"Architects cannot teach nature anything"
–Mark Twain

MISSION STATEMENT

"To oversee and regulate the building codes adopted by the City of Winchester for the construction of and use of buildings, structures, and/or properties"

PLAN:

Plan Preparation

1) The Winchester Municipal-Regional Planning Commission was established on March 29,1962 at which time the city adopted a zoning ordinance. NOTE: The planning Commission does not have enforcement or regulatory power over building codes.
2) May 14, 1964 the city passed ordinance 309, an ordinance to adopt in part the guidelines and regulations of the SBCCI (Southern Building Code Congress International).
3) Presently the building codes adopted for the City of Winchester are under the regulations and guidelines of two separate building codes organizations, SBCCI, (Southern building Codes Congress International) and CABO, (Council of American Building Officials).
4) The most recent update to SBCCI was 1997.
5) The most recent update to CABO was 1995, however it was not until 1998 that the city adopted the guidelines of this organization.
6) There are contradictions in the guidelines and regulations of these two organizations.
7) Presently the city has one full time Building Inspector/Official (duties are not limited to that of just building inspections).
8) The Building Inspector's duties include on site inspections for pre-construction and construction projects, enforcement of the building codes, authorization of and the issuance of building permits, and issuance of certificates of occupancy. The Building Inspector also provides assurance that city zoning regulations are met.
9) Presently there is an appeal process for those involved in the construction process that disagrees with the Building Inspectors decisions and/or feel unjustly regulated.
10) In addition to the building codes a set of fire codes has been adopted to regulate construction activities.
11) Presently the Winchester Fire Codes and Building Codes are separate departments, however the final approval for certificate of occupancy lies with the Building Codes Official.

Plan Development:

1) Adopt one uniform set of building codes
2) Understand a common sense approach to the building codes and reserve the ability for the Building inspector to provide variances to the building codes if by his decision those codes do not apply to this area
3) All building codes, including fire codes as they pertain to building and construction fall under the jurisdiction of the building official
4) Whenever possible and without risking safety factors, endeavor to make the building codes and fire codes more contractor friendly
5) To provide contractors and developers with the most updated material and changes to building codes/information
6) Clarify the existing and any future adopted codes as to which code takes precedent
7) Have in place an active and knowledgeable appeals board for interpretations and final rulings of any conflict or ministration of the building codes/fire codes rulings made by the Building official

Implementation of the plan:

1) By taking a common sense approach to the codes.
2) Setting guidelines for appeals.
3) Setting guidelines on the development of the department.
4) Setting the building permit fees and adding an impact fee.
5) To pass on to the city council the recommendations of this committee.