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Code of the District of Columbia

§ 1–1505.01. Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1982

(Effective July 3, 1982)

BUILDING AND ZONING REGULATION ADMINISTRATION

I. Purpose The purpose of this reorganization plan is to transfer all functions associated with the administration and enforcement of the District of Columbia building and zoning codes from the Department of Housing and Community Development to the Department of Licenses, Investigations and Inspections.

II. Functions The following functions are hereby transferred to the Director of the Department of Licenses, Investigations and Inspections:

(a) To administer and enforce the statutes, codes and regulations governing the construction, conversion, repair and alteration of buildings in the District of Columbia, including all appurtenances such as walls, fences and signs, and including all equipment installed in or on buildings or structures such as electrical, elevator, plumbing, refrigeration, gas, boiler and pressure vessel equipment;

(b) To administer and enforce the Energy Conservation Code of 1979, D.C. Law 3-39, as it amends the building, plumbing and electrical codes;

(c) To administer and enforce the Architectural Barriers Act of 1980, D.C. Law 3-118, as it amends the building, plumbing, electrical and elevator codes;

(d) To administer and enforce Sections 2, 5, and 6 of D.C. Law 1-64, the D.C. Applications Insurance Implementation Act, relating to permit requirements under the flood insurance program;

(e) To administer and enforce the zoning statutes, codes and regulations governing land use, the height, area and use of buildings, and subdivision of all private land and condominiums;

(f) To provide technical review and comment on applications filed with the Board of Zoning Adjustment; to maintain a register of approved non-conforming uses;

(g) To process applications to lease public space under the provisions of the Public Space Utilization Act, Public Law 90-598;

(h) To inspect buildings and facilities for compliance with building and zoning regulations in response to applications for certificates of occupancy and/or licensing requirements;

(i) To recommend to appropriate officials and agencies any amendments to the zoning regulations which would resolve problems or conflicts in administration;

(j) To recommend, in consultation with the Building Code Advisory Committee established by Commissioner's Order 72-173 and with appropriate officials and agencies, amendments to the building codes; to provide staff support to the Building Code Advisory Committee;

(k) To determine the compliance of new materials, appliances and systems with existing building codes, based on tests by nationally accepted testing laboratories, and issue certificates of approval as appropriate;

(l) To make available to the public information about building and zoning code requirements;

(m) To maintain master files and records of approved building plans and permits.

III. Transfers All positions, personnel, property, records, and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds available or to be made available relating to the duties and functions herein are hereby transferred to the Department of Licenses, Investigations and Inspections.

IV. Organization The Director of the Department of Licenses, Investigations and Inspections is authorized to organize the personnel and property transferred herein within any organizational unit of the Department as the Director deems appropriate.

V. Effective Date The provisions of this Plan shall become effective pursuant to the requirements of Section 422 (12) of Public Law 93-128, or on a date thereafter to be determined by executive order of the Mayor.

§ 1–1505.02. Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1982

(Effective December 8, 1982)

OFFICE OF THE SURVEYOR

I. Establishment There is established within the District of Columbia Department of Transportation the Office of the Surveyor, headed by the Surveyor, who shall perform the functions herein transferred or otherwise assigned. The Office of the Surveyor shall operate under the administrative direction of the Director and shall constitute an organizational unit of the Department of Transportation.

II. Purpose The Office of the Surveyor is established to provide a legal office of record for the plats and subdivisions of all private property in the District of Columbia and all property belonging to the District of Columbia, with responsibility for the preservation of the records pertaining thereto and to perform such other functions as may be authorized or required by law or regulation or administrative direction. The Office of the Surveyor is further charged to conduct surveys and provide certified plats to any court, individual or firm as well as District or Federal agencies as may be ordered.

III. Organization The Director of the Department of Transportation is authorized to establish such organizational components within the Office of the Surveyor, and to place such office within any organizational division of the Department, as he deems appropriate.

IV. Functions The functions of the Office of the Surveyor contained in the following statutes, regulations and orders are hereby transferred:

1. The Act of March 2, 1893 (D.C. Code 1981 Ed., sec. 7-108 [9-103.02]), including but not limited to:

Filing and recording the permanent highway plan and amendments thereto.

2. The Act of March 3, 1901 (D.C. Code 1981 Ed., sec. 1-901 [1-1301] et seq.; former sec. 7-313) including but not limited to the following:

Keeping and preserving all maps, charts, surveys, books, records and papers relating to the land records of the District of Columbia.

Executing surveys for the District of Columbia and any order of survey made by any court or private individual, including the preparation of a true plat and certificate thereof.

Preparing necessary data and plats for subdivisions of property.

Preparing plats for use in condemnation of streets and alleys.

3. The Act of June 21, 1906 as amended (D.C. Code 1981 Ed., sec. 5-202 [6-402]), including but not limited to:

Preparing plats for use in condemnation proceedings concerning establishment of building lines.

4. The Act of January 30, 1925 (D.C. Code 1981 Ed., former sec. 7-124), including but not limited to:

Preparing street closing plats and recording of same.

5. The Act of December 15, 1932 (D.C. Code 1981 Ed., sec. 7-404 [9-202.12]), including but not limited to:

Recording of street and alley closing plats following the proceedings for their closings.

6. The Act of March 29, 1977 (D.C. Code 1981 Ed., sec. 45-1824 [42-1902.14]), including but not limited to:

Ascertaining the certification required by D.C. Code sec. 45-1824 [42-1902.14] prior to acceptance of condominium plats for recordation.

7. The Act of March 3, 1979 (D.C. Code 1981 Ed., sec. 1-929 [1-1329]), including but not limited to:

Establishing and enforcing standards and operating procedures for the performance of surveys by registered land surveyors who shall have been approved and permitted by the Office of the Surveyor to prepare and certify surveys and subdivision plats.

8. Commissioner's Order No. 67-651a, dated March 16, 1967, to wit:

Preparing all plats of subdivisions.

9. Furnishing information to the general public, and initiating and developing policies for consideration by the Mayor and the Council concerning the relationship between the Office of the Surveyor and the general public, Federal agencies, and other District Government agencies.

V. Transfer of Functions, Funds and Other Resources There is hereby transferred to the Office of the Surveyor within the Department of Transportation all duties and functions assigned or delegated to the existing Office of the Surveyor as of the date immediately prior to the effective date of this Reorganization Plan. All positions, personnel, property, records, and expended balances of appropriations, allocations, and other funds available or to be made available relating to the above functions are hereby transferred to such Office of the Surveyor within the Department of Transportation.

VI. Effective Date The provisions of this Plan shall become effective pursuant to the requirements of Section 422(12) of Public Law 93-198, but no earlier than October 1, 1982.