Chapter 18.04
BUILDING CODE
Sections:
18.04.040 Building permits – Compliance with ordinances.
18.04.050 Local amendments to the Uniform Building Code, 1997 Edition.
18.04.060 Section 204 repealed and reenacted – Board of appeals.
18.04.070 Section 106.4.2 amended – Retention of plans.
18.04.080 Section 107.2 amended – Permit fees.
18.04.090 Section 107.3 amended – Plan review fees.
18.04.100 Section 108.5.5 amended – Insulation inspection.
18.04.110 Section 202 amended – “A” definitions.
18.04.120 Section 203 amended – “B” definitions.
18.04.130 Section 904.2 amended – Fire extinguishing systems.
18.04.140 Section 1302 added – Energy conservation.
18.04.150 Section 18.04 Table 18-1-C amended – Foundations for stud-bearing walls.
18.04.010 Adoption.
The bound volumes containing the code known as the Uniform Building Code, 1997 Edition, of the International Conference of Building Officials, including Appendix Chapter 3, Divisions I, II and IV; Chapter 4, Division II; Chapter 11; Chapter 12, Division I; and Chapter 34, Division I, together with the local amendments as set forth in Chapter 15.08, shall constitute the laws of the borough relating to building regulations. Where the Uniform Building Code conflicts with this code, this code shall prevail. Copies of the Uniform Building Code and Standards may be examined at the borough offices. [Ord. 691 § 4, 2000.]
18.04.020 Modifications.
The building official shall have the power to modify any of the provisions of the Uniform Building Code adopted by this chapter upon application in writing by the owner or lessee or his duly authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code; provided, that the spirit of the code is observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. The particulars of the modification, when granted or allowed, and the decision of the building official thereon shall be entered upon the records of the department, and a signed copy shall be furnished to the applicant. [Ord. 691 § 4, 2000.]
18.04.030 Appeals.
Whenever the building official disapproves an application or refuses to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decisions of the building official to the borough manager within 30 days from the date of the decision. [Ord. 691 § 4, 2000.]
18.04.040 Building permits – Compliance with ordinances.
A. No permit will be issued for the construction of new buildings or building, within the corporate limits of the borough, which is inconsistent with any borough ordinances and regulations, except as provided in subsection (B) of this section for the remote residential mixed-use district (RMU).
B. The provisions of WMC Title 18, Buildings and Construction, do not apply to construction standards for the areas within the remote residential mixed-use district (RMU), unless the intended use of the structure is for commercial purposes. Persons seeking to construct new buildings or building within the RMU district the intended use of which is for noncommercial purposes must complete a proposed development application in lieu of the building permit application. Persons seeking to construct new buildings or building within the RMU district the intended use of which is for commercial purposes must complete a building permit application and comply with WMC Title 18. [Ord. 925 § 2, 2016; Ord. 691 § 4, 2000.]
18.04.050 Local amendments to the Uniform Building Code, 1997 Edition.
The amendments to the 1997 Edition of the Uniform Building Code are listed hereafter by section. [Ord. 691 § 4, 2000.]
18.04.060 Section 204 repealed and reenacted – Board of appeals.
Section 204 of the Uniform Building Code is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
In order to determine the suitability of alternate materials and types of construction and to provide for reasonable interpretations of the provisions of this code, there shall be and hereby is created a board of appeals, consisting of the mayor and the assembly. The board shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations for conducting its investigations and shall render all decisions and findings in writing to the Building Official with a duplicate copy to the appellant.
[Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04.105.]
18.04.070 Section 106.4.2 amended – Retention of plans.
Section 106.4.2 of the Uniform Building Code is amended to read as follows:
One set of approved plans, specifications, and computations shall be retained by the building official for a period of not less than 90 days from the date of completion of the work covered therein.
[Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04.106.4.2.]
18.04.080 Section 107.2 amended – Permit fees.
Section 107.2 of the Uniform Building Code is amended to read as follows:
A. No building permit fees shall be charged for improvements or construction of less than two thousand dollars valuation.
B. All building permit fees for permits for construction of valuation of two thousand dollars or more shall be listed on the approved Fee and Rate Schedule.
The assembly shall, by resolution, establish fees and rates for the building permit fees. A Public Hearing shall be required on the resolution that establishes such fees and rates.
[Ord. 1036 § 2, 2023; Ord. 920 § 2, 2016; Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04.107.2.]
18.04.090 Section 107.3 amended – Plan review fees.
Section 106.4.2 of the Uniform Building Code is amended by revising the first sentence to read as follows:
When submittal documents are required by Section 06.3.2, a plan review fee may be required to be paid before a permit will be issued.
[Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04.107.3.]
18.04.100 Section 108.5.5 amended – Insulation inspection.
Section 108.5.5 of the Uniform Building Code is amended by deleting the existing paragraph for lath or gypsum board inspection. [Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 108.5.5.]
18.04.110 Section 202 amended – “A” definitions.
Section 202 of the Uniform Building Code is amended by deleting the definition of “alley” and substituting the following:
ALLEY is a public space or thoroughfare, 20 feet or less, but not less than 10 feet in width, which has been dedicated for public use.
[Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04.202.]
18.04.120 Section 203 amended – “B” definitions.
Section 203 of the Uniform Building Code is amended by adding the following definition:
BUILDING, PUBLIC shall be any structure which is other than a Group R-3 dwelling or Group U Occupancy.
[Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04.203.]
18.04.130 Section 904.2 amended – Fire extinguishing systems.
Section 904.2 of the Uniform Building Code is amended as follows:
A. Section 904.2.2 of the Uniform Building Code, All occupancies, except Group R, Division 3 and Group U occupancies, is amended by deleting “the floor area exceeds 1,500 square feet and.”
B. Section 904.2.3.2 of the Uniform Building Code, Basements, is amended by deleting “when the basement is larger than 1,500 square feet in floor area.”
C. Section 9.04.2.4.1 of the Uniform Building Code, General, is amended by deleting Exceptions 1 and 2. [Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04.904.2.]
18.04.140 Section 1302 added – Energy conservation.
Section 1302 is added to the Uniform Building Code to read as follows:
For the purpose of energy conservation, the requirements of the Building Energy Efficiency Standard, 1991 Edition, by the State of Alaska will be the criteria to be used for new construction.
[Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04.1302.]
18.04.150 Section 18.04 Table 18-1-C amended – Foundations for stud-bearing walls.
Section 18.04 Table 18-1-C of the Uniform Building Code is amended by revising the minimum footing width to 18 inches and minimum footing thickness to six inches for supporting one floor. [Ord. 691 § 4, 2000. Formerly § 18.04 Table 18-1-C.]