It is unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to move or cause to be moved any building or structure or any section of any building or structure into the city of Fountain Valley for permanent establishment in the city or from one location to another in the city, without first obtaining a relocation permit from the building and planning department of the city.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
All applications for relocation permits shall first be filed with the planning and building department for initial inspection of the building to be moved. The planning and building department shall complete their inspection within a reasonable time after filing. The building and safety director or authorized representative, shall then forward his or her report to the planning commission with his or her correction list, improvement bond estimate and recommendations as the planning and building department is presently required to do under existing ordinances. Inspection fees required by the building code and/or city council shall be required.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
All applicants desirous of relocating a building or structure within the city after initial inspection by the planning and building department shall then make an application to the planning commission of the city, which application shall contain the following:
(a) 
Name of owner;
(b) 
Complete description of the building or structure to be moved, designating its type, construction material, age, size, and any other pertinent information that may be required by the city engineer, planning department, or planning and building department;
(c) 
A description of the route over, along, across, and upon which such building or structure, section, or portion thereof, is to be moved within the city and the time within which the work of moving will be commenced and completed;
(d) 
A complete description of any proposed addition, alteration, or repair or improvement to be made to said building or structure either before or after it is moved and a statement of the approximate commencement and completion of such proposed addition, alteration, repair or improvement;
(e) 
Four eight and one-half-inch by eleven-inch photographs, showing front, rear, left, and right side elevations;
(f) 
A statement supported by relevant evidence indicating that all necessary authorizations and permits have been obtained from the operator of any public utility which might be affected by such moving operations;
(g) 
The proposed use to which such relocated building and structure will be put;
(h) 
A termite inspection report by a reliable termite exterminator company, licensed by the state of California; and
(i) 
The name of the mover.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
All such relocations shall require a hearing before the planning commission. The application set out in the previous section shall be accompanied by a filing fee as established by resolution of the city council, to cover the cost of making maps, mailing notices, and other administrative expenses involved. Such fee shall not be refundable, whether a permit is issued or not.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
Prior to the hearing held by the planning commission, the planning and building director shall advise all affected city departments of such application. These departments shall submit recommendations to the planning commission for consideration prior to the time of the public hearing.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
At least ten days before the hearing before the planning commission, notices of the time and place of such hearing and the purpose thereof shall be given by the mailing of notices, to all property owners, within a distance of five hundred feet from the exterior limits of the property to which any such building or structure is to be moved. A notice of such hearing shall also be mailed to the applicant at the address listed in the applicant's application.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
No permit shall be issued for the relocation of any building or structure from one location to another location within the city if said building or structure, in the opinion of the planning commission, is so old, dilapidated, and in such a state of disrepair as to be unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation, occupancy, or use, or would by reason of its exterior appearance be detrimental to the property value and residential character of other properties within one thousand feet from its new location (vacant area shall be considered developed to highest and best use permitted by the existing zone), or the proposed use of said building or structure is prohibited by the zoning ordinance of said city; or if the building or structure is of a type prohibited in the proposed location by the building code, or any other law or ordinance, or if the cost to repair such building is such that it would be prohibitive under the present laws and ordinances of the city.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
No permit shall be issued, nor shall the planning commission make any decision concerning any application for the movement of any building or structure until:
(a) 
A set of architectural plans of the completed structure is submitted;
(b) 
A faithful performance bond, executed by a responsible surety company authorized to do business in the state of California, or by two responsible private individuals, in an amount as recommended by the planning and building department as being necessary to bring such structure or building up to existing building codes and other applicable laws or ordinances is submitted. Said bond and corrections shall be limited to ninety days from the date of issuance of building permits. One thirty-day extension may be granted by the building and safety director when extenuating circumstances are evident; and
(c) 
A bond on file with the city clerk which shall be a good and sufficient surety bond issued by a company acceptable to the attorney for the city, or a cash deposit in the principal sum of two thousand dollars in favor of the city for the benefit of any person, firm, or corporation who may be damaged directly or indirectly by the moving of said building or structure, provided that any person, firm, or corporation engaged regularly in the business of moving buildings may deposit with the city clerk a surety bond approved by the attorney for the city, or a cash deposit in the sum of ten thousand dollars indemnifying the city for like purposes and in that event such person, firm, or corporation need not file the said two thousand dollar bond or cash deposit hereinabove required for any single moving operation.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
The planning commission, in authorizing the issuance of a relocating permit, may impose thereon such terms and conditions as it may deem reasonable and proper in the interest of public safety, welfare, morals, and well-being, including, but not limited to, the requirements of changes, alterations, additions, or repairs to be made to or upon the building or structure, or removal of any nonconforming uses or structures. Further terms or conditions may be imposed by the planning commission in accordance with the building code, zoning, and fire code regulations. The terms and conditions upon which any permit is granted, either by the planning commission or by the city engineer shall be written upon the permit or appended thereto. Upon authorization of the relocation permit, the applicant shall in addition comply with other city ordinances as they pertain to oversize and overweight loads and shall obtain the necessary additional permits and pay the additional fees. Drainage, sewerage, and other charges as required by the laws, rules, and regulations of the city shall be required.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
In case of any damage to any street, or other public property, or public utility owned by the city, the city shall do or cause to be done such work as may be necessary to restore the street or other public property, or public utility, to as good a condition as the same was in prior to such damages and shall charge the cost thereof to the person, firm or corporation to whom the permit was issued for the moving of such building or structure, or section or portion thereof. A final inspection will not be made or passed on the condition or repair of any building or structure until all charges, costs and fees to the city incidental to said relocation have been paid.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all persons, firms, associations, or other corporations moving buildings or structures through or within said city, or to be located within said city, providing that upon a proper showing the planning commission may waive one or more of the requirements of this chapter or may reduce or waive filing or permit fees where the building or structure to be moved is known by or is to be used or occupied by another public agency or where the distance which such building or structure is to be moved is so small as to warrant a modification of the fees or other requirements hereof.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
Within fifteen days after completion of said hearing by the planning commission, the planning commission shall render its decision on the matter. The decision of the planning commission and any provision or restriction imposed shall be final unless an appeal in writing to the city council is filed with the city clerk in accordance with the appeal provisions of Title 21. If the application is approved and no appeal filed within the twenty-day stay period, the planning commission shall return the application to the planning and building department for the issuance of a permit noting the restrictions and the requirements imposed by the planning commission, and a certification that all necessary charges and fees have been paid.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
The permit or permits herein authorized shall be in addition to all permits required under any other ordinance of the city and all such relocated buildings or structures shall be subject to the inspection of the planning and building department, planning department, and city engineer and must conform to all requirements of the building code and other codes or ordinances relating to building, construction, relocation, and necessary installations incident thereto.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)
Every person, as principal, agent, or otherwise, violating or failing or neglecting or refusing to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the County Jail for a period of not exceeding six months or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each such person as principal, agent, or otherwise, shall be guilty of a separate offense for each day during any portion of which the violation of or the failure, neglect, or refusal to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter is committed, continued, or permitted by such person.
(Ord. 1593 § 2, 2022)