(A) Zoning certificates. Except as hereinafter provided, no permit pertaining to the use of land or buildings shall be issued by any officer, department, or employee of the municipality unless the application for such permit has been examined by the Zoning Administrator, indicating that the proposed building or structure complies with all the provisions of this chapter. Any permit or certificate issued in conflict with the provisions of this chapter shall be null and void.
(B) Occupancy permits. No building, or addition thereto, constructed after the effective date of this chapter, and no addition to a previously existing building shall be occupied, and no land, vacant on the effective date of this chapter, shall be used for any purpose until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator. No change in a use, other than that of a permitted use to another similar permitted use, shall be made until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Zoning Administrator. Every occupancy permit shall state that the use or occupancy complies with the provisions of this chapter.
(1) Application for occupancy permit. Every application for a building permit shall be deemed to be an application for an occupancy permit. Every application for an occupancy permit for a new use of land where no building permit is required shall be made directly to the Zoning Administrator.
(2) Every application for a permit shall be accompanied by plans in duplicate and plot plan drawn to scale in ink or blueprint, showing the actual shape and dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the exact location, size, and height of the building or structure to be erected or altered, the existing and intended use of each building or part, the proposed number of families or housekeeping units, and such other information with regard to the lot and neighboring lots as may be necessary for the enforcement of this chapter. One copy of such plans shall be signed and returned to the applicant when approved by the Zoning Administrator together with such permit as may be granted.
(3) Prior to building construction, lot pins based on actual survey shall be set and if disturbed by construction or grading shall be reset in proper location.
(C) Issuance of occupancy permit. No occupancy permit for a building, or portion thereof, constructed after the effective date of this chapter, shall be issued until construction has been completed and the premises inspected and certified by the Zoning Administrator to be in conformity with the plans and specifications on which the zoning certificate was based. Pending the issuance of a regular certificate, a temporary certificate may be issued to be valid for a period not to exceed six months from its date during the completion of any addition or during partial occupancy of the premises. Reasons in writing for refusal to issue an occupancy permit must be forwarded to the applicant no later than 14 days after the request for an occupancy permit.
Statutory reference:
Issuance of occupancy permits, see IC 36-7-4-801 and 36-7-4-802