Building Permits

Please contact the Town of May Building Inspector, Jack Kramer, at 651-351-5051 or inspjack@msn.com, regarding building permit information.

ARTICLE 302: LOCAL BUILDING PERMITS

Section 302.01: Local Building Permit RequiredA. Permit Required. No structure shall be erected or structurally altered until a building permit has been issued, indicating that the existing or proposed structure and the use of the land comply with this chapter and all Building Codes. Building permits shall not be issued unless the proposed improvement meets all the requirements of the Building Code. B. No Site Preparation. No site preparation work, including rough grading, driveway construction, footing excavation or other physical changes to the site shall occur prior to the issuance of building permit and other zoning use permits. C. Application Form. Applications for permits as required in the Article shall be made to the Building Inspector on forms furnished by the Town. Proof of ownership of the land on which the existing or proposed structure is to be built is required from the applicant in the form of a copy of the deed of ownership or contract for deed. The Building Inspector shall maintain a record of all applications for and all permits issued under this Article. D. Site Plan. Application for a building permit shall be accompanied by a site plan drawn to scale showing the dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the size and location of the building, utilities (including on-site septic systems), accessory buildings to be erected, location of driveway and culvert size, vegetation, and major topographic changes including site grading and an erosion control plan. Drawings of the improvement should be of sufficient detail to permit checking against the Building Code and such other information as the Building Inspector may reasonably require to determine compliance with this Article, Code and Building Code. The Building Inspector may require a Certificate of Survey before a building permit will be issued, when uncertainty exists regarding boundaries and set-backs. E. Town Road Frontage. Application for a building permit on a lot fronting on a town road or what will eventually become a town road shall be accompanied by a cash escrow, in an amount to be determined by the Town Board and is set forth in Chapter 13 of this Code, for the purpose of repair and restoration for any damage or clean-up necessary to the town road and right-of-way, including ditches, caused during the construction. The Building Inspector shall photograph the adjacent town road and right-of-way prior to issuance of the building permit. F. Release. The security deposit shall be released not later than sixty (60) days after a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued or one year after issuance of the building permit, whichever is later, except to the extent necessary to make repairs or clean up the township streets or easements from damage or erosion caused by the construction project. If no Certificate of Occupancy is required, the security shall be released within sixty (60) days after the Building Inspector determines that the construction is substantially complete except to the extent necessary to make repairs or clean up the township streets, or easements from damage or erosion caused by the construction project. If the applicant fails to make repairs or clean up eroded materials after receiving notice to do so from the Town, the Town shall make the necessary repairs or clean up the eroded materials and the cost shall be reimbursed to the Town from the security deposit. G. Height. 1. No structure shall exceed thirty-five (35) feet in height, including church spires, belfries, cupolas and domes, monuments, chimneys and smokestacks, flag poles, public facilities, transmission towers of private radio broadcasting stations, television antennae, except barns, silos and other farm structures, utility transmission services and transmission towers of commercial broadcasting stations. (See Article 603, Wireless Communication Antennas and Cell Towers and Article 604, Wind Energy Conservation Systems (WECS)). 2. Parapet walls shall not extend more than four (4) feet above the height permitted for the building. H. No Illegal Use. No building permit shall be issued for any improvement which would result in a use, building or structure in violation of this Article or the Subdivision Development Regulations, Shoreland Management, Floodplain, Sanitary Sewer Disposal, Mining, Sand and Gravel Excavation, or other Article contained herein or any applicable County, State or Federal law. I. Commencement of Construction. The work for which a building permit is issued shall commence within sixty (60) days after the date of issuance unless an application for an extension to ninety (90) days has been submitted to and approved by the Building Inspector and approved by him. The work shall be completed within one (1) year of the date of issuance.

Section 302.02: Expiration, Suspension or Revocation of Building PermitA. Expiration. Permits issued by the Building Inspector under the provisions of this Article and the Building Code shall expire and be null and void if the work authorized by a permit is abandoned or suspended for a period of one hundred twenty (120) days or in the event that work is not commenced or completed within the time limitations of Section 302.01.I. of this Article. B. Revocation. The Building Inspector may, in writing, suspend or revoke a building permit issued under the provisions of this Article and the Building Code whenever such building permit is issued in error or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or in violation of any Town, County, State or Federal ordinance or law.

Section 302.03: Violations and PenaltiesA. Violations. Any firm, person or corporation who violates any of the provisions of this Article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be subject to a fine and/or imprisonment as provided by law. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense. B. Penalties. In the event of a violation or threatened violation of any of the terms of this Article, the Town may take appropriate action to enforce the Article, including application for injunctive relief, action to compel performance, or other appropriate action to court, if necessary to prevent, restrain, correct or abate such violations or threatened violations. Upon motion, the court may award costs, disbursements and reasonable attorney's fees and witness fees, which costs and fees can be assessed against the land. C. Enforcement. Whenever necessary to enforce any of the provisions of this Article or whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this Article has occurred or is about to occur, an authorized agent of the Town may enter any building or upon any premises at all reasonable times to inspect the same or to perform any duties imposed by this Article, provided that if such building or premises is occupied, the authorized agent shall first present proper credentials and demand entry and if such building or premises be unoccupied, shall first make a reasonable effort to locate the owner or other persons having charge or control of the building or premises and demand entry. If such entry is refused, the Town shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry, including administrative and judicial search warrants.