public
or conflict with existing laws or ordinances.
4. The modification is the minimum necessary to afford
relief, considering the flood hazard.
5. A written notice will be provided to the applicant
specifying, if applicable, the difference between the
design flood elevation and the elevation to which the
building is to be built, stating that the cost of flood
insurance will be commensurate with the increased
risk resulting from the reduced floor elevation and
that construction below the design flood elevation
increases risks to life and property.

5. What will I need to provide when applying for a Permit?

105.3 Application for permit. To obtain a permit, the applicant
shall first file an application therefor in writing on a form
furnished by the Department of Building Safety for that purpose.
Such application shall:
1. Identify and describe the work in accordance with Chapter
3 to be covered by the permit for which application is
made.
2. Describe the land on which the proposed work is to be
done by legal description, street address, or similar
description that will readily identify and definitely locate
the proposed building or work.
3. Indicate the use and occupancy for which the proposed
work is intended.
4. Be accompanied by construction documents and other
information as required in Section 106.3.
5. State the valuation of the proposed work.
6. Be signed by the applicant or the applicant's authorized
agent.
7. Give such other data and information as required by the
code official.

6. How long is a Permit good for?

105.3.2 Time limitation of application. An application for
a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have
been abandoned 180 days after the date offiling, unless such
application has been pursued in good faith or a permit has
been issued; except that the code official is authorized to
grant one or more extensions of time for additional periods
not exceeding 90 days each. The extension shall be
requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.

7. Do I need a Permit to do repairs on my property?

105.2.1 Emergency repairs. Where equipment replacements
and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation,
the permit application shall be submitted within the
next working business day to the code official.
105.2.2 Repairs. Application or notice to the code official is
not required for ordinary repairs to structures and items
listed in Section 105.2. Such repairs shall not include the
cutting away of any wall, partition, or portion thereof, the
removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing
support, or the removal or change of any required means of
egress or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the
egress requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs include
addition to, alteration of, replacement, or relocation of any
standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas,
soil, waste, vent, or similar piping, electric wiring, or
mechanical or other work affecting public health or general
safety.

8. Where do I keep my Permit?

105.7 Placement of permit. The building permit or copy shall
be kept on the site of the work until the completion of the project.

9. Do I have to submit plans for my project?

106.3 Examination of documents. The code official shall
examine or cause to be examined the construction documents
and shall ascertain by such examinations whether the construction
or occupancy indicated and described is in accordance
with the requirements of this code and other pertinent laws or
ordinances.

10. What am I supposed to do with my plans for my project?

106.3.1 Approval of construction documents. When the
code official issues a permit, the construction documents
shall be approved in writing or by stamp as "Reviewed for
Code Compliance." One set of construction documents so
reviewed shall be retained by the code official. The other set
shall be returned to the applicant, shall be kept at the site of
work, and shall be open to inspection by the code official or
a duly authorized representative.

11. When do I have to pay for my Permit?

108.1 Payment of fees. A permit shall not be valid until the
fees prescribed by law have been paid. Nor shall an amendment
to a permit be released until the additional fee, if any, has been
paid.