Section 15.66.080 Review of Building Permit Applications.

Every application for a building permit for a building or structure under the jurisdiction of this code, except for alterations and repairs not affecting the exterior appearance of a building or structure, along with the plans, elevations studies and detailed drawings and specifications, shall be submitted by the Building Commissioner/Ordinance Administrator (“Building Commissioner”) to the Architectural Review Board within fifteen (15) days after receipt of the same by the Building Commissioner for the board’s review and recommendation to the City Council. The board shall review each such application for compliance with the requirements of this code and shall make a recommendation to the City Council, for or against issuance of the building permit, within thirty (30) days after the submittal of the building permit application and all required supporting documents to the board. Failure of the board to make its recommendation within the time aforesaid shall be deemed approval of the application as submitted and shall be acted upon by the City Council accordingly. Approval or disapproval of the building permit application by the City Council, with the recommendation of the architectural review board, shall be required before the City’s Building Commissioner shall be authorized to issue the building permit.

The Architectural Review Board shall review building permit applications under the board’s jurisdiction, upon the applicant having paid to the City Clerk the non-refundable fee, which fee will be established by the City’s fee ordinance, and the submission of the building permit application, plans, elevation studies, drawings and specifications to the board by the Building Commissioner. No building permit shall be issued by the Building Commissioner for building permit applications required to be reviewed by the Architectural Review Board until the City Council has made its decision regarding the issuance of the building permit, as is more particularly made and provided for in this code. As soon as the board has received and reviewed the building permit application and applicable plans, elevation studies, detail drawings and specifications pertaining to the proposed construction, exterior renovation or addition, the board shall promptly make its recommendation regarding the issuance of the building permit to the City Council and within the thirty (30) day period aforesaid. The Building Commissioner will inform all building permit applicants for which Architectural Review Board review is required, of the required review process at the time the building permit application is made. Exterior construction, renovation or rehabilitation pertaining to buildings designated as landmarks by the Columbia Heritage and Preservation Commission, shall be reviewed by the Architectural Review Board and the City Council before a building permit is issued. A certificate of appropriateness and recommendation regarding the building permit application will be sent by the Columbia Heritage and Preservation Commission to the Architectural Review Board within fifteen (15) days of the issuance of the certificate of appropriateness by the commission and before the Architectural Review Board will make its recommendation. For board review of construction, renovation or rehabilitation of landmark buildings and structures in the city, the applicant for the building permit shall not be required to pay any fee for the board’s review provided the applicant implements the recommendations of the Architectural Review Board regarding the constructions, renovation or rehabilitation involved.