When is a permit required?

Any owner, authorized agent or contractor who desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the Moline Code Ordinances and adopted codes, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Building Official and obtain the required permit.

When is a permit NOT required?
Exemptions from permit requirements shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work being done in violation of the Moline Code of Ordinances and adopted codes. Permits shall not be required for the following:

Building:

1. One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet.

2. Fences 6 feet high or less.

3. Oil derricks.

4. Retaining walls which are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids.

5. Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2-to-1.

6. Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below and which are not part of an accessible route.

7. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.

8. Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.

9. Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R3 occupancy, as applicable in Section 101.2 of the 2003 International Building Code, which are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed 5000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground.

10. Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes and not including service systems.

11. Swings and other play ground equipment accessory to one- and two-family dwellings.

12. Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of Group R3, as applicable in Section 101.2 of the 2000 International Building Code, and Group U occupancies.

13. Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches.

14. Replacement windows with no change to the size of the openings or headers.

15. Gutters and downspouts.

Electrical:

1. Listed cord and plug connected temporary decorative lighting.

2. Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles.

3. Repair or replacement of branch circuit over current devices of the required capacity in the same location.

4. Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental laboratories.

5. Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy.

6. Installation, alteration or repair of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment or the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electrical energy; or in the operation of signals or transmission of intelligence by a public or private utility in the exercise of its function as a serving utility.

7. Replacement of flush or snap switches, fuses, lamp sockets, and receptacles, and other minor maintenance and repair work, such as replacing worn cords and tightening connections on a wiring device.

Gas:

1. Portable heating appliance.

2. Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.

Mechanical:

1. Portable heating appliance.

2. Portable ventilation equipment

3. Portable cooling unit.

4. Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code.

5. Replacement of any part which does not alter its approval or make it unsafe.

6. Portable evaporative cooler.

7. Self-contained refrigeration system containing 10 pounds or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of 1 horsepower or less.

Plumbing:
The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe; provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drain pipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made.

The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures.

Emergency repairs: Where equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted within the next working business day to Building/Inspections.

Repairs: Application or notice to Building/Inspections is not required for ordinary repairs to structures, replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved, permanently installed receptacles. Such repairs shall not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load bearing support, the removal or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any stand pipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety.
Public service agencies: A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair of generation, transmission, distribution or metering or other related equipment that is under the ownership and control of public service agencies by established right.

Public service agencies:  A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair of generation, transmission, distribution or metering or other related equipment that is under the ownership and control of public service agencies by established right.