[A] 105.7 Required Construction Permits

Whenever the Chief determines that for the safeguarding of life and property from fire, explosion, panic, or other hazardous conditions which may arise in temporary operations or occupancies which are not otherwise specified in this article, the Chief may require and issue a special permit stating the conditions for such operation or occupancy. The special permit may be made subject to such terms and conditions as are necessary for the preservation of life and property.

The Chief shall have the power to revoke or suspend any special permit, at his discretion, upon proof to the satisfaction of the Chief of violation by the permittee of the provisions of this article, the rules and regulations of this Department adopted under the authority of Section 104.1.1, or the terms and conditions of any special permit as may be specified under the authority of this section. Such revocation or suspension may be made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 1 of this article.

It is the intent of this section to establish an annual fee and permit process for inspection of high-rise buildings in the City of Los Angeles.

The following terms are defined in Chapter 2.

FLOOR AREA.

COMMON AREA.

PARTIALLY VACANT BUILDING.

No person or owner shall operate or maintain a new or existing high-rise building without having obtained an annually renewable permit pursuant to this section.

As to buildings constructed prior to January 1 of the year, including buildings constructed prior to the effective date of these regulations, application for permit shall be filed on or before January 1 following the date of construction or the effective date of these regulations. Renewal applications shall be filed on or before January of each year. In the event no application or renewal application is filed by January 1, the building will be deemed to be operating without a permit. The date of construction shall be the date of issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy by the Department of Building and Safety. All applications for permit shall be filed with the Department, and shall be in writing on forms provided by the Department. The initial or renewal application for permit shall contain the following information:

1. The name and address of the applicant.
2. A description of the property by street and number, as well as the County Assessor map, book, page and parcel number.
3. Name and address of the owner of the building.
4. A statement signed by the applicant or the applicant's authorized representative stating that the applicant exercises charge and control over the operation and maintenance of the high-rise building and agrees to comply with all regulations, laws or ordinances pertaining thereto.

   The application for permit shall be accompanied by a signed statement by the owner that the owner understands he, she or it is responsible for the payment of the fee imposed by the Department pursuant to this chapter.

The Fire Marshal shall investigate the application for initial or renewal permit through authorized members of the Department. The application may be approved subject to terms and conditions necessary to the safeguarding of life or property from hazards of fire, explosion or panic. Issuance of the initial permit will be based on inspections made pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 19 during the previous year. Subsequent permit issuance will be based on inspections made during each following calendar year. The application may be denied or revoked by the Department if the building is unfit or incapable of being used, maintained or operated in compliance with this article, other applicable laws and rules and regulations of the Department.

Each permit shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and shall set forth upon the face thereof the following:

1. The name of the person to whom issued.
2. The address where the premises are located and where the address is different from that of the applicant, the address designated by the applicant or his or her authorized agent for mailing purposes. The mailing address so appearing shall be the address to which all notices required or authorized by this article shall be sent unless the applicant or permittee shall request in writing that another address be used for such purposes.
3. The signature of the Chief printed thereon.
4. The date of expiration of the permit and the date upon which the annual permit fee shall be due and payable.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, the Chief shall have the power to revoke or suspend any permit upon proof to the satisfaction of the Chief of a violation by the permittee of the provisions of this article, the rules and regulations of this Department adopted under the authority of Section 104.1.1, applicable law or the terms and conditions of any permit. Such revocation or suspension shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 105.5 of this article. Whenever any person fails to pay the permit fee as provided for in Section 105.9.4, prior to its becoming delinquent, the Chief, upon hearing, after giving such person 10 days notice in writing specifying the time and place of hearing and requiring the person to show cause why the permit shall not be revoked for such failure, may revoke or suspend the permit issued herein. Notice shall be served in the same manner as notices are served under Section 21.16 of the LAMC.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or maintain any high-rise building after the permit issued therefor has been suspended or revoked pursuant to the provisions of this chapter unless the permit has been reinstated or a new permit issued.

The permit due dates, manner of determining cost, manner of approving schedule and manner of accessing fees shall comply with Sections 105.9.4.1 through 105.9.4.4.

The cost of permits issued as required by Section 105.9 shall be determined as provided in Section 114.

The Board shall collect charges in accordance with new schedules approved as provided in Section 114.

The cost recovery schedule adopted herein shall impose a charge per square foot for each square foot of floor area in each building inspected and the fee per building shall be the aggregate of such charges per square foot, subject to the following:

1. No fee shall be charged for inspection of high rise buildings used primarily for residential purposes (Group R occupancies), except for hotels, dormitories, residential apartments, and condominiums.
2. As to hotels, dormitories, residential apartments, and condominiums, the charge per square foot shall apply only to the common areas of the building.
3. The charge per square foot of garage area in any building shall be less than the charge per square foot for the other areas of the building, as set forth in the schedule or charges.
4. Where a high-rise building is connected to another building(s) by a permanent above-ground structure or structures designed to permit pedestrian and/or vehicular passage from one building to another, and the buildings so connected are under common ownership, the charge per square foot shall apply to each chargeable square foot of the buildings so connected, including the connecting structure or structures, even though one or more of the buildings so connected is not itself a high-rise building.
5. Where there exists beneath a high-rise building a garage serving both that building and another building(s) all of which are under common ownership, and the garage provides an exit(s) through which any vehicle exiting the garage may pass, the charge per square foot shall apply to all buildings and to the garage for the purposes of computing the fee charged herein, even though one or more of the buildings served by the garage is not itself a high-rise building.
6. A minimal charge per building shall be imposed irrespective of the area of said building, as set forth in the schedule.
7. A partially vacant building as defined herein shall be subject to a minimum charge.

If any owner or operator of a high-rise building does not comply with notices to correct violations cited in the annual inspection, and more than one reinspection is necessary, a charge based on an inspector's hourly rate (2-hour minimum) for each subsequent reinspection shall be added to the annual inspection fee in the event such reinspection costs have not been charged and collected during the preceding calendar year.

Specific action or project permits shall be required for the following specific action or project as set forth in Sections 105.7.1.1 through 105.7.1.8.

A specific action or project permit is required to erect, install or relocate any appliance, device, or system listed in this subsection when such equipment is to be used in connection with hazardous materials, hazardous waste, or hazardous plastics.

1. Atmospheric tank exceeding 60 gallons (227 L) capacity.
2. Low pressure tank exceeding 60 gallons (227 L) water capacity.
3. Pressure vessel exceeding 60 gallons (38 710 mm²) water capacity.
4. Special vessel.
5. Spray booth or spray tunnel with any dimension greater than 3 feet (914.4 mm).
6. Dip tank more than 150 gallons (568 L) capacity or more than 5 square feet (38 710 mm²) of surface area.
7. Flow coat machine.
8. Drying oven.
9. Industrial oven or furnace, not otherwise specified.
10. Industrial proceeding equipment, not otherwise specified.
11. Fumigation chamber.
12. Automatic fire extinguishing system except automatic sprinkler system.
13. Compressed or liquefied gas manifold (stationary).
14. Dust collecting systems.
15. Dry cleaning equipment, not otherwise specified.
16. Drill or redrill any oil well.
17. Asbestos abatement.
18. Gas detection system.

A specific action or project permit is required to add to or alter any item, including ducting or piping connected thereto, as set forth in Section 105.7.1.1 of this section.

A specific action or project permit is required to conduct any of the following operations.

1. Fireworks display.
2. Blasting operation.
3. Exhibit, show, circus, or carnival on any parcel of land or premises other than those for which a permit is required by Sections 105.6.1 through 105.6.31 of this article. When such exhibit, show, circus, or carnival is conducted within a tent, the fees required by Section 105.7.8 through 105.7.8.5 of this article shall be deemed to include the use of such tent as a place of assemblage.
4. Transfer flammable gas, liquefied flammable gas, flammable liquids or combustible liquids as provided for in the exception to Section 5706.5.4.6, or in any other manner not specifically regulated by this article.
5. Abandon oil well or underground tank.
6. Burn any hazardous refuse in an open outdoor fire.
7. Temporarily store explosives in a manner not otherwise specifically regulated by this article.

A specific action or project permit is required to use any tent or membrane structure (temporary only) as a place of assemblage.

A specific action or project permit is required to install, alter or relocate any part of any fire hydrant on private property.

A specific action or project permit is required to install any central station signaling system.

A specific action or project permit is required to land any aircraft including helicopters, except in an emergency, any place other than an airport or heliport which is regulated under the provisions of Chapter 20 of this article.

A specific action or project permit is required to operate or maintain a live theater production.