Building permits
A. Required. No building or other structure shall hereafter be erected, enlarged, relocated, demolished, or structurally altered until a permit authorizing the same shall have been issued by the building official.
B. Conformity with other ordinances. No building permit shall be issued by the building official except in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance and other applicable ordinances.
C. Curb cut. No building permit shall be issued until a permit to open a curb cut for access to said property is obtained from the director of public works or his agent if on a town accepted highway or from the State of Rhode Island Department of Transportation if on a state highway.
D. Site plan. No building permit shall be issued unless a site plan shall be submitted to the zoning enforcement officer indicating the intended use and its conformity in all respects to the provisions of this ordinance. Such site plan shall be drawn to scale, showing the accurate dimensions of the lot; the building site; the location and size of existing buildings on the lot; all proposed construction; all front, side and rear yard dimensions; proposed parking areas; proposed soil erosion and sediment control measures in accordance with the Rhode Island Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook, as revised (if applicable under subsection F., below); and such other information as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of this ordinance. A site plan shall not be required with an application for a permit involving the alteration of an existing building(s), where the use and exterior dimensions of the building are not changed or enlarged in any manner. If the zoning enforcement officer and the building official are not the same individual, it shall be the responsibility of the zoning enforcement officer to notify the building official in writing as to whether the proposed use and or structure comply with the provisions of this ordinance.
E. Relation to other codes, regulations and ordinances. The issuance of a building permit shall not, in any way, relieve the applicant of the responsibilities of obtaining such other permits or approvals as may be required under the provisions of other codes, regulations and ordinances, whether federal, state or town, relating to the use, erection, alteration or modification of a building or structure or to the use or subdivision of land.
F. Soil erosion and sediment control. A soil erosion and sediment control plan shall be required for all applications for a building permit for construction of any of the following:
1. A new single-household detached structure regardless of ground coverage;
2. A new two-household detached structure regardless of ground coverage;
3. A new multi-household detached structure regardless of ground coverage;
4. In addition to the above, any new principal or accessory structure or any expansion of any existing principal or accessory structure for any use which exceeds one thousand (1,000) square feet in ground coverage.
Plans shall be in accordance with the standards and procedures provided in the "Rhode Island Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Handbook," as revised. The building official or his/her designee shall review and approve all such plans and ensure that adequate soil erosion/sediment control measures are in place prior to any disturbance of the soil or vegetation. No building permit may be issued until such time as the applicant has complied with all applicable provisions of this ordinance relating to soil erosion and sediment control, has posted all necessary performance bonds and is otherwise in compliance with all other applicable town and state requirements.
G. Expiration of building permit. If the work described in any building permit has not begun within six (6) months from the date of issuance thereof, said permit shall expire. It shall be canceled by the building official and written notice thereof shall be given to the persons affected.