It is the purpose of this article to establish uniform procedures
for the administration of this chapter.
There shall be a Zoning Administration Officer who shall be
appointed by the Township Supervisors and whose duty it shall be,
and is hereby given the power and authority, to enforce the provisions
of this chapter. The Zoning Administration Officer shall examine all
applications for permits, issue permits only for construction and
uses which are in accordance with the requirements of this chapter,
record and file all applications for permit with any accompanying
plans and documents, which shall be matters of public record, and
make such reports as the Township Supervisors may require. Permits
for construction and uses which are a special exception or a variance
from the requirements of this chapter shall be issued only upon order
of the Zoning Hearing Board.
A building permit shall be required prior to the erection or
alteration of, or addition to, any building or other structure or
portion thereof. It shall be unlawful for any person to commence work
or the erection or alteration of, or addition to, any building or
other structure or portion thereof until a building permit has been
duly issued therefor.
All applications for building permits shall be made in writing
on forms furnished by the Township Supervisors and shall be accompanied
by a plan drawn to scale and accurately showing the exact size and
location of any buildings or other structures existing on the lot
in question or upon abutting land within 50 feet of the side and rear
lot lines of such lot, and the lines within which the proposed building
or other structure shall be erected or altered. There shall, in addition,
be included with all applications such other plans, documents and
information as may be necessary to enable the Zoning Administration
Officer to ascertain compliance with this chapter and all other pertinent
ordinances.
No building permit shall be issued until the Zoning Administration
Officer has certified that the proposed building, structure or alteration
complies with the provision of this chapter and applicable ordinances.
Upon completion of the erection, addition to, or alteration of any
building, structure or portion thereof authorized by any building
permit obtained in compliance with this chapter, and prior to use
of occupancy, the holder of such permit shall notify the Zoning Administration
Officer of such completion. Use and occupancy shall not be authorized
until the Zoning Administration Officer has certified that the work
has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with this and
other applicable ordinances, and has issued a use and occupancy permit
as provided below.
A.
A use and occupancy permit shall be required prior to any of the
following:
(1)
Use
and occupancy of any building or other structure hereafter erected
or altered, for which a building permit is required.
(2)
Change in use of any building or structure.
(3)
Use of land or change in the use thereof, except that the placing
of vacant land under cultivation shall not require a use and occupancy
permit.
(4)
Change in use or extension of a nonconforming use.
B.
It shall
be unlawful for any person to use or occupy any building or other
structure or land until a use and occupancy permit, if required, has
been duly issued therefor.
All applications for use and occupancy permits shall be made
in writing on forms furnished by the Township Supervisors and shall
include all information necessary to enable the Zoning Administration
Officer to ascertain compliance with this chapter.
No use and occupancy permits shall be issued until the Zoning
Administration Officer has certified that the proposed use complies
with all the provisions of this chapter. Pending completion of a building
or of alterations thereto, a temporary use and occupancy permit may
be issued by the Zoning Administration Officer for a temporary occupancy
of a part or all of a building, provided that such temporary occupancy
would not tend in any way to jeopardize life or property.
If the Zoning Administration Officer determines that an application
is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, it shall be
his or her duty to issue the appropriate permit; and if he or she
determines that an application is not in compliance with the provisions
of this chapter, it shall be his or her duty to refuse the permit,
in which case he or she shall instruct the applicant in the method
of appeal or application to the Zoning Hearing Board.
[Amended 8-3-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-02; 9-7-2005 by Ord. No.
2005-07]
All applicants for permits may inquire about the status of the
applications within 10 days. Building permits shall be issued within
the deadlines established by the Uniform Construction Code Statute.
