18.15.070 Plans and specifications.
With each application for a building permit and also when otherwise required by the building official for enforcement of any provision of this title, two (2) sets of specifications and plans shall be submitted. The building official may, where the complexity of the plans clearly warrant (that is, any building requiring engineering computations, e.g., public buildings, etc.), require plans and specifications to be prepared and designed by an engineer or architect licensed by the state to practice as such. The building official may further require that plans for new construction indicate existing and finished grade elevations based on city data, with existing and finished drainage flow patterns in areas subject to flooding. One (1) copy of submitted plans shall be returned to the applicant when approved. The applicant shall be responsible for determining which plan review process will be followed. The timelines outlined within each process apply only to city review and do not include the time that comments have been returned to the applicant for required revisions or to the time required for third party plan review.
(A) Standard Plan Review. The purpose of the standard plan review is to allow the applicant and city staff to work together to help expedite the plan review and approval process. By selecting this option, the applicant is authorizing the city to provide written and oral comments related to requirements for plan approval. It is understood that multiple comments and/or revisions to plans may be required in order to obtain approvals. As part of this approval process, the city will have all approvals in place within thirty (30) working days from the date of submittal provided all required information has been submitted to and approved by the city. This time period shall not include the time in which the city has returned comments to the applicant and is awaiting corrections or additional information. This time period may be extended through mutual agreement by the city and the applicant.
(B) Nonstandard Plan Review. The purpose of the nonstandard plan review is to comply with the plan review process as outlined in A.R.S. Title 9, Chapter 7, Article 4, as may be amended from time to time. By selecting this option, the applicant is requiring the city to comply with the review requirements as outlined in the A.R.S. These statutes require the successful completion of two (2) separate review processes prior to approval of a building permit.
(1) Administrative Review. The purpose of the administrative review is to ensure that all required information is included as part of the permit application and that all submitted information is correct. The timeframe for administrative review is twenty (20) working days. This time period shall not include the time in which the city has returned comments to the applicant and is awaiting corrections or additional information. Once the administrative review process is complete and the applicant has been given a Notice to Proceed, the applicant will then submit the required information for substantive review.
(2) Substantive Review. The purpose of the substantive review is to ensure that all information required for a permit has been submitted and that all required approvals have been obtained. The timeframe for substantive review is twenty (20) working days. This time period shall not include the time in which the city has returned comments to the applicant and is awaiting corrections or additional information. Once the substantive review process is complete and all approvals have been obtained, the permit shall be issued. If the permit is deemed not complete, the permit application shall be denied and the applicant shall be required to reapply for a building permit.
When the plans are approved, they will be so identified by the placing on each page of a “reviewed” stamp indicating the name of the person approving the plans and the date of approval. This set of plans must be available to the building inspector at the job site at the time of each inspection. (Ord. No. 2008-15, § 1, 12-16-08; Ord. No. 2011-13, §§ 1 – 3, 12-6-11; Ord. No. 2012-06, §§ 1 – 3, 11-20-12. 1976 Code § 7-3-7)