HomeMy WebLinkAbout(0014) M&C 20-0926City of Fort Worth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
DATE: 12/15/20 M&C FILE NUMBER: M&C 20-0926
LOG NAME: 06BUILDINGADMINCODE
SUBJECT
(ALL) Adopt an Ordinance to Amend the Fort Worth Building Administrative Code, Chapter 7, Article I, to Exempt Certain Residential Door
Replacements from Permitting and to Revise Plumbing Inspection Deposit Requirements
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance to update the Building Administrative Code, Chapter 7, Article I, to:
1. Add certain residential door replacements to the list of work that is exempt from permitting;
2. Delete language related to collecting fees for plumbing deposits; and
3. Add a registration requirement and fee for Qualified Plumbing Inspection Companies.
DISCUSSION:
The Fort Worth Building Administrative Code was adopted on December 6, 2016, Ordinance 22523-12-2016 and serves as the administrative,
organizational, and enforcement regulations for the Fort Worth Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Sign and Existing Building
codes, which prior to the adoption of the Building Administrative Code contained duplicative language, resulting in unnecessary redundancies in
the various codes.
In order to help streamline the permitting process for residents and the development community two changes are proposed.
The first will eliminate the permitting requirement for replacement residential doors outside of historic districts when the door replacement does not
require a change in the framed opening size. The new doors will still be required to meet the building and energy code requirements adopted by
the City.
The second change will revise the way we pay for plumbing inspections performed by third party companies. We currently collect a deposit on
each permit applied for and then refund those monies when the project is completed. This creates a large amount of administrative work tracking,
invoicing and refunding money, both for city staff and the companies doing the inspections. The proposed method will have Qualified Plumbing
Inspection Companies register with the City and receive a one-time annual payment for plumbing inspections performed over the year. This
change will reduce the total number of invoices received and reviewed and the number of refunds issued from several hundred per year to
approximately a dozen thereby streamlining the process for both our internal staff and our external development customers. The current City of
Fort Worth Plumbing Inspection Agreements will be revised to align with changes to the ordinance.
A Form 1295 is not required because: This M&C does not request approval of a contract with a business entity.
FISCAL INFORMATION / CERTIFICATION:
The Director of Finance certifies that approval of these recommendations will have no material effect on City funds.
Submitted for City Manager's Office by. Dana Burghdoff 8018
Originating Business Unit Head: D.J. Harrell 8032
Additional Information Contact: Allison Gray 8030