City Code

Section 475 - Parking Ramps

475.01 Definitions. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the following words and phrases have the meanings given in this Subsection:

Parking Ramp. A building, garage, or structure or part thereof in which a structural level other than a slab on grade is used for parking, storage or maintenance of motor vehicles.

Qualified Engineer. A person (i) who is registered by the State as a professional engineer in the field of civil or structural engineering, (ii) who has demonstrated experience and expertise in parking ramp inspection, and (iii) who maintains professional liability insurance with a company authorized to do business in the State in the sum of not less than $1,000,000.00.

475.02 License Required; Exemption. No person shall own or operate a parking ramp within the City without first obtaining a license pursuant to this Section. Provided, however, no license shall be required until March 1 immediately following the fifth annual anniversary of the certificate of occupancy for the parking ramp issued by the Building Official.

475.03 Application; Fee; Term.

Subd. 1 License Application. The application for a license under this Section shall be submitted on forms provided by the Building Official. The application shall be accompanied by the fee in the amount set forth in Section 185 of this Code.

Subd. 2 License Procedure and Control. The provisions of Section 160 of this Code shall apply to all licenses required by this Section and the holders of such licenses.

Subd. 3 Term. Licenses issued pursuant to this Section shall expire on March 1 of each year. Provided, however, that licenses issued in 2003 or 2004 shall not expire until March 1, 2005.

475.04 Inspection and Report. No license shall be issued or renewed pursuant to this Section unless the parking ramp has been inspected by a qualified engineer and a report issued therefore which states that the structure is capable of supporting the loads for which it was designed and meets the other requirements of this Section. The inspection shall be performed annually not more than 60 days prior to the application for a new license or the renewal of a license.

Subd. 1 Manner of Inspection. All annual inspections shall be conducted on-site by the qualified engineer who shall perform such tests as deemed warranted by the qualified engineer including destructive or equivalent tests and non-destructive tests to determine the structural condition of the parking ramp.

Subd. 2 Report. The application for a license and each renewal pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a copy of the report prepared by the qualified engineer. The report shall contain the qualified engineer's findings as determined by the inspection pursuant to Subd. 1 of this Subsection. The report shall state (i) whether any structural repairs are required, and shall indicate whether the structure is capable of supporting the loads for which it was designed, (ii) the date or dates of the on-site inspection and describe any test performed in connection with the inspection, (iii) any recommendations issued to the owner of the parking ramp. The report shall be signed by the qualified engineer and shall include a statement of professional qualifications, shall be addressed to the City, and shall be certified by the signing engineer as being true, accurate and complete. The report also shall include evidence of the existence of the professional liability insurance required by this Section.

Cross Reference:  Sections 160, 185