38B-002 (17) O O
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r�. DEPARTMENT Of BUILDING INSPECTIONS
INSPECTOR 212 Main Street 0 Municipal Building
Northampton, MA 01060
Robert Habersaat
199 H Stonewall Drive
Ashfield, MA 01330
Dear Robert, July 17, 2006
We received a report from the City of Northampton electrical inspector that renovation
work is being done on your property at 24 F`'agt0tte Avenued
I visited your property on Thursday, June 22, 2006. It is obvious that the house is being
renovated. We have not issued a building, electrical or plumbing permits for that work. We did
issue a permit for siding on that house, but nothing else since 1999.
The Massachusetts State Building Code (780 CMR, Chapter 1, Section 110.1) states:
"It shall be unlawful to construct,reconstruct, alter, repair, remove or demolish a building or
structure; or to change the use or occupancy of a building or structure; or to install or alter
any equipment for which provision is made or the installation of which is regulated by 780
CMR without first filing a written application with the building official and obtaining the
required permit therefor.
You are in violation of this section of the building code. I have posted an order to stop
work in accordance with 780 CMR Chapter 1, section 119.1:
"Upon notice from the building official that work on any building or structure is being
prosecuted contrary to the provisions of 780 CMR or in an unsafe and dangerous manner or
contrary to the approved construction documents submitted in support of the building
permit application, such work shall be immediately stopped.The stop work order shall be in
writing and shall be given to the owner of the property involved,or to the owner's agent, or
to the person doing the work; and shall state the conditions under which work will be
permitted to resume,and request that you file an application for a building permit."
The building code(708 CMR Chapter 1, Section 118.4) mandates penalties for code
violations:
"Whoever violates any provision of 780 CMR,except any specialized code referenced
herein,shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not
more than one year,or both for each such violation. Each day during which a violation
exists shall constitute a separate offense.The building official shall not begin criminal
prosecution for such violations until the lapse of 30 days after the issuance of the written
notice of violation"
Work cannot continue until you apply for and are granted the requisite permits. Unless
you obtain a building permit before August 17, 2006, fines will commence on that date. Please
contact the building department. Our telephone number is 587-1240 and our office hours are
Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, excepting that we close at 12:00 noon on
Wednesdays.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Louis Hasbrouck
City of Northampton
Local Inspector and Zoning Enforcement