Definitions.

For the purpose of this Code, certain terms, phrases and words and their derivatives shall be construed as set out herein. Words used in the singular include the plural and the plural the singular.

Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and the feminine the masculine. Wherever a section or part is referred to in this Code by number, it shall be understood to refer to a section or part of this Code.

(1) 

Accessory Buildings. See "garage."

(2) 

Alley. Any open public space or thoroughfare less than thirty (30) feet, but not less than ten (10) feet in width, which has been deeded to the public for public use or any public space which has been dedicated for public use as alley.

(3) 

Alteration. Alter or alteration means any change, addition or modification in construction or use.

(4) 

Approved. As to materials and types of construction, refers to approval by the Department of Building Inspections and Zoning, as the result of investigation and tests conducted by it, or by reason of accepted principles or tests by nationally recognized technical organizations, or by reason of approval by the Industrial Commission of the State of Wisconsin.

(5) 

Attic. Attic or "attic story" is any story situated wholly or partly in the roof, so designated, arranged or built as to be used for business storage or habitation.

(6) 

Basement. Basement is a story wherein on every side of the building the average floor line is below the grade and the average ceiling height in every elevation is not more than five (5) feet above such grade.

(7) 

Bay Window. Bay window is a rectangular, curved or polygonal window, extending beyond the main wall of the building.

(8) 

Building. Building is any structure built for the support, shelter or enclosure of persons, animals, chattels or movable property of any kind; and, when separated by a fire wall, each portion of such building so separated shall be deemed a separate building.

(9) 

Dead Load. Dead load in a building includes the weight of the walls, permanent partitions, framing, floors, roofs and all other permanent stationary construction forming a part of the building.

(10) 

Existing Building. Existing building is a building already erected or one for which a legal permit has been issued prior to the adoption of this Code.

(11) 

Exterior Walls. Outer walls or vertical enclosure of a building, other than a party wall.

(12) 

Family. Family is one person living alone or a group of two (2) or more persons living together in an apartment, whether related to each other by birth or not.

(13) 

Floor Area. Floor area is the area inside the exterior or fire walls of a building, exclusive of vent shafts and courts.

(14) 

Footing. Footing is the spreading course at the base or bottom of a foundation wall, column or pier.

(15) 

Foundation. Foundation is a substructure, including masonry walls, piers, footings, piles, grillage and similar construction, which is designed to transmit the load of any super-imposed structure to natural soil or bed rock.

(16) 

Front of Lot. Front of lot means the front boundary line of lot bordering on the street and, in the case of a corner lot, may be either frontage.

(17) 

Garage. Garage is a structure used for storing motor vehicles that has more than two (2) sides completely enclosed.

(a) 

Private Garage. Private garage is a garage maintained primarily for the convenience of the owner, tenant or resident occupant of the premises and in which no business is carried on and no service is rendered to the public.

(b) 

Public Garage. Public garage is any garage other than a private garage.

(18) 

Grade.

(a) 

For buildings or structures adjoining one street only, the elevation of the sidewalk at the center of that wall adjoining the street.

(b) 

For buildings or structures adjoining more than one street, the average of the elevations of the sidewalk at center of all walls adjoining streets.

(c) 

For buildings or structures having no wall adjoining the street, the average level of ground (finished surface) adjacent to the exterior walls of the building or structure. All walls approximately parallel to and not more than five (5) feet from a street line are to be considered as adjoining a street.

(19) 

Height of Building. Height of building is the vertical distance from the "Grade" to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or the average height of the highest gable of a pitch or hip roof.

(20) 

Lintel. Lintel is the beam or girder placed over an opening in a wall and which supports the wall construction above.

(21) 

Live Loads. Live loads are all imposed, fixed or transient loads other than "Dead Loads."

(22) 

Lot. Lot is a parcel of land having its principal frontage upon a street or alley and occupied or to be occupied by a building and its accessory buildings, together with such open spaces, as are required by the Wisconsin State Building Code, this Code and the zoning ordinance of the City of West Allis.

(23) 

Lumber Sizes and Grades. Lumber sizes and grades, whenever used in this Code, shall mean nominal sizes. The actual sizes shall not be less than the sizes specified by the American Lumber Standards Committee. All grades shall be determined using American Lumber Standards as a basis.

(24) 

Masonry. Masonry is that form of construction composed of monolithic concrete or of stone, brick, concrete, gypsum, hollow clay tile, concrete blocks or tile or other similar solid or hollow incombustible building units or materials, or a combination of these materials, laid up unit by unit and set in approved mortar.

(25) 

Solid Masonry. Solid Masonry means masonry without hollow spaces.

(26) 

Built Up Masonry. Built up masonry is that form of construction composed of stone, brick, gypsum, hollow clay tile, concrete blocks or other similar solid or hollow incombustible building units or materials or a combination of these materials laid up unit by unit and set in approved mortar.

(27) 

Monolithic Masonry. Monolithic masonry is a homogeneous mass of inert materials mixed with Portland cement and constructed in one continuous operation.

(28) 

Motor Vehicle. Motor vehicle is any self-propelling vehicle which is registered to travel over the streets and highways.

(29) 

Repair. Repair means the reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance. The word "Repair" or "Repairs" shall not apply to any alteration.

(30) 

Shaft. Shaft means a vertical opening through one or more floors of a building for elevators, dumb waiter, light, ventilation or similar purposes.

(31) 

Shall. Shall, as used in this Code, is mandatory.

(32) 

Story.

(a) 

That portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above shall be considered a story, except that the topmost story shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. A basement shall not be considered a story unless the ceiling thereof is more than five (5) feet above grade.

(b) 

A building shall be considered a two (2) story building when the bearing walls extend more than three (3) feet above the second floor or said wall is more than seventeen (17) feet high, measured from the grade up. No two (2) story residence bearing wall shall have a height to exceed twenty-two (22) feet measured from the lower edge of the first floor joists to the top of the wall.

(33) 

Structure. Structure is that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.

(34) 

Veneer. Veneer is the outer facing of brick, stone, concrete or tile attached to an enclosing wall for the purpose of providing ornamentation, protection or insulation, which cannot be considered as adding to the strength of the walls.

(35) 

Bearing Wall. Bearing wall is a wall of which any portion supports a load other than its own weight.

(36) 

Curtain Wall. Curtain wall is a fire resistive nonbearing wall between columns or piers which is not more than one story or eighteen (18) times its thickness in height.

(37) 

Enclosing Wall. Enclosing wall is that portion of a building wall which is exterior to the lath, plaster and other interior wall finish.

(38) 

Fire Separation Wall. Fire separation wall is a wall of masonry or reinforced concrete which subdivides a building to restrict the spread of fire, but is not necessarily continuous through all stories nor extended through the roof.

(39) 

Interior Wall. Interior wall is a wall which is entirely enclosed by exterior walls of the building.

(40) 

Nonbearing Wall. Nonbearing wall is a wall which supports no load other than its own weight.

(41) 

Panel Wall. Panel wall is a nonbearing wall built between columns or piers and wholly supported at each story.

(42) 

Parapet Wall. Parapet wall is that part of any wall entirely above the roof line.

(43) 

Party Wall. Party wall is a wall used or adapted for joint service between two (2) buildings.

(44) 

Retaining Wall. Retaining wall is any wall used to resist the lateral displacement of any material.

(45) 

Fence. Fence shall mean a structure erected for the purpose of separating properties, or enclosing or protecting or screening the property within its perimeter. A fence shall not include construction site barriers, or a chain link fence enclosure wholly within the property to which it pertains and which conforms to the setbacks for an accessory structure which does not exceed six (6) feet in height and which is used for the purpose of containing a domestic animal(s).

[Ord. O-2015-0045, 9/15/2015]

Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection (45), Portland Cement Mortar.

(46) 

Through Lot. Through lot shall mean an interior lot having frontage on two (2) nonintersecting streets.

[Ord. O-2015-0045, 9/15/2015]

Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection (46), Lime-Cement Mortar.

(47) 

Accessory Structure. Accessory structure is a building or structure (other than recreational equipment or swimming pools), such as a storage shed, a gazebo, or other structure that is subordinate and incidental to the main building which is not a garage.

(48) 

Storage Shed. Storage shed is a building or structure that is accessory to a main building and is used for the storage of items other than motor vehicles.

(49) 

Industrial Bucket or Container. An industrial bucket or container is an object that has a manufactured purpose or design to hold paint, solvents, salts, chemicals, or similar products. This definition pertains to containers or buckets with a volume of one (1) gallon or larger. This excludes containers that are designed by the manufacturer to be a decorative plant holder and are being used for that specific purpose.

[Ord. O-2016-0034, 9/6/2016]

(50) 

Construction Value. Construction value means the total cost of all construction work for which a permit is issued and shall include, where applicable, structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, interior and exterior finishes, normal site preparation, excavation, backfilling, overhead and profit. Construction value shall not include land purchase costs. The determination of construction value shall be made on actual or current averaged costs and is subject to verification by the Building Inspector.

[Ord. O-2016-0058, 12/6/2016]

(51) 

Area Calculation. Area calculation means the entire area of all principal floors, mezzanines, basements, attics and exterior porches, decks and platforms. This shall include all areas that could be used as finished or occupied areas with future alterations. Area calculation shall exclude crawl spaces with less than seventy-six (76) inches of ceiling height and attics with less than sixty (60) inches of ceiling height and that are only accessed by a scuttle or access panel.

[Ord. O-2016-0058, 12/6/2016]

Ord. O-2016-0038, 8/2/2016