Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The Development Services Special Revenue Fund was created to support the activities of the Department of Building and Zoning Services and other agencies charged with the review of private development and construction review and inspection process. This fund is supported solely by fees collected from the users of these services associated directly with the private development, construction review, and inspection processes.
The current fee structure has been fully reviewed and compared to the actual cost incurred by the Department of Building and Zoning Services and other reviewing agencies and partners. As a result of this review, some fees have decreased, some have increased, while others have been simplified and condensed to make it easier for developers, contractors and homeowners to better anticipate development and construction related costs.
These proposed fee schedule changes have been reviewed by various industry groups including the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio (BIA), the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio (BX), various contractor related trade associations, and the city chartered Building Services Review Council (BSRC).
FISCAL IMPACT: Fees have been revised to better reflect the City's actual costs associated with the private development processes.
Title
To adopt a new Building and Zoning Services Fee Schedule, including fees for the Department of Building and Zoning Services, based upon the actual cost related to provide such services, and to be effective Monday, January 6, 2014, and to make necessary code changes in Chapter 4114, "License and Registration - General Provisions" of Title 41, the Columbus Building Code, related to the same.
Body
WHEREAS, the Development Services Special Revenue Fund was created to support the activities of the Department of Building and Zoning Services and other agencies charged with the review of private development and construction review process; and
WHEREAS, the cost of all private development and construction review and inspection services were to be made self-sustaining through the creation of a special revenue fund called the Development Services Special Revenue Fund; and
WHEREAS, this fund is supported solely by fees collected from the users of these services associated directly with the private development and construction review and inspection process; and
WHEREAS, the current fee structure has been fully reviewed and compared to the actual cost incurred by the Department of Building and Zoning Services and other reviewing agencies and partners; and
WHEREAS, as a result of this review, some fees have decreased, some have increased, while others have been simplified and condensed to make it easier for developers, contractors and homeowners to better anticipate development and construction related costs; and
WHEREAS, these proposed fee schedule changes have been reviewed by various industry groups including the Building Industry Association of Central Ohio (BIA), the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio (BX), various contractor related trade associations, and the city chartered Building Services Review Council (BSRC); now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
SECTION 1. That the attached revised Development Services fee schedule, including fees for the Department of Building and Zoning Services, as authorized by Columbus City Codes Section 4103.14, shall be incorporated fully as if set out at length herein and shall be utilized as the fee schedule for all functions and fees subject to it and shall become effective on January 6, 2014, or the earliest period allowed by law.
SECTION 2. Funds necessary for any refunds are hereby deemed appropriated.
SECTION 3. That the existing Building Services Division Fee Schedule, initially adopted by Ordinance No. 1707-2007, which became effective January 1, 2008, and all amendments thereto, is hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. That the existing Section 4114.523 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
4114.523 Fees for department-issued licenses.
(A) A fee, as established by the fee schedule, shall be charged for each of the following conditions:
(1) The application;
(2) The department-issued license; and
(3) The renewal of a department-issued license.
All such fees for a department-issued license are nonrefundable.
(B) In addition to the fees described above in C.C. 4114.523(A), there may be other fees stipulated by this code included in the fee schedule that pertain to a department-issued license. All such fees are nonrefundable.
(C) A late fee as prescribed by the fee schedule shall be added to the renewal fee if the department receives the application for renewal after the date of expiration and expiration of the grace period as specified in the fee schedule. Any renewal application received more than 90 calendar days from the initial date of expiration shall be deemed a new application requiring recertification by the appropriate board of review. This recertification may be waived at the sole discretion of the Director upon completion of the specified forms by the applicant. For accelerated processing, the fee shall be equal to that prescribed by the fee schedule.
(D) For licenses that due to the prescribed expiration time frames would last longer than one year, the fee as prescribed in the fee schedule shall be prorated on a monthly basis for the period that exceeds the initial 12 months.
(E) (D) Any person serving in the United States Armed Forces shall be exempt from license fees during the period of his or her active duty. His or her and his or her license may be renewed within 90 days of termination of active duty.
SECTION 5. That the existing Section 4114.527 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
4114.527 Expiration and renewal of a department-issued license.
(A) The provisions of this section concerning renewal only apply to licenses issued by the department.
(B) A license issued by the department shall expire at the end of the twelfth month after the date of issuance. at the end of the quarter designated for persons whose surnames initial letter falls within that quarter's range as follows:
Quarter Range of Initials Expiration Date
Fall Quarter A through F December 31
Winter Quarter G through L March 31
Spring Quarter M through R June 30
Summer Quarter S through Z September 30
Failure to renew, and/or not complete the renewal process of these types of licenses within 30 calendar days following its expiration date, shall require a new application.
(D) A bond submitted for department-issued license renewal shall be signed by the individual who has qualified for the license, regardless of any assignment to a business concern.
(E) A person whose department-issued license has expired shall not perform any work governed by this code until a renewal of the license is issued by the department is issued, nor shall the department issue a No permits shall be issued permit to a license-holder with an expired department-issued license. A late fee, as prescribed by the fee schedule, shall be added to the renewal fee if the application for renewal is received after the date of expiration of the license.
(F) A department-issued license holder, or his or her licensed business, which fails to correct work that , which does not comply with this Building Code, shall be denied the renewal of his or her license until compliance with this Building Code shall have been secured.
SECTION 6. That the existing Section 4114.715 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
4114.715 Fees for a department-issued OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration.
(A) A fee, as established by the fee schedule, shall be charged for each of the following conditions:
(1) The registration; and
(2) The renewal of an OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration. All such fees for an OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration are nonrefundable.
(B) A late fee as prescribed by the fee schedule shall be added to the renewal fee if the department receives the application for renewal after the date of expiration and expiration of the grace period as specified in the fee schedule. Any renewal application received more than 90 calendar days from the initial date of expiration shall be deemed a new application For accelerated processing, the fee shall be equal to that prescribed by the fee schedule.
(C) For licenses that due to the prescribed expiration time frames would last longer than one year, the fee as prescribed in the fee schedule shall be prorated on a monthly basis for the period that exceeds the initial 12 months.
(D) (C) Any person serving in the United States Armed Forces shall be exempt from license fees during the period of his or her active duty. His or her and his or her license may be renewed within 90 days of termination of active duty.
SECTION 7. That the existing Section 4114.719 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
4114.719 Expiration and renewal of an OCILB licensed contractor registration.
(A) The provisions of this section for expiration and renewal shall apply only to an OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration issued by the department.
(B) A licensed specialty contractor registration that emanated from an Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) specialty contractor license shall expire at the end of the twelfth month after the date of issuance concurrently with the expiration date of such OCILB issued license. The OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration may only be renewed upon presentation of a current, valid specialty contractor license conforming to the requirements of this chapter for such renewal.
(C) An OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration may be renewed at any time during the 90 calendar days prior to its expiration date. However, such early renewal shall comply with all the requirements for such renewal.
(D) A bond submitted for an OCILB licensed specialty registration or a registration renewal shall be signed by the individual who has qualified for the OCILB specialty contractor registration.
(E) A person whose OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration has expired shall not perform any work governed by this code until a renewal of such registration is issued by the Department. the OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration by the department is issued, nor shall the department issue a permit No permit shall be issued to a registrant with an expired licensed specialty contractor registration.
(F) An OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration holder, which fails to correct work that does not comply with this code, shall be denied the renewal of his or her OCILB licensed specialty contractor registration until compliance with this code shall have been secured.
SECTION 8. That the existing Section 4114.921 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
4114.921 Fees for demolition contractor, general contractor, fire alarm and detection equipment and/or fire protection company registration and certified individual registration.
(A) Demolition Contractor and/or General Contractor Registration. A fee, as established by the fee schedule, shall be charged for each of the following conditions:
(1) The application; and
(2) The registration; and
(3) The renewal of a demolition contractor registration and/or general contractor registration. All such fees are nonrefundable.
(B) Fire Alarm and Detection Equipment and/or Fire Protection Company Registration. A fee, as established by the fee schedule, shall be charged for each of the following conditions:
(1) The registration; and
(2) The renewal of a fire alarm and detection equipment and/or fire protection company registration. All such fees are nonrefundable.
(C) Certified Individual Registration. A fee, as established by the fee schedule, shall be charged for each of the following conditions:
(1) The registration; and
(2) The renewal of the certified individual registration that provides a category of validation of Section 4114.909(B) for a fire alarm and detection equipment and/or fire protection company registration. Each category of validation shall require a separate registration and a separate fee to be charged for it. All such fees are nonrefundable.
(D) In addition to the fees described above in C.C. 4114.921(A), 4114.921(B) and 4114.921(C), there may be other fees stipulated by this code included in the fee schedule that pertain to a demolition contractor, general contractor, a fire alarm and detection equipment and/or fire protection company and a certified individual registration. All such fees are nonrefundable.
(E) A late fee as prescribed by the fee schedule shall be added to the renewal fee if the department receives the application for renewal after the date of expiration and expiration of the grace period as specified in the fee schedule. Any renewal application received more than 90 calendar days from the initial date of expiration shall be deemed a new application requiring recertification by the appropriate board of review. This recertification may be waived at the sole discretion of the Director upon completion of the specified forms by the applicant. For accelerated processing, the fee shall be equal to that prescribed by the fee schedule.
(F) For licenses that, due to the prescribed expiration time frames would last longer than one year, the fee as prescribed in the fee schedule shall be prorated on a monthly basis for the period that exceeds the initial 12 months.
(G) (F) Any person serving in the United States Armed Forces shall be exempt from license fees during the period of his or her active duty. His or her and his or her license may be renewed within 90 days of termination of active duty.
SECTION 9. That the existing Section 4114.925 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
4114.925 Expiration and renewal of a demolition contractor and general contractor registration.
(A) The provisions of this section concerning expiration and renewal only apply to registered demolition contractor registrations and registered general contractor registrations issued by the department.
(B) A demolition contractor registration and/or a general contractor registration shall expire at the end of the twelfth month after the date of issuance. at the end of the quarter designated for persons whose surnames initial letter falls within that quarter's range as follows:
Quarter Range of Initials Expiration Date
Fall Quarter A through F December 31
Winter Quarter G through L March 31
Spring Quarter M through R June 30
Summer Quarter S through Z September 30
(1) An applicant for a demolition contractor registration and/or a general contractor registration renewal shall be exempt from making a new application for a registration provided:
(a) The application for renewal is filed and the renewal process is completed within 30 calendar days following the expiration of such contractor registration held by the applicant; and
(b) Further if such former demolition contractor registration and/or general contractor registration has not been revoked for cause by the board of review of general and home improvement contractors.
(2) Failure to renew and/or not complete the renewal process of a demolition contractor registration within 30 calendar days following its expiration date shall require that the applicant appear before the board of review of general and home improvement contractor's for consideration of reinstatement, if reinstatement is desired.
(3) The application to appear before the board of review of general and home improvement contractors for reinstatement shall be made within 31 calendar days subsequent to the 30 days following the expiration date of the demolition contractor registration. Thereafter, a demolition contractor registration may only be obtained by applying for a new demolition contractor registration with the department.
(4) An applicant's appearance before the board of review of general and home improvement contractors for consideration of reinstatement shall require the payment of the fee prescribed by the fee schedule.
(5)A demolition contractor's registration that has been reinstated by the board of review of general and home improvement contractors shall require the payment of the registration fee and the late fee as prescribed by the fee schedule for such reinstatement.
The demolition contractor registration reinstatement process shall be completed within 30 calendar days from the date of the board's approval for reinstatement. The applicant's failure to complete the reinstatement process with the department's license section within the 30 calendar days shall result in the loss of all fees already paid and the board's approval for reinstatement of a demolition contractor's registration shall be void. Thereafter, a demolition contractor's registration may only be obtained by applying for a new registration with the department.
(6) Failure to renew and/or not complete the renewal process of a general contractor registration within 30 calendar days following its expiration date shall result in the loss of all fees that have already been paid, and shall require that the applicant make a new application with the department for such registration.
(D) A demolition contractor registration and/or a general contractor registration may be renewed at any time during the 90 calendar days prior to its expiration date; however, such early renewal shall comply with all the requirements for such renewal.
(E) A person whose contractor registration has expired shall not perform any work governed by this code until a renewal of the demolition contractor registration and/or the general contractor registration is issued by the department. is issued, nor shall the department issue a No permits shall be issued permit to a registrant with an expired demolition contractor registration or general contractor registration. A late fee as prescribed by the fee schedule shall be added to the renewal fee if the department, after the date of expiration of the contractor registration, receives the application for renewal.
(F) A registered demolition contractor, or his or her registered demolition contractor's business and/or a registered general contractor or his or her registered business, which fails to correct work which does not comply with this building code, shall be denied the renewal of his or her demolition contractor registration and/or general contractor registration until compliance with this building code shall have been secured.
SECTION 10. That prior existing section 4114.523, 4114.527, 4114.715, 4114.719, 4114.921, and 4114.925 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 11. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period provided by law.