This is in Arizona -
MOHAVE COUNTY NEWS RELEASE Monday, Aug. 27, 2007
Public Information Director
(928) 753-0729
Building codes to go countywide Sunday
MOHAVE COUNTY – Time is running short for rural Mohave County
residents impacted by the adoption of the 2003 International Building
Codes to grandfather their structures with zoning permits.
On May 7, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors approved the extension
of the adopted codes countywide to be effective September 1.
"Residents in the rural areas where the codes will now be enforced
should make sure that any recently constructed buildings have zoning
permits," County Chief Building Official Darrell Riedel said Monday,
Aug. 27. "The 2003 codes are already used throughout the more
populated unincorporated areas, such as Mohave Valley, Desert Hills,
Valle Vista and Golden Valley, among others. Now, due to recent growth,
the overlay area is expanding to the whole county.
"All structure construction in those areas will require building
permits after September 1," he said. "But buildings recently
constructed or in the process of being built will only need a zoning
permit if that permit is acquired from the Mohave County Planning and
Zoning Department before September 1. A zoning permit requirement has
been in effect since the 1960s."
Riedel said the building codes are a necessity to ensure safety for the
growing population.
"We all know that electrical problems can lead to fires, electrical
shock and possible death," he said. "Gas piping must also be code
compliant as gas leaks can also be deadly. And, obviously, a building
not constructed correctly can collapse. The inspections that come with
building permits will make sure structures are well-built."
Flood problems are another matter.
"If someone wants to build in a flood plain, that flood plain will
designate how high the base of that home has to be elevated," he said.
"If someone builds outside a designated flood plain, we have no
ability to require elevation. In the recent storm flooding in Golden
Valley, some people thought Planning and Zoning should have prevented
the problem. We can only follow the law and the law allows homes to be
built where the owner wants to build them, unless it is in a designated
flood plain.
"We recommend that a home buyer who has questions about a structure
bring in a private engineer to research the property prior to
purchase," he said. "We also recommend homeowners purchase flood
insurance if they believe there is any possibility of a problem."
The new codes will help keep some flooding problems from being
created.
"Throughout the entire county, after September 1," he said, "a
person will need a grading permit to move 100 cubic yards of dirt or
more. That is because the moving of even a small amount of dirt can
create a large flood problem for the homeowner or his or her
neighbors."
There will still be problems related to living in extreme rural areas,
he said, but the codes will help.
For more information, call Riedel at (928) 757-0903.
Public Information Director
(928) 753-0729
Building codes to go countywide Sunday
MOHAVE COUNTY – Time is running short for rural Mohave County
residents impacted by the adoption of the 2003 International Building
Codes to grandfather their structures with zoning permits.
On May 7, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors approved the extension
of the adopted codes countywide to be effective September 1.
"Residents in the rural areas where the codes will now be enforced
should make sure that any recently constructed buildings have zoning
permits," County Chief Building Official Darrell Riedel said Monday,
Aug. 27. "The 2003 codes are already used throughout the more
populated unincorporated areas, such as Mohave Valley, Desert Hills,
Valle Vista and Golden Valley, among others. Now, due to recent growth,
the overlay area is expanding to the whole county.
"All structure construction in those areas will require building
permits after September 1," he said. "But buildings recently
constructed or in the process of being built will only need a zoning
permit if that permit is acquired from the Mohave County Planning and
Zoning Department before September 1. A zoning permit requirement has
been in effect since the 1960s."
Riedel said the building codes are a necessity to ensure safety for the
growing population.
"We all know that electrical problems can lead to fires, electrical
shock and possible death," he said. "Gas piping must also be code
compliant as gas leaks can also be deadly. And, obviously, a building
not constructed correctly can collapse. The inspections that come with
building permits will make sure structures are well-built."
Flood problems are another matter.
"If someone wants to build in a flood plain, that flood plain will
designate how high the base of that home has to be elevated," he said.
"If someone builds outside a designated flood plain, we have no
ability to require elevation. In the recent storm flooding in Golden
Valley, some people thought Planning and Zoning should have prevented
the problem. We can only follow the law and the law allows homes to be
built where the owner wants to build them, unless it is in a designated
flood plain.
"We recommend that a home buyer who has questions about a structure
bring in a private engineer to research the property prior to
purchase," he said. "We also recommend homeowners purchase flood
insurance if they believe there is any possibility of a problem."
The new codes will help keep some flooding problems from being
created.
"Throughout the entire county, after September 1," he said, "a
person will need a grading permit to move 100 cubic yards of dirt or
more. That is because the moving of even a small amount of dirt can
create a large flood problem for the homeowner or his or her
neighbors."
There will still be problems related to living in extreme rural areas,
he said, but the codes will help.
For more information, call Riedel at (928) 757-0903.
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