(a) Zoning Certificate Required.
(1) No building or structure shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, converted, moved, added to, or altered; nor shall any building, structure, or land be established or changed in use without a certificate there for issued by the Zoning Inspector only in conformity with the provisions of this Zoning Code.
(2) Zoning certificates issued on the basis of plans and applications approved by the Zoning Inspector authorize only the use and arrangement set forth in the approved plans and applications, and no other use, arrangement, or construction.
(b) Procedure.
(1) The Zoning Inspector shall, upon receipt of the completed application and material required by Section 1107.01(a), review the application to insure that all pertinent information has been supplied and that the proposal complies with the requirements of this Zoning Code.
(2) Before any zoning certificate is issued affecting any land within 300 feet of the centerline of a proposed new highway or a highway for which changes are proposed as described in the certification to local officials by the Director of Transportation or any land within a radius of 500 feet from the point of intersection of the centerline with any public road or highway, the Zoning Inspector shall give notice, by registered mail to the Director of Transportation that he shall not issue a zoning certificate for 120 days from the date the notice is received by the Director of Transportation. If he shall proceed to acquire the land needed, then the Zoning Inspector shall refuse to issue the zoning certificate. If the Director of Transportation notifies the Zoning Inspector that acquisition at this time is not in the public interest or upon the expiration of the 120-day period of any extension thereof agreed upon by the Director of Transportation and the property owner, the Zoning Inspector shall, if the application is in conformance with all provisions of this Zoning Code, issue the zoning certificate.
(3) The Zoning Inspector shall, within 20 days after receipt of the application, approve or deny the application in conformance with the provisions of this Zoning Code. One copy of the full application shall be returned to the applicant after the Zoning Inspector has marked the copy either as approved or denied and attested to same by the Zoning Inspector's signature on the copy. If the application is denied, a reference to the section of this Zoning Code which supports the action must also be marked on the application. One copy of plans, similarly marked, shall be retained by the Zoning Inspector.
(4) If the application is approved, the Zoning Inspector shall issue a placard to be posted immediately in a conspicuous place on the property in question, attesting to the fact that the use, construction, or alteration is in conformance with the provisions of this Zoning Code.
(c) Zoning Certificate Expiration.
(1) If the work described in any zoning certificate has not begun within one year from the date of issuance thereof the certificate shall expire. It shall be revoked by the Zoning Inspector, and written notice thereof shall be given to the persons affected.
(2) If the work described in any zoning certificate has not been completed within two years of the date of issuance thereof, the certificate shall expire and be revoked by the Zoning Inspector, and written notice thereof shall be given to the persons affected.
(3) This section does not apply to the completion of driveways, parking lots, or sidewalks. They must be complete within one year of issuance of the permit.
(4) Further work as described in the canceled certificate shall not proceed until a new certificate has been obtained and issued.
(d) Failure to Obtain a Zoning Certificate. Failure to obtain a zoning certificate shall be a violation of this Zoning Code and be punishable under Section 1107.99, and the permit fees will be doubled on any work that has begun prior to obtaining a permit.
(e) Use, Arrangement, or Construction Contrary to Certificate. Use, arrangement, or construction contrary to that authorized by the zoning certificate shall be deemed a violation of this Zoning Code and punishable under Section 1107.99.