§ 6-31. In general.

(a)

Purpose.

The purpose of this section is to provide for the administration and enforcement of the Georgia State Minimum Standard Codes for Construction as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the administration and enforcement of Chapter 6 of the City of Cartersville Code of Ordinances. Hereinafter, the State Minimum Standard Codes for Construction and all other codes adopted in Chapter 6 of the City of Cartersville Code of Ordinances shall be referred to as "the construction codes."

(b)

Code remedial.

(1)

General. These construction codes are hereby declared to be remedial, and shall be construed to secure the beneficial interests and purposes thereof—which are public safety, health, and general welfare—through structural strength, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment including alteration, repair, removal, demolition, use and occupancy of buildings, structures, or premises, and by regulating the installation and maintenance of all electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems, which may be referred to as service systems.

(2)

Quality control. Quality control of materials and workmanship is not within the purview of the construction codes except as it relates to the purposes stated therein.

(3)

Permitting and inspection. The inspection or permitting of any building, system or plan, under the requirements of construction codes shall not be construed in any court as a warranty of the physical condition of such building, system or plan or their adequacy. The City of Cartersville, nor any employee thereof, shall be liable in tort for damages for any defect or hazardous or illegal condition or inadequacy in such building, system or plan, nor for any failure of any component of such, which may occur subsequent to such inspection or permitting.

(c)

Scope.

(1)

Applicability:

a.

General. Where, in any specific case, different sections of these construction codes specify different materials, methods of construction or other requirements, the most restrictive shall govern. Where there is a conflict between a general requirement and a specific requirement, the specific requirement shall be applicable.

b.

Building. The provisions of the Standard Building Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, shall apply to the construction, alteration, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition, of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures, except in one- and two-family dwellings.

c.

Electrical. The provisions of the National Electrical Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, shall apply to the installation of electrical systems, including alterations, repairs, replacement, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances thereto.

d.

Gas. The provisions of the Standard Gas Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, shall apply to the installation of consumer's gas piping, gas appliances and related accessories as covered in this code.

These requirements apply to gas piping systems extending from the point of delivery to the inlet connections of appliances and the installation and operation of residential and commercial gas appliances and related accessories, except in one- and two-family dwellings.

e.

Mechanical. The provisions of the Standard Mechanical Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, shall apply to the installation of mechanical systems, including alterations, repairs, replacement, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and/or appurtenances, including ventilating, heating, cooling, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, incinerators, and other energy related systems, except in one- and two-family dwellings.

f.

Plumbing. The provisions of the Standard Plumbing Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, shall apply to every plumbing installation, including alterations, repairs, replacement, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings and appurtenances, and when connected to a water or sewerage system.

g.

Fire prevention. The provisions of the Standard Fire Prevention Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, shall apply to the construction, alteration, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures.

h.

Energy. The provisions of the CABO Model Energy Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, shall regulate the design of building envelopes for adequate thermal resistance and low air leakage and the design and selection of mechanical, electrical, service water heating and illumination systems and equipment that will enable the effective use of energy in new building construction.

i.

CABO one- and two-family dwelling. The provisions of the CABO One- and two-family Dwelling Code, as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, shall apply to the construction, alteration, repair, equipment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, of every one- or two-family dwelling or any appurtenances connected or attached to such buildings or structures.

j.

The Unsafe Building Abatement Code. The provisions of this code provide code enforcement personnel with the necessary tools to have dangerous and unsafe buildings repaired or demolished.

k.

Existing building. The provision of the Standard Existing Building Code as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs shall be applicable and enforced within the City of Cartersville.

l.

Swimming pool. The provisions of the Standard Swimming Pool Code as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs shall be applicable within the City of Cartersville.

m.

Property maintenance. The provisions of the International Property Maintenance Code as adopted and amended by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs shall be applicable and enforced within the City of Cartersville.

(2)

Federal and state authority. The provisions of the construction codes shall not be held to deprive any federal or state agency, or any applicable governing authority having jurisdiction, of any power or authority which it had on the effective date of the adoption of the construction codes or of any remedy then existing for the enforcement of its orders, nor shall it deprive any individual or corporation of its legal rights as provided by law.

(3)

Appendices. Appendices referenced in the text of the construction codes shall be considered an integral part of the construction codes, if adopted.

(4)

Referenced standards. Standards referenced in the text of the construction codes shall be considered an integral part of the construction codes. If specific portions of a standard are denoted by code text, only those portions of the standard shall be enforced. Where construction code provisions conflict with a standard, the construction code provisions shall be enforced. Permissive and advisory provisions in a standard shall not be construed as mandatory.

(5)

Maintenance. All buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems, both existing and new, and all parts thereof, shall be maintained in a safe and sanitary condition. All devices or safeguards, which are required by the construction codes when constructed, altered, or repaired, shall be maintained in good working order. The owner, or his/her designated agent, shall be responsible for the maintenance of buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing systems.

(Ord. No. 37-01, § 6, 9-6-01)