[Adopted 1-30-1995 by Ord. No. O-2-95]
A building permit shall be required for all construction and
development, including any alterations or repairs to existing buildings
or structures.
A.
The
Building Permit Officer shall issue a building permit only after it
has been determined that the proposed work to be undertaken will be
in conformance with the requirements of this article and all other
applicable codes and ordinances of the Township of Unity.
B.
Prior
to the issuance of any building permit, the Building Permit Officer
shall review the application for permit to determine if all other
necessary governmental permits required by state and federal laws
have been obtained. [e.g., Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act (Act
No. 537 of 1966), as amended, 35 P.S. § 750.1 et seq.].
No permit shall be issued until this determination has been made.
C.
No
encroachment, alteration or improvement of any kind shall be made
to any watercourse until all adjacent municipalities which may be
affected by such action have been notified by the Township of Unity
and until all required permits or approvals have been first obtained
from the Department of Environmental Resources, Bureau of Dams and
Waterway Management.
D.
After
the issuance of a building permit by the Building Permit Officer,
no changes of any kind shall be made to the application, permit or
any of the plans, specifications or other documents submitted with
the application without the written consent or approval of the Building
Permit Officer. Requests for any such change shall be in writing,
and shall be submitted by the applicant to the Building Permit Officer
for consideration.
[Added 9-14-2000 by Ord.
No. O-3-00]
E.
In
addition to the building permit, the Building Permit Officer shall
issue a placard which shall be displayed on the premises during the
time construction is in progress. This placard shall show the number
of the building permit, the date of its issuance and be signed by
the Building Permit Officer.
[Added 9-14-2000 by Ord.
No. O-3-00]
F.
Time
for completion; extensions.
[Added 9-14-2000 by Ord.
No. O-3-00]
(1)
Work on the proposed construction and/or development shall begin
within six months and shall be completed within 12 months after the
date of issuance of the building permit, or the permit shall expire
unless a time extension is granted, in writing, by the Building Permit
Officer. Construction and/or development shall be considered to have
started with the preparation of land, land clearing, grading, filling,
excavation for basement, footings, piers, or foundations, erection
of temporary forms, the installation of piling under proposed subsurface
footings, or the installation of sewer, gas and water pipes, or electrical
or other service lines from the street.
(2)
Time extensions shall be granted only if a written request is submitted
by the applicant, which sets forth sufficient and reasonable cause
for the Building Permit Officer to approve such a request.
G.
Inspections.
[Added 9-14-2000 by Ord.
No. O-3-00]
(1)
During the construction period, the Building Permit Officer or other
authorized official shall inspect the premises to determine that the
work is progressing in compliance with the information provided on
the permit application and with all applicable Unity Township laws
and ordinances. He shall make as many inspections during and upon
completion of the work as are necessary.
(2)
In the discharge of his duties, the Building Permit Officer shall
have the authority to enter any building, structure, premises or development
in the identified floodplain area, upon presentation of proper credentials,
at any reasonable hour to enforce the provisions of this ordinance.
(3)
In the event that the Building Permit Officer discovers that the
work does not comply with the permit application or any applicable
laws and ordinances, or that there has been a false statement or misrepresentation
by any applicant, the Building Permit Officer shall revoke the building
permit and report such fact to the Board of Supervisors for whatever
action it considers necessary.
(4)
A record of all such inspections and violations of this article shall
be maintained.
Applicants shall file the following minimum information plus
any other pertinent information as may be required by the Building
Permit Officer to make the above determination:
B.
A
determination or a certification as to whether the planned construction
is within a flood-prone area.
C.
A
certification of the square footage of proposed construction.
D.
A
certification as to whether the construction is for agricultural purposes.
E.
A
sketch or plan of the proposed construction.
F.
If
required by the Township Ordinance Officer, a copy of the application
and plans for the proposed construction or development shall be submitted
to the County Conservation District for review and comment prior to
the issuance of the building permit. The recommendations of the Conservation
District shall be considered by the Building Permit Officer for possible
incorporation into the proposed plan and building permit. If the plan
is within a flood-prone area, a copy of all plans and the application
for any proposed construction or development shall be submitted by
the Building Permit Officer to the Township Engineer for review and
comment.
[Added 10-12-2000 by Ord.
No. O-6-00]
A.
If any work authorized by any permit issued by this chapter shall
not have been commenced within six months after the issuance of such
permit, the permit holder shall be required to relinquish such unused
permit, which shall thereupon become invalid. Under such conditions,
neither the permit fee nor any part thereof shall be returned to such
permit holder, and if at any future time such permit holder shall
make application for another permit for the same work, such application
shall follow the same procedure and require the same fees as if no
previous permit had been issued.
B.
If any work authorized by any permit issued under this chapter shall
not have been completed within 18 months after the issuance of such
permit, the permit holder shall make application for the renewal of
such permit. Any such renewal shall be for a fixed term of six months.
C.
Any request for the renewal of a building permit shall be accompanied
by a fee in the amount of $25 for each renewal request.
[Amended 9-14-2000 by Ord. No. O-3-00]
Any person or corporation who or which shall violate or permits
the violation of any of the provisions of this article shall, upon
being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced
by the Township, pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus all court
costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Township.
