“The City of Springfield Community Development Department Division of Building Regulations is committed to continuing services, while respecting social distancing and complying with the Governor’s ‘stay-at-home’ order,” Shannon Meadows, Community Development Director said. “I, and the Chief Building Official, will retain the authority to determine if a requested inspection is essential, an emergency, and compliant with both and local authoritative proclamations and orders.”
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According to the statement, the Division of Building Regulations will:
• No longer perform non-emergency inspections in occupied residential buildings. In an emergency situation, permits can be obtained in accordance with OBC section 102.10.1 emergency repairs.
Should an inspector have to respond to an emergency repair, the inspector shall contact the Chief Building Official prior to entering the facility.
“The Divison of Building Regulations will work with the trade contractor to determine the best course of action in conducting the emergency inspection,” the statement said.
• Continue to perform inspections on new construction, unoccupied, commercial and residential buildings.
Residential and Commerical inspections: Job superintendents, or contractors, will be required to clear and vacate the space where the inspections are to be performed.
“The requirement is to provide safety not only to the inspector, but also to those potentially on-site, and complies with the spirit of the Governor’s call for social distancing,” the statement said.
When able, inspectors will perform remote inspections to help the construction process continue for both residential and commercial inspections.
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• Continue to perform electrical reconnect inspections as needed for life safety matters. Electrical reconnect inspections will be performed remotely as often as practical.
“If electrical reconnect inspections cannot be performed remotely, authority from the Community Development Director must be granted to proceed with the inspection,” the statement said. “Protocols to protect the safety of the inspector and those on-site will be established on a case by case basis.”
• Continue to receive and process applications for contactors’ licensing electronically.
During the period of time associated with the “stay-at-home” order, and until the State of Emergency in place in the City of Springfield is lifted, contractors’ license applications should be sent to contractors@springfieldohio.gov, the statement said.
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