CHAPTER 151: BUILDINGS
Section
151.01 Scope
151.02 Building permits
151.03 Building Commission
151.04 Foundations
151.05 Chimneys
151.06 Studdings, joists and rafters
151.07 Electric wiring
151.08 Sewer and water
151.09 Correction of unsafe conditions
151.10 Basements and areaways
151.11 Fire limits and building regulations
§ 151.01 SCOPE.
No building or structure shall hereafter be constructed, altered, repaired or removed, nor shall the equipment of a building, structure or premises be constructed, installed, altered, repaired or removed, except in conformity with this chapter.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 151.02 BUILDING PERMITS.
(A) Hereafter no person shall erect, alter, wreck or move any building or part thereof without first securing a building permit therefor; provided that no such permit shall be necessary for the construction, reconstruction or alteration of a building where the cost of the work or the reasonable value thereof, whichever is the greater, does not exceed $250.
(B) Application for a building permit shall be made to the City Administrator on blank forms to be furnished by the city. The application for the permit shall show affirmatively that all work will comply with every provision of the city ordinances, and shall be accompanied by a plan drawn to scale showing the dimensions of the lot to be built upon and the size and location of the building and accessory buildings to be erected. Applications for any kind of building permit shall contain other information as may be deemed necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter.
(C) (1) The application for a building permit shall be accompanied by a fee as established by resolution of estimated cost or reasonable value, whichever is greater or any fractional part thereof, with a maximum fee established by resolution. The City Administrator shall issue the building permit only after a determination has been made that the building plans, together with the application, comply with the terms of this chapter. One application and one building permit shall be sufficient to comply with the requirements of this chapter, and all amendments thereto.
(2) The land use permit fee schedule shall be as established by resolution.
(D) The Building Commission through its appointed agent shall inspect all buildings or structures during construction to see that the provisions of law and this chapter are complied with and that the construction is prosecuted safely. Whenever in its opinion by reason of defective or illegal work in violation of a provision of this chapter, the continuance of a building operation is contrary to public welfare, the Building Commission may order all further work stopped until the condition in violation has been remedied.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955; Ord. 8.1001, passed 10-27-1958; Ord. 8.1002, passed 11-14-1994; Ord. 1020, passed - -; Ord. 8.1022, passed 2-26-2007) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 151.03 BUILDING COMMISSION.
(A) The City Council shall at the first regular meeting in January of each year appoint a Building Commission which shall be the Building Commission of the City of Madelia.
(B) The Building Commission shall consist of two members of the City Council and the Chief of the Fire Department.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955)
§ 151.04 FOUNDATIONS.
(A) Foundation walls shall be required under every dwelling or commercial building hereafter constructed or rebuilt.
(B) Foundation walls shall be at least eight inches thick and constructed of either stone, concrete, concrete blocks, brick or other hard, durable material approved by the Building Commission.
(C) All foundation walls shall be carried up at least eight inches above the finished grade and the wall footings down at least two feet, six inches below the finished grade or deeper, if necessary, to reach suitable bearing soil.
(D) All sheds having an area of 120 square feet and all private garages built hereafter shall rest on foundation walls of approved fireproof material, which walls including footing shall be at least eight inches wide and at least ten inches deep.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 151.05 CHIMNEYS.
(A) In every building within the City of Madelia all chimneys shall be constructed of brick or other incombustible material approved by the Building Commission.
(B) Except for chimneys designed and used exclusively for gas burning units, no chimneys in any building shall be cut off below, in whole or in part, and supported on brackets, but shall be wholly supported by masonry resting upon a footing properly constructed at least two feet six inches below grade and deeper, if necessary, to rest on sound bearing soil.
(C) All the chimney footings shall be of concrete of at least 12 inches in depth and at least six inches larger than the chimney sides each way.
(D) Brick chimney walls shall be at least eight inches thick if not lined and four inches thick if lined with approved flue lining for the full height of the chimney.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955)
§ 151.06 STUDDINGS, JOISTS AND RAFTERS.
(A) All studdings, joists and rafters shall be of a size and quality so as to safely sustain loads to be carried and in dwellings or commercial structures, studdings and joists shall be spaced not greater than 16 inches on center and rafters not greater than 24 inches on center, except where in the opinion of the building commission special framing around openings justify slight variations from the same.
(B) All floor openings shall have double headers and all carrying partitions and outside walls shall have double top plates.
(C) Window and door openings shall have double headers.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955)
§ 151.07 ELECTRIC WIRING.
In every building all electric wiring, apparatus or appliances for furnishing light, heat or power, shall be in strict conformity with the statutes of the State of Minnesota, the rules and regulations issued by the Railroad and Warehouse Commission, the State Fire Marshal, and the Industrial Commission of Minnesota, and in conformity with approved methods of construction for safety to life and property.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955)
§ 151.08 SEWER AND WATER.
(A) Every dwelling constructed or remodeled or placed upon any lots within the City of Madelia where sewer and water mains are available in nearby streets shall be required to make water and sewer installations.
(B) (1) Where no sewer is available but water connections are available, outside toilets are prohibited and septic tanks are to take the place of sewer connections and shall be and are hereby required.
(2) All connections with sewers from dwellings shall be of cast iron soil pipe extending at least 12 inches beyond foundation wall.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 151.09 CORRECTION OF UNSAFE CONDITIONS.
(A) Whenever any building or structure is found to be in a condition dangerous to its occupants or any other persons or to adjacent property or to be unsafe for its intended use in the opinion of the Building Commission, they shall report to the City Council who shall have authority to notify in writing the owner, agent, or person in charge thereof requiring the changes or removal to be made as may be necessary to correct the condition described and shall fix a time limit for its correction and may also place at the entrance of the structure a notice stating the building is in a dangerous condition and has been condemned, and it shall be unlawful for any person to remove the notice without written permission from the City Council.
(B) If the owner or person in charge of the building, when notified, shall fail to place the same in a safe condition within the time specified, it shall be unlawful thereafter for any person, firm or corporation to occupy or use the building or structure until it has been rendered safe.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955)
§ 151.10 BASEMENTS AND AREAWAYS.
(A) Basements in public buildings must have at least one exit leading to the outside by the way of a door and stairway.
(B) All areaways shall be guarded with suitable railings or be protected by incombustible covering or grating.
(C) Open areaways shall not project beyond the lot line.
(D) Basements in business buildings over 40 feet in length, having an exit on the alley side, must also provide an areaway or opening leading into the basement from the street side.
(E) The areaway or opening can be placed in the storefront, sidewalk or in the entrance in buildings where door is set back and in the latter case a manhole may be used having a diameter of not less than 20 inches with a cast iron cover.
(F) If areaway or opening is placed in the foundation and sidewalk, the dimensions shall be not less than 30 inches in depth and 30 inches in width.
(G) No obstructions shall be placed near the areaways or openings.
(H) The construction of all areaways and openings to basements shall be approved by the Building Commission before work is started.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955) Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 151.11 FIRE LIMITS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS.
(A) Fire limits. The following shall be and are hereby declared to be the fire limits:
(1) All of Blocks 3 and 4 and the West Half of Block 2, Flander's Addition to Madelia;
(2) All of Block 3 and the South Half of Block 2, and the West Half of Block 4, Haycraft's Addition to Madelia; and
(3) The East One-Half of Block 1, Gilbert's First Addition to Madelia.
(B) Restrictions within fire limits.
(1) Within the fire limits, no building or structure of frame construction or of unprotected metal construction shall be hereafter extended on any side unless the construction of the extension conforms to the requirements of this chapter for new construction.
(2) No building of frame construction or unprotected metal construction shall hereafter be moved from without to within the fire limits.
(3) All buildings and structures erected hereafter in the fire limits shall be of fireproof construction as hereinafter defined, except the following: Frame dwelling not exceeding two stories in height and separated by at least five feet from lot line of adjoining property; a building of frame construction or of unprotected metal construction occupied exclusively as a private garage not more than one story in height located on the same lot with a dwelling and placed at least five feet from the lot line; builders shanties for use only in connection with a building operation; cooling towers not in excess of 250 square feet in base area and 15 feet in height.
(C) Definition of terms. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION. As applied to buildings and structures, that in which walls are of approved masonry or reinforced concrete; and in which interior structural elements, including columns, floors and roof construction, consist of heavy timbers; and in which all structural members which support masonry walls shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than three hours; and other structural members of steel or reinforced concrete, if used in lieu of timber construction, shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than one hour.
FRAME CONSTRUCTION. As applied to buildings means that in which walls and interior structural elements are wholly or partly of wood.
UNPROTECTED METAL CONSTRUCTION. As applied to buildings, in which the structural supports are unprotected metal and in which the roofing and walls or other enclosures are of sheet metal, or of other noncombustible materials, or of masonry not conforming to approved masonry.
(D) Repair.
(1) Any building or structure within the fire limits that may be or shall at any time hereafter become dangerous or unsafe shall, unless made safe and secure, be taken down and removed.
(2) A building or structure declared unsafe by the Building Commission may be restored to safe condition; provided that if the damage or cost of reconstruction or restoration is in excess of 50% of the value of the building or structure, exclusive of foundations, the building or structure, if reconstructed or restored, shall be made to conform with the requirements for new buildings hereafter erected; but no change of use or occupancy shall be compelled by reason of the construction or restoration.
(Ord. 8.10, passed 8-1-1955)
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