(1) A permit shall be obtained before any pier, wharf or other harbor structure is built, extended, altered, improved or repaired, other than necessary repairs of the existing structure costing not more than $300.[4]

(2) Application for such permit shall be made to the Department of Licenses and Inspections in such form as the Department requires.

(a) No permit shall be issued unless the proposed construction will conform to the regulations of the Department of Commerce.

(3) If the proposed structure, extension, alteration, improvement or repair will encroach upon the waterway, no permit shall be granted until a public hearing on the application has been held by the Department of Commerce, preceded by notice by advertisement twice a week for two successive weeks in two newspapers of general circulation published in the City.

(a) The applicant for the permit shall arrange and pay for the advertisements and furnish the Department of Licenses and Inspections with proof of such advertisement prior to the hearing.

(4) The fee for the issuance of a permit shall be $1.50 per $1,000. cost of construction up to $100,000. and $.75 for each additional $1,000. cost of construction thereafter, but the fee shall not be less than $10. where a public hearing is required, nor for less than $3. where no public hearing is required.

(5) The Department of Licenses and Inspections may itself or by contract remove any structure built without the permit required by § 18-103(1) or in violation of the regulations of the Department of Commerce, the cost to be charged against the owner. The Law Department may take such action for the collection of such costs, by lien or otherwise, as may be authorized by law.