1. Required for Land and Buildings. No land shall be occupied or used and no building erected or structurally altered shall be occupied or used in whole or in part for any purpose whatsoever until a Certificate of Occupancy and Compliance is issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, stating that the building and use comply with the provisions of the Zoning and Property Chapters and the City's building and health ordinances.
2. Required for Change of Use. No change of use shall be made in any building or part thereof erected or structurally altered under the purview of this zoning code without a permit being issued therefor by the Zoning Enforcement Officer. No permit shall be issued to make a change unless the changes are in conformity with the Zoning and Property Chapters.
3. Permit Fee. Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy and compliance, the applicant shall pay to the City Clerk a fee in the amount provided by the Denison Schedule of Civil Penalties and Fees in the Appendix of this Code of Ordinances . Where applicable, such sums shall be paid to the City Clerk upon application for a building permit.
4. Fee Exemption for Federal Property. Application for a certificate of occupancy and compliance for property wholly owned by the federal government may be made without paying the fee described in subsection 3 above.
5. Nonconforming Uses.
A. Nothing in the occupancy permit regulations shall prevent the continuance of a nonconforming use as authorized, unless discontinuance is necessary for the safety of life or property.
B. A certificate of occupancy shall be required of all nonconforming uses. Application for certificate of occupancy for nonconforming uses shall be filed with the Zoning Enforcement Officer, accompanied by affidavits of proof that such nonconforming use was not established in violation of the Zoning and Property Chapters or any requirements otherwise stipulated or ordered by the Zoning Administrator.
6. Time Limits; Records. Certificates for occupancy and compliance shall be applied for coincidentally with the application for a building permit and shall be issued within ten days after the lawful erection or alteration of the building is completed and to the satisfaction and approval of the Zoning Administrator, with respect to the rules and regulations of this zoning code and any requirements otherwise stipulated or ordered by the Zoning Administrator. A record of all certificates shall be kept on file in the office of the Zoning Enforcement Officer, and copies shall be furnished on request to any person having a proprietary or tenancy interest in the building affected.