24-Hour Inspection Request Line: (541) 917-7551
Administrative Standards
FUNDS
The Division operates through a special revenue
fund. All plan review and permit revenues are deposited in this fund
and all division expenditures are from this fund.
A City of Albany financial policy states that the surplus or ending operating balance each year shall be maintained and carried over each year in order to assure maintenance of customer service levels. The Division’s financial plan anticipates that the ending operating balance will be sufficient to maintain an adequate beginning balance each year to maintain customer service levels. This level of funding is sufficient to insure compliance with this operating plan.
EQUIPMENT
All staff members are provided with the equipment
and other resources needed to complete their
work in an efficient and service oriented
manner. Such equipment includes, but is not
limited to, open office spaces, mileage reimbursement
on vehicles used for inspections, cellular
telephones, code and code-related publications,
business and identification cards, and networked
personal computers.
STAFF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Building Official: The building official shall
have the power to render written and oral
interpretations of this code and to adopt
and enforce administrative procedures in
order to clarify the application of its provisions.
Such interpretations, rules, and regulations
shall be in conformance with the intent and
purpose of this code.
Building Official: Provides interpretations of the Uniform Building Code in conformance with the intent and purpose of this code. Adopts and enforces rules and supplemental regulations in order to clarify the application of its provisions.
Plans Examiners: As per OAR 918-99-055, plans examiners review plans for compliance with the City of Albany Building Code Ordinance at the level for which the plans examiner is certified by the State of Oregon.
Inspectors: As per OAR 918-99-045 inspectors conduct plan reviews and inspections of work covered by the specialty code and the level certified by the State of Oregon.
LOCAL APPEALS PROCESS
Any appeal of a plans examiner’s decision
is reviewed by the Building Official. The appeal
may be verbal or in writing. There is no cost
for this initial appeal. A decision is generally
rendered within 24- hours of the request. The
response may be written or verbal depending
on whether the applicant is requesting a formal
or informal response.
Any appeal of an inspector’s decision is reviewed by the Building Official. The appeal may be verbal or in writing. There is no cost for this initial appeal. A decision is generally rendered within 24-hours of the request. The response may be written or verbal depending on whether the applicant is requesting a formal or informal response.
An appeal of the Building Official’s decision, related to code provisions, is reviewed by the City of Albany Board of Appeals as per Section 18.04.320 of the City of Albany Municipal Code. There is a $100 fee for this appeal.
An appeal of a decision of the Building Official unrelated to code provisions is reviewed by the Community Development Director. The response may be written or verbal depending on whether the applicant is requesting a formal or informal response.
As per ORS 455.690, any person aggrieved by the final decision of a municipal appeals board may, within 30 days after the date of the decision, appeal to the appropriate state advisory board.
ACCOUNTING
All revenues collected are deposited in the
Division’s special revenue fund. These
revenues are segregated by service area.
Annual and monthly accounting records are
available upon request.
All program expenditures are budgeted in the Division’s special revenue fund.
Annual administrative costs and overhead are assessed through the Finance Department’s administrative service charge.
RECORDS, RETENTION, AND RETRIEVAL
All City of Albany records are retained at
least for the minimum time outlined by the
Oregon State Archivist.
Currently records are retained in their original paper format in file cabinets as well as in the computer tracking system.
AVAILABILITY OF OPERATING PLAN
Upon request, the City of Albany’s Operating
Plan is available at the building counter,
333 Broadalbin Street SW, second floor, (541)917-7552,
to any interested party. A copy can be supplied
in electronic format if desired.
PUBLIC COMMENT/COMPLAINT PROCESS
Public comments or complaints may be submitted
verbally (in person or via telephone) or
in writing (via fax, mail, or personal delivery).
Comments or complaints related to code provisions will be processed by the most appropriate staff member. If the comment or complaint becomes an appeal, procedures outlined above will be followed. Comments or complaints related to employee behavior will be processed by the employee’s supervisor as per City of Albany personnel policies.
PUBLIC INQUIRY PROCESS
The Division generally maintains office hours
from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Telephones are answered
by staff between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm and
supplemented with a voice mail system for
when staff is not available. Inspection requests
are accepted via an automated inspection
request line available 24-hours per day.
The Division’s phone number is (541)917-7552, the fax number is (541)917-7598, and the inspection request number is (541)917-7551. The City of Albany, Building Division is located at 333 Broadalbin Street SW.
Customers may telephone to inquire on matters related to permitting, plan review, or inspection processes anytime between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Customers may visit our public service counter to inquire on matters related to permitting, plan review, or inspection processes anytime between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Customers may mail or fax inquiries of this nature at any time.
Responses to customer inquiries are generally conducted on the same day they are received.
CUSTOMER SERVICE INFORMATION
The jurisdiction of this Division covers all
areas within the City of Albany’s city
limits. A map of the jurisdictional boundaries
are maintained at the public service counter.
The City of Albany is a "full service" jurisdiction. Permits for work governed by each specialty code are available through this office.
AVAILABILITY OF CHECKLISTS/BROCHURES
The Division has created a variety of informational
brochures to assist the public in the permit
application process. These brochures are
available at the public service counter,
333 Broadalbin Street SW.
The Division also offers optional predevelopment and preconstruction meetings upon request at no cost to the applicant. Predevelopment meetings can occur at anytime during the development period and provide an opportunity for the applicant to summarize the project, discuss any requested alternate methods or materials, request interpretations, and hear an assessment of the project. The meeting provides an opportunity for the applicant and his/her associates to meet with the Inspector/Plans Examiner who is involved in the project, discuss any unique aspects of the project, clarify special inspection requirements, coordinate public infrastructure issues, and reach consensus on remaining issues identified during the review process.
VERIFICATION OF STAMP BY DESIGN PROFESSIONALS
Staff verifies that plans are appropriately
stamped by a registered design professional
when required. Plans failing to meet this
requirement are not approved until the appropriate
stamp is provided.
NOTIFICATIONS
All notices issued pursuant to OAR 918-020-0070
through -0220 shall be sent to the City of
Albany Building Official.
