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The following is a list of questions frequently asked by citizens. You may search for specific words or phases, or shorten the list by selecting a specific category.
Building Permit Application
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It is the gathering of building project information needed in applying for a building permit, along with all necessary City reviews, approvals, as well as the collection of corresponding fees. It consists of a completed “Building Permit Application”, a “site plan” and may require other construction documents and construction drawings, see “Plan Review Guidelines”.
Plan Review Guidelines
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Whenever you construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or if you erect, install, enlarge , alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, mechanical or plumbing system (the installation of which is regulated by the code), a building permit is required.
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You can do the following without a building permit: a. Build a one-story detached storage/tool accessory structure not over 120 square feet of floor area. The structure must be screened from the street and must have a minimum 10 foot “building setback” from any adjacent property line in compliance with the “City Code” and the “Zoning Code”. In addition, the structure may not obstruct access to or egress from any required “emergency escape and rescue opening”.
b. Build a retaining wall not over 4 feet high. The height is measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall.
c. Install playground equipment.
d. Install driveways and sidewalks.
e. Install window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall.
f. Re-roof, provided the same roofing materials are used.
g. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.
Emergency Escape/Rescue Openings
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Yes, if the existing window and door opening width and corresponding window/door header does not change. If the window and/or door width opening needs to be increased in width to accommodate the new replacement window/door, a building permit is required. Note also that the “fenestration U-factor” for any replacement window must be 0.75 or better. Solid exterior wood doors must carry a U-factor of 0.5 or better and Insulated exterior metal doors, a U-factor of 0.6 or better. In addition, check with the Building Official to determine if the replacement windows need to meet safety (tempered) glazing requirements.
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You can do minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.
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Clearing of stoppages and/or repair of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement and/or the rearrangement of the valves, pipes or fixtures.
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Yes, the following regulations and reviews may also affect the design and construction of your building project:
a. “Zoning Code” regulations, which include “building setbacks”, building “lot coverage”, “building height”, number of stories and floor area of the second story.
b. City’s “Design Review Board” regulates alterations to the building’s exterior. Please note: If you live within an established homeowner’s association (HOA) community, you will also need written approval from your community’s HOA board, prior to building permit issuance.
c. Local CC&Rs also govern building design. Please note: CC&Rs are enforced through your local established homeowner’s association (HOA) and not by the City.
Design Review Board
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You start by filling out a building permit application that can be obtained at the Building Safety Department, 214 West Wigwam Blvd. (between 8:00Am – 3:00 PM, M-F) or can be obtained online by simply clicking on “Building Permit Application”. If the project’s construction causes alterations to the exterior of the building, the City’s “Design Review Board” (DRB) must review and approve these alterations before a building permit application can be made. See “Design Review Board Application” form.
Building Permit Application
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Yes. We encourage you to apply for all needed permits under a single combined building permit application.
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From time of receiving the building permit application (after the “Design Review Board” and/or the “Board of Adjustment” have concluded their review and approval), the following processing timelines can be expected:
Express Permits: 1 business day (issued over the counter)
Drop-off Permits:
Commercial tenant improvements:
5 – 10 business days
New commercial building shells:
10 – 25 business days
New commercial non-building structures:
5 – 10 business days
Commercial remodels and additions:
10 – 15 business days
Commercial electrical / mechanical /
plumbing improvements:
5 – 10 business days
New Residential buildings: 5 – 10 business days
Residential remodels and additions:
5 – 10 business days
Residential electrical / mechanical /
plumbing improvements:
2 – 10 business days
New residential accessory buildings/structures:
2 – 5 business daysThe timelines may vary due to volume and include processing time within the department only (does not include time waiting for client response).
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All building permits have a fee cost associated with them that is determined at the time of the building permit application. For an estimate of the fee costs associated with your construction project, please contact the Building Safety Department at (623) 935-1066. When calling for an estimate, please provide a detailed description of all work involved in the building project and the “total valuation” of the completed project.
Total Valuation
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The following building permits require building plan review:
a. Commercial tenant improvements
b. New commerical building shells
c. New commercial non-building structures
d. Commercial remodels and additions
e. Commercial electrical / mechanical / plumbing improvements
f. New residential buildings
g. Residential remodels and additions
h. Residential electrical / mechanical / plumbing improvements
i. New residential accessory buildings / structures
j. Residential pool / spa installations
k. Residential gas piping (interior and exterior)This is a guide of project types which require building plan review. Please contact the Building Safety Department at (623)935-1066, regarding whether construction drawings and building plan review will be required for your specific project.
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International Building Code (IBC), 2006 edition
International Residential Code (IRC), 2006 edition
International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2006 edition
NEC-International Electrical Code series, 2005 edition
International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2006 edition
International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2006 edition
International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2006 edition
***Please note: The International Fire Code (IFC), 2006 edition, is enforced by Rural/Metro Fire Department (located at 105 West Desert Ave., Litchfield Park.
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The Florence Brinton Litchfield Memorial Library has most of these publications on file for reference purposes. In addition, many local book stores have the publications in stock or can order them. You may also purchase these publications online.
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All commercial work in the City requires a currently licensed architect and/or licensed engineer for all or portions of the construction design, depending on the project’s scope of work. For residential work, a currently licensed architect and/or engineer may be required, by the Building Official, to prepare a structural analysis of the building in addressing structural resistance to vertical (gravity) loads and horizontal (wind) loads. In addition, an engineered soils report may be required, by the Building Official, for certain building sites.
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Wind Speed: minimum 90 mph (3-second gust wind speed)
Wind Exposure Category: Exposure B (Commercial sites must be field verified by the structural engineer of record in determining the proper wind exposure category)
Seismic Design Category: B
Frost Line Depth: minimum 12 inches (unless specified otherwise by an engineered soils report)
Ground Snow Load: N/A
Flood Hazards: (a) July 9, 1984, (b) July 19, 2001.
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Yes. Prior to preparing any construction drawings and/or construction documents (as well as any construction work), a review of the City’s building code amendments (changes) is highly recommended. See “City of Litchfield Park ordinance no. 08-140” for amendments (changes) to the City currently adopted “International Building Codes”, 2006 edition.
Ordinance 08-140
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Upon completion of each phase of the project’s construction, the contractor simply calls (623)935-1066 to schedule a building inspection. See “Residential Inspection Checklist” for a sequence of the different construction phases and a breakdown of the City’s building inspection list at each phase. When calling to schedule a building inspection, always give the type of inspection you’re requesting, the project’s site address and/or lot number, the permit number and the date/time of day you’re requesting the inspection. Inspections called in before 8:00 AM, can be same day inspections. Inspections are conducted between 8:00a.m. and 2:00p.m., Monday through Friday.
When a scheduled inspection is completed by the City and building corrections are required, the inspected work under the scheduled inspection is “rejected”. After the corrections have been made by the building contractor, a re-inspection must be scheduled. All building re-inspections are scheduled the same way as the initial inspection. After the second re-inspection, and building corrections are still not properly addressed, a “re-inspection fee” will be accessed and paid by the contractor before any further inspections are made.
Residential Inspection Checklist
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Business Licenses
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Yes, you do need a business license to do business in the City of Litchfield Park. Unlike other cities, we require all businesses, including service and home-based businesses, to obtain a business license to lawfully conduct business in our City. Even if your company is not located within
City limits, you will need to obtain a business license if coming into the City to perform any type of ongoing business.
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Yes, the City issues business licenses through the Finance Department. After the business license is applied for, it is reviewed and approved by the Finance Director. Once all the required documentation is received, the business license application is processed and the license sent to the
mailing address listed on the application.
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No, the City business license is not a tax license. The City business license must be obtained by all businesses, including service type businesses
that do not normally pay transaction privilege taxes (sales taxes). The City of Litchfield Park is an Arizona Department of Revenue “Program
City”, which means the City does not issue its own tax licenses. Taxes that are paid to the City are reported on State of Arizona tax forms and
distributed based on the Arizona State Transaction Privilege Tax license issued by the Arizona Department of Revenue.
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Most business licenses are issued within 10 business days from the date of application. If all the required information is not received along with
the business license application, the Finance Department will hold the application until all supporting documentation is received. The most
common reason for holding an application is not receiving a copy of a required Arizona State Transaction Privilege Tax license.
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The City has a $45 fee for first-time business license applicants, which consists of a $10 application fee and a $35 license fee. All business licenses expire on December 31st of each year. The fee to renew a license for each consecutive year is $35.
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You may obtain an application from the City’s website at www.litchfield-park.org, City Hall at 623-935-4364, or by requesting that an application
be faxed or mailed to you. If your business is located within Litchfield Park City limits, you will need to fill out two additional forms (a zoning approval form or a home-based business form and a public safety form), which are only available through the Finance Department.
Business License Application
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You can contact the City Finance Department at (623) 935-4364 with questions you may have about the licensing process and doing business within the City.
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City Council
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Council meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7p.m. at the Florence Brinton Litchfield Memorial Library.
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Items are placed on the City Council agenda by the Mayor and City Manager or with the sponsorship by two councilmembers.
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To speak at a Council meeting you must complete a "Request to Speak" form and submit the form to the City Clerk at the meeting. Forms are available by contacting the City Clerk at 623-935-5033.
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Contractor's Information
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Yes. Owners of property, when acting as their own contractor and providing direct, on-site supervision of all work, may build or improve a one-or-two family residence on such property for the occupancy or use of such owners. The property may not be sold or rented for at least one year after the “final” inspection has been completed and approved by the City.
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Application must be made to register with the City as a contractor desiring to do business in Litchfield Park. Each applicant must demonstrate competency by providing either a state license or a letter of reciprocity from another Arizona City or county.
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To register as a State Certified Contractor in the City, the applicant must provide:
Copy of their State Contractor’s License and their Tax Privilege License.
Proof of workers compensation and liability insurance.
Verification of a completed City of Litchfield Park “Business License Application”.
Business License Application
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Have the “Building Permit Card” (received at time of permit issuance) posted in a conspicuous place, preferably visible from the street.
For remodels and additions, ensure that street address numbering is properly displayed and visible from the street.
Provide access to the area of construction under permit.
Have City approved (stamped) building construction drawings on site and accessible.
Complete all work for the scheduled inspection or reinspection.
Have animals restrained.
For the pool/spa final (“pre plaster”) inspection, the resident or the resident’s contractor must be available to provide access to the home’s interior to inspect interior pool barriers.
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For a list of building inspection items that the City uses as a guideline in performing the different individual inspections, see “Residential Inspection Checklist."
*** Please note: These checklist items are not to be interpreted as City codified building regulations, but rather as a guideline list to better understand the building criteria used by the City for the different individual City inspections. Always refer to the referenced code section and/or table for accuracy of the written regulation.
Residentail Inspection Checklist
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Elections
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Voter registrations are available at the Litchfield Park Library, Litchfield Park City Hall and the Department of Motor Vehicles. Call Maricopa County Elections Department at 602-506-1511.
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A candidate must receive 50% plus 1 majority of all votes cast in order to win an election. For example: if 1,000 ballots are cast a candidate must receive 501 votes to be elected. A proposition must receive more "yes" votes than "no" votes in order to pass. For example: if 1,000 ballots are cast, with 490 "yes" and 489 "no" votes, the proposition passes. (sometimes not everyone chooses to vote on propositions).
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Ballots will be mailed on February 21, 2008. If you do not receive your ballot within a week, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 623-935-5033. Replacement ballots will be available at City Hall, 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park.
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Your ballot must be received no later than 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, March 11, 2008. Please allow sufficient time if you mail your ballot to the Maricopa County Elections Department. If you prefer to hand deliver your ballot to City Hall, a locked ballot box will be available. City Hall hours: Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
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Finance
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Account payable checks are distributed on Fridays after 3p.m. and are mailed to vendors, unless otherwise indicated.
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To be placed on the City of Litchfield Park's vendor list complete the vendor registration form on the website.
More...
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Fishing License
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Yes, the City issues fishing licenses for residents and non-residents
who want to fish in the City’s Tierra Verde Lake Park lake.
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Yes. Children ages 12 and older and adults are required to purchase a
fishing permit to fish in the lake. Residents who live in Litchfield Park are charged $1 per year; non-resident fees are $5 per day or $20 per year.
All annual permits expire one year from date of issuance.
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Children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by a person with a current
fishing permit.
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Request your fishing permit during the Litchfield Park Recreation Center’s business hours. The lobby is open seven days a week. Call 623-935-9040 for office hours. Bring a valid driver’s license at the time of purchase.
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Yes, a limit of six (6) fish per day is permitted for bass and/or catfish;
however, no more than four (4) of one species is allowed.
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No. Fishing is restricted to one line per person and no more than one hook per line. Barbed hooks are prohibited.
Straight hooks only are permitted.
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General
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If you live north of Camelback Road, east of Dysart, south of Indian School Road or west of Litchfield Road (excluding the Litchfield Park Greens, the Village at Litchfield Park and LaLoma Village), you do not live in the city limits. New developments such as Bel Fleur, Dreaming Summit, Wigwam Creek and Veranda are not in the city limits. Anyone living in these areas is considered a non-resident of Litchfield Park.
view city map
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Unincorporated county areas and islands must be assigned to a city zip code to receive mail delivery. Although you do not live in the Litchfield Park city limits you have been assigned the 85340 zip code to ensure mail delivery.
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Litchfield Park contracts with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office to provide policing and public safety services. (emergency: 911; non-emergency: 602-876-1011 to dispatch a deputy). Residents individually contract fire service with Rural/Metro Fire Department (Ph: 480-994-3886). Links to the utility service companies are available by accessing the "Utility Services" link.
Utility Services
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Litchfield Park's Post Office is located at 591 E. Plaza Circle in Litchfield Park, Arizona. Business hours and contact information are accessible on the USPS website.
USPS website
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The number for the Maricopa County Building Department is 602-506-3692. If you live within the Litchfield Park city limits call the Litchfield Park Building Department at 623-935-1066.
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City limits are boundaries establishing a City's services including police, fire and utilities. The Litchfield Park city limits are 3.3 square miles. If you live outside the city limits and have a Litchfield Park address you are in the "unincorporated county island" of the 85340 zip code and will receive services from Maricopa County. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office patrols your area, you have private water service and garbage service.
view city map
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Area churches can be accessed using the Business/Resource Directory. Access the directory from the E-Services link found on the home page of the site. Search for the category "area churches" to locate contact information.
Area Church Directory
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Hospital contact information can be accessed using the Business/Resource Directory. Access the directory from the E-Services link found on the home page of the site. Search for the category "hospitals" to locate contact information.
Hospital Directory
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Yes. Ordinance 31.18 states "the owner or occupant of a lot in a residential district may conduct no more than two yard sales in any twelve-month period. A sign permit for the yard sale is required pursuant to Section 35.32. A yard sale shall not exceed three consecutive days." Permits and signs can be obtained during business hours at City Hall located at 214 W. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park.
read the ordinance
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Human Resources
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We have our avaliable jobs posted on this site. Access them by clicking on the following link.
Current Job Listings
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The hiring process is detailed on the employment page of the site. Please refer to this page by accessing the link.
Hiring Process
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The employee benefits offered to employees of City of Litchfield Park can be accessed on the employee benefits page of the site.
Employee benefits
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All applications must be dropped off at the City of Litchfield Park Administrative Offices located at 214 W. Wigwam Blvd. in Litchfield Park. We do not accept faxed or electronically submitted applications.
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The City does not offer an online application service at this time.
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Applications are considered only for the specific job open at the time you submit it. If you are interested in a position that comes open at a later date, a new application must be submitted.
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Unfortunately, due to the high volume of applications/resumes received, we can accept application/resumes only for current openings. Unsolicited applications/resumes are not maintained in our files.
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International Residential Code - Electrical
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You can do minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.
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Yes. No parts of cord-connected (light) fixtures, chains-, cables-, or cord-suspended fixtures, lighting tracks, pendants, or ceiling-suspended (paddle) fans shall be located within 3 feet horizontal and 8 feet vertical from the top of the bathtub rim, reference section E3903.10, I.R.C.
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Yes. The City has amended section N1102.4.3, I.R.C., and only recognizes “IC-rated” light fixtures as meeting the air leakage requirements for this section.
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Yes. The City has amended the code to require a 125-volt, 15 ampere-rated receptacle outlet in an accessible location under each bathroom lavatory to allow for the operation of a point-of-service hot water re-circulating pump. Note: If a central hot water re-circulating pump is installed at the time of the final inspection, the outlets will not be required.
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Yes. Any wall space, in a living room, family room, dining room, bedroom, recreation room, den, sunroom, or similar room of a dwelling unit, must comply with the receptacle outlet distribution spacing requirements of section E3801.2, I.R.C. This includes the requirement that any wall space 2 feet or more in width (including wall space measured around corners) must have a receptacle outlet.
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No. If wall space is not available a listed floor receptacle(s) (within 18 inches of the wall) must be added. The location of this added floor receptacle(s) must comply with sections E3801.2.1 and E3801.2.3, I.R.C.
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Yes. A receptacle outlet shall be installed at each wall counter space 12 inches of wider.
*** Please note: This 20-ampere receptacle outlet must be ground-fault circuit-interrupter (GFCI) protected.
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Yes. The following must be addressed:
o The new bedroom must have an “emergency escape and rescue” window or door directly to the building’s exterior, (along with a window well and a fixed in-place ladder, if located in the basement) in compliance with section R310.1, I.R.C.
o Hard-wired, interconnected with battery back-up smoke alarms will be required in compliance with section R313.2.1, I.R.C. *** Please note: The new bedroom and adjacent hallway smoke alarms may need to be interconnected with added smoke alarms throughout the existing dwelling unit, see exceptions, section R313.2.1, I.R.C.
o The electrical outlets in the new bedroom must be arc-fault circuit-interrupter protected (combination type), in compliance with section E3802.12.
o Any existing interior gas-fired appliances (gas-fired furnace and/or hot water heater) can not be located in, nor be in a space that opens only into the new bedroom. See section G2406.2, I.R.C., for exceptions.
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You need to consult with your heating/ventilation/air-conditioning (HVAC) service contractor/installer . It could be a number of things, including a weak start-up capacitor, loose neutral wire connection, etc.
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International Residential Code - Energy
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Yes. The following window and window glazing requirements must be complied with:
o There are window locations within the residence that are considered as “hazardous locations”, and therefore, require safety glazing in compliance with section R308, I.R.C. The glazing must be listed and labeled as safety (“tempered”) glazing. The “hazardous locations”, within a residence, are listed in section R308.4, I.R.C.*** Please note: If the existing window glazing was not originally safety glazing and the existing window is located in a “hazardous location”, the new replacement window (glazing) must comply. o Ensure that the replacement windows in the bedrooms are of the operable type, with clear openings to meet or exceed the minimum required “emergency escape and rescue opening” size, reference section R310, I.R.C.
o To meet the minimum natural ventilation requirements of section R303, I.R.C., ensure that the replaced operable windows remain operable.
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