Chapter 17.13
HOUSE MOVING

Sections:

17.13.010    Permit required.

17.13.020    Application for permit.

17.13.025    Fees.

17.13.030    Bonds.

17.13.040    Insurance.

17.13.050    Utilities, landscaping and clean up – General requirements.

17.13.060    Probable interference.

17.13.070    Grantee to bear expenses.

17.13.080    Requirements deemed necessary.

17.13.010 Permit required.

It is unlawful to move a building along or across any public place without a permit to do so from the department of public works and the department of planning and community affairs. (Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).

17.13.020 Application for permit.

(1) All applications for a permit to move buildings through, or across public places of the city shall be made to the city’s permit center at least three weeks prior to the date of the proposed move, except that where the current and proposed building location is not within the city, then application shall be made no sooner than five days prior to the proposed move.

(2) The application submitted to the permit center shall contain at least, but not be limited to the following information:

(a) Street address and assessor’s parcel number of the building to be moved;

(b) Name and address of the building owner;

(c) The building moving contractor;

(d) Photographs showing the general condition of the building;

(e) Construction plans for restoring the site to a natural state, if applicable;

(f) The proposed route through or across public places;

(g) Address and assessor’s parcel number of the relocation site;

(h) The date of the proposed move; and

(i) Any such other information as may be required by the permit center to evaluate the application.

(3) If the relocation site is within the city limits, the application shall, in addition to the information required above, also include:

(a) The proposed use or occupancy of the building;

(b) A plot plan of the relocation site showing property lines, building setback dimensions, driveway location and dimensions, utility connections, lot grading and landscaping;

(c) Construction plans to bring the building to current building code requirements;

(d) The building contractor; and

(e) A detailed cost estimate to bring the building to applicable codes. (Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).

17.13.025 Fees.

(1) Before an application is reviewed as set forth in this chapter, the permit center shall collect a nonrefundable application fee as allowed by separate city resolution.

(2) Prior to issuance of the permit, additional fees will be collected from the applicant for inspection services and/or traffic control services provided by the city. The permittee shall reimburse the city for all costs incurred in providing necessary engineering inspection and traffic control services associated with the moving of the building.

(3) The fees collected in accordance with this chapter shall be in addition to any other permits as may be required.

(4) When a movement involves a combination of state highways, county roads, and/or city streets the fee shall be paid to the State Department of Transportation.

(5) When a move involves a combination of county roads and city streets, the fee shall be paid to the county authorities, but the fee shall not be collected nor the county permit issued until valid permits are presented showing that the city or town authorities approve of the move in question. (Ord. 2679 § 1, 2001; Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).

17.13.030 Bonds.

(1) No such permit to move a building along, or across any public place shall be issued unless the applicant has furnished to the city a surety bond, approved as to form by the city attorney, in an amount equaling the total of items (a) to (d) of this subsection:

(a) To restore the site, within 30 days from when the building is moved, to its natural state, except where a building permit has been issued for the construction of a new structure at such site, and except where the site is located outside the city limits;

(b) The estimated cost of all improvements to be made at the new location, if the relocation site is within the city limits;

(c) If the relocation site is within the city limits, the estimated cost to bring the building into compliance with applicable codes within six months of issuance of the permit;

(d) The estimated costs to be expended by the city due to the permittee moving the building.

(2) The bond shall be further conditioned to indemnify and save harmless the city from all claims, actions or damages of every kind and description which may accrue to, or be suffered by the city by reason of the permittee’s operations in moving a building along, or across any public place.

(3) In no event shall the amount of the bond be less than $5,000. (Ord. 2679 § 2, 2001; Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).

17.13.040 Insurance.

The applicant shall furnish to the city a certificate stating that the city is included as an additional insured on his/her protective liability insurance. The insurance shall provide for a limit of not less than $1,000,000 for all damages arising out of bodily injuries to, or death of any persons in any one accident; and shall also provide property damage liability insurance providing for a limit of not less than $1,000,000 for all damages arising out of injury or destruction of property in any one accident. Prior to any change, cancellation or expiration of such policy, the city shall be given 30 days’ notice. (Ord. 2679 § 3, 2001; Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).

17.13.050 Utilities, landscaping and clean up – General requirements.

(1) Where the removal or trimming of any shade trees or other shrubbery is necessary, the building mover is required to obtain from the owner thereof a written release from any damages, holding the city free of any liability or damages whatsoever. If the building is to be moved along, or across any boulevard or other public place controlled and planted by the department of planning and community development, the building is required to have written approval from the department director.

(2) The permittee shall be required to cap the existing side sewer at the property line adjacent to the sewer main serving such property where the building is being moved from or, if the property was served by an individual sewage disposal system, to backfill the septic tank or to remove the tank if backfilling does not protect the public health and welfare.

(3) The permittee shall cap any wells that were serving the moved building.

(4) The permittee shall remove the existing foundation and grade the footprint to provide proper surface drainage while preserving all existing vegetation and ground cover, to the maximum extent feasible.

(5) The permittee shall be required to cap the existing storm sewer, if applicable, at the property line adjacent to the MS4 connection point from which the building is being moved. (Ord. 3130 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).

17.13.060 Probable interference.

(1) The department of public works shall:

(a) Determine the probable disruption and cost which the moving of a building will cause to owners of wires and cables, and also the probable injury and inconvenience the severance of such wires and cables will cause to patrons of public utilities;

(b) Ascertain the probable interference with the rights of the public that such a moving will cause, and any other facts which may aid in determining whether or not such permit should be granted; and

(c) Prescribe the time such moving shall be done, the route to be followed and such traffic barricades and escorts and any other stipulations deemed necessary for public safety and convenience.

(2) The director of public works may, if the disruption to public utilities, private property, or the traveling public is apparently excessive relative to the value of the building to be moved, deny the permit subject to the rights of the applicant to appeal said denial to the hearing examiner as governed by the procedures set forth in Chapter 2.54 PMC. (Ord. 2679 § 4, 2001; Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).

17.13.070 Grantee to bear expenses.

The grantee of a permit to move a building along, or across any public place shall bear any and all expense that may be occasioned by such moving including the posting of bonds; provided, however, that nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as repealing any of the provisions of any franchise ordinance. (Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).

17.13.080 Requirements deemed necessary.

The requirements of this chapter shall be in addition to all existing requirements of the building code and ordinances of the city. For the purposes of assuring the health and safety of the public, a moved building may be defined as a substandard building, as the term is used in the Uniform Housing Code, current edition. (Ord. 2142 § 2, 1987).