Building Permit Application Procedure

(Adopted September 6, 2005)

AS MANDATED IN SECTION 12.2 OF THE TOWN OF ASHLAND ZONING ORDINANCE AS ADOPTED JULY, 2003

1. Property owner (or authorized representative) will make application for Building Permit at Town Hall.
   
   
2. Office Staff will review Application for any clerical errors or omissions and will open file and assign file number.  Office Staff may ask for any other information or exhibits that provide additional information on project.  The Office Staff will advise the applicant of a three (3) work-day waiting period for renovations and up to five (5) work-day waiting period for New Constructions and Additions.  The Office Staff will also advise applicant that a site inspection is required for New Constructions and Additions.
   
   
3.  Office Staff will make a second “Field File” including a copy of the Application, and any other information deemed useful and present to the Town Superintendent for review.  After this review, Town Superintendent may approve applications for renovations that make no changes in the building “footprint” and return to office staff with any instructions to advise the applicant of any code requirements, specifications or required subsequent inspections.  For New Constructions and Additions, Town Superintendent will make a site inspection.  This Site Inspection should include:
1. Location of any underground utility easements and existing underground utilities.
2.  Location of any Town-owned alleys and rights-of-way.
3.  Measurement of proposed building or addition location on site and compliance with required property line setbacks.
4. Recognition and notation of any evident, know or potential hazards.
5. Assessment of utility service requirements.
   
   The property owner or contractor is responsible for contacting Mississippi One Call to order locates for other underground facilities (electrical, pipeline, telephone, cable TV, etc.) on the property.  The Town Superintendent may, at his sole discretion, require that One Call locates be completed prior to making site inspection.  If One Call locates are required, the Town Superintendent shall notify the applicant upon receipt of application and the 5 day waiting period starts at the time the locate request is made, not upon filing of application.
   
   
4. The Town Superintendent shall make a recommendation concerning the application following the site inspection as follows:
1. Approve with no further review. (Compliant)
2. Request plan changes. (Non-Compliant)  The Town Superintendent will notify the applicant of necessary changes to bring the project plans into compliance.  If the applicant is unwilling to make necessary changes, application may be referred to the Planning Commission as Questionable or denied as Non-Compliant.
3. Refer to Planning Commission. (Compliance Questionable)
4. Deny as non-compliant.  (Non-Compliant)
   
   The Town Superintendent may confer with the planning consultant (Bob Barber) as he deems necessary during the Site Inspection and review process. 
   
   
5. The Town Superintendent shall return his Site Inspection report to the Office Staff, which will forward to the Mayor for review.
   
   
6. The Mayor, upon receipt of the recommendation of the Town Superintendent will, within the allotted time, act upon the application as follows:
1. Approve and Issue the Building Permit.
2.  Disapprove and return to applicant.
3. Call and convene at earliest possible time, a meeting of the Planning Commission.
   
   
7. Any decisions or recommendations made by staff or the Mayor during this process may be appealed to the Planning Commission.  Planning Commission decisions are advisory in nature and are sent to the Board of Aldermen for review at the next meeting, regular or special called.  The Board of Aldermen will make final determination on all zoning compliance issues.
   
   
8. The initial determination on Building Permits shall be made as follows:
1. No more than 3 Working-days on renovation without additions (No site inspection).
2. No more than 5 Working-days on new constructions and additions (Site inspection required).
   
   
9. The fee schedule and site inspection requirements shall be as follows:
1. Public entity (Town, County, State or Federal Government) construction with or without site inspection.  Residential or Commercial renovation less than $5,000 and requires no site inspection – No Charge.
2. All other Residential or Commercial - $25.00
3. Late purchase of permit (obtaining permit after beginning construction) - $25.00 in addition to regular permit fees.
   
   Any fee may be waived, either partially or in its entirety on any building project deemed by the Mayor or Board of Aldermen as being of significant economic impact to the Town of Ashland.  Such determination shall be limited to commercial development and be based upon number of jobs created, sales tax revenue potential and utility revenue potential. 
   
   
10. The following notice shall be published once per month in the Southern Advocate newspaper to notify the public of the building permit requirement:

“Notice to Property Owners and Contractors concerning work within the Town of Ashland.  A building permit is required for all construction work done and any placement of new structures within the corporate limits of the Town of Ashland, Mississippi.  Failure to comply with the building permit requirement (Section 12.2 of the Town of Ashland Zoning Ordinance)  will result in refusal of utility services (water, sewer, gas, electricity) and additional fees and could result in having to demolish unpermitted work and up to $100 per day in fines.  Permit applications, policies and fee schedules are available at Town Hall or online at www.ashland.ms. Published by order of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, September 6, 2005.”