§ 6.10. Issuance of Building Permits and Certificates of Occupancy.

a.

No building permit shall be issued for a lot, building site, building or use unless the lot or building site has been officially recorded by a final plat approved by the City and filed for record at Kaufman County, and unless all public improvements, as required by this Ordinance for final plat approval, have been completed, except as may be permitted below:

1.

A building "foundation only" permit may be issued for a nonresidential or multi-family development provided that a construction plat has been approved by the City Council, and provided that the engineering plans have been released by the City Engineer. However, the building permit shall not be issued and building construction shall not be allowed to surpass the construction of fire protection improvements. In other words, the building shall not proceed above the slab level until all required fire lanes have been completed, and until all water lines serving fire hydrants have been completed, inspected and tested.

2.

The City Building Official may release some residential building permits for not more than ten percent (10%) of the lots within a new residential subdivision, provided that a construction plat has been approved by the City Council and the engineering plans have been approved by the City's Engineer, and provided that all public improvements have been completed for that portion of the development including, but not limited to, those required for fire and emergency protection, such as streets providing at least two points of emergency access, alleys, water lines serving fire hydrants, and other similar, required public safety improvements. No lot may be sold nor title conveyed until the final plat has been approved by the City and recorded at Kaufman County.

3.

No certificate of occupancy shall be issued for a building or the use of property unless all subdivision improvements have been completed and a final plat has been approved by the City and recorded at the County. Notwithstanding the above, the Municipal Development Department may authorize the conditional occupancy of a structure provided that an agreement providing cash escrow, a letter of credit, or other sufficient surety is approved by the Municipal Development Department for the completion of all remaining public improvements, and provided that the structure is safely habitable in accordance with the City's Building Codes.