§ 7-157. Property owner exemption.

(a)

A person desiring to construct a single-family residence on property he/she owns for the purpose of residing therein shall be exempt from passing the exam and from providing a bond as a condition of securing a building contractor license and permit as required by section 7-156 for the construction of said residence. The exemption shall not apply where the intent is to sell the residence. The builder/owner may be required to provide proof of ownership and to sign a statement certifying their intent to reside in the residence as opposed to offering the residence for sale. This bond exemption shall be valid for one (1) single-family residence permit per three-year period.

(b)

A person desiring to renovate and/or add on to a one- or two-family residential structure or accessory building or to build an accessory building on property owned by them is exempt from securing a building contractor privilege license as required by section 7-146 and from securing a bond as required by section 7-156.

(c)

A person desiring to renovate, repair and/or add on to an existing structure or accessory building on property owned by them or to build an accessory building to an existing building on property owned by them is exempt from securing a building contractor privilege license as required by section 7-146 and from securing a bond as required by section 7-156 under the following circumstances:

(1)

The person carries on an ongoing business or concern on the property, including the rental of said property; and

(2)

The person's ongoing business or concern on that property or any ongoing business or concern owned or controlled by him is not carried on for the purpose of construction of buildings under this Code, and

(3)

All work is performed by the owner, his employees and/or subcontractors hired and paid directly by the owner of the ongoing business or concern on the property or by licensed and bonded subcontractors as required by other sections of this article, and

(4)

The purpose of the renovation, repair, addition or accessory building is to further the ordinary course of business of the ongoing business or concern,

(5)

This exemption shall apply to additions and accessory building of one thousand (1,000) square feet or less and to repair and renovations with a total cost of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) or less.

This exemption shall not apply to the requirements under section 7-146 or 7-156 for a plumbing, gas, mechanical or electrical privilege license or bond.

(Ord. of 8-4-92, § 1; Ord. of 11-17-92, § 1; Ord. of 12-20-94, § 1)