The pre-application conference may be required prior to permit submittal, as determined by staff. This is an opportunity for a potential residential applicant to get a verbal interpretation of ordinances and processes, and to respond to any questions from Town staff. Applicants will also be given information regarding the Town's permit process. This also provides an opportunity for the potential applicant to become familiar with the Town's process prior to significant engineering or architectural design work being performed. Pre-Application conferences will be scheduled 3 working days in advance by the Chief Building Official at the request of the applicant or if one is determined to be needed by staff. Applicants should bring supporting material for staff input. The fee for a pre-application conference is $400. Pre-application conferences will be held at Westlake Town Hall, Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Questions regarding a pre-application should be directed to the Chief Building Official.
2. Departmental Review
Town staff will only begin a departmental review after an applicant has submitted 5 (five) complete sets of collated plans (signed and sealed by a Registered Architect and Professional Engineer) in accordance with the Town's Permit Submittal Criteria handout which is available upon request. Every effort will be made to review plans within 10 (ten) business days from the time they were submitted. Each department will be given the opportunity to review the plans for compliance with the Town's adopted ordinances, engineering standards, building, and fire codes. The Town's current ordinances can be obtained from the Town Secretary or online at www.westlake-tx.org. Westlake Engineering standards and details may be reviewed or purchased from the Town secretary. The Town has adopted the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and the following codes from the International Code Council (ICC): International Residential Code (IRC), International Fire Code (IFC), International Plumbing Code (IPC), International Mechanical Code (IMC), National Electrical Code (NEC), and International Electrical Code Council (IECC). A copy of the latest adopted versions and amendments may be available for review and/or purchase upon request to the Chief Building Official.
3. Comments returned to Point Department
During the review process, each department may discover inaccuracies, errors, omissions, or other problems with the submitted plans. Each department will submit comments to the point department. Comments will include the item(s) that need to be addressed as well as the applicable ordinance or regulation. This process is included in the 10-day turn around time.
4. Comments accumulated and returned to Applicant
Once the point department has received and compiled all comments for submitted plans, the comments will be given to the applicant. Permits may be issued for construction of the project when no significant revisions to plans are needed. When revisions are necessary, the applicant must complete a re-submittal process as outlined in steps 5 through 7.
The applicant shall then proceed to remedy all comments. If an applicant questions a particular statement, the applicant may contact the individual department responsible for the comment for assistance. The applicant may re-submit REVISED plans after all comments have been satisfied. Applicants will pay an additional $75.00 to $125.00 per hour (with a minimum 1 hour charge) to the Town for review fees for plans re-submitted for review as a result of changes or revisions.
6. Point Department notifies all departments by e-mail that revised plans have been returned for second review
The second review is intended to verify that comments have been addressed. Each department will be given the opportunity to review the plans for revisions. In the event that comments have not been addressed, the plans will not be approved.
7. Returned to applicant for further corrections, if necessary
8. File copy distributed to Departments
When the applicant has submitted revised plans addressing all comments, the Town will distribute copies to various departments for their files.
9. Verify payment of fees
After all comments have been addressed to the satisfaction of each department's representative, the Chief Building Official will calculate the permit and plan review fees using the adopted Residential Building Permit Fee Formulas
10. Permit issued
Applicants will be advised of the plan review and permit fees when notified (via fax, e-mail, or telephone) that plans and permits are ready to be picked up. Once all fees have been paid to the Town, a permit will be issued to the applicant. All permits are valid for a period of 180 calendars and may be extended at the discretion of the Chief Building Official. Permits are subject to termination when no construction progress has occurred for more than 180 calendar days.
