The Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to grant a certificate of zoning compliance and to make inspections of buildings, structures or lots, prior to the issuance of a building permit and/or certificate of occupancy.
(a) Applications. An application for a certificate of zoning compliance shall be made to the Zoning Administrator. Each application shall include a site plan as required in Section 3.4 and all information necessary to determine zoning compliance.
(b) Building Permits. All plans to be submitted to the Building Official for a building permit shall first be submitted for review and approval by the Zoning Administrator with respect to the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance. No building permit shall be issued unless a certificate of zoning compliance has been issued by the Zoning Administrator for the same.
(c) Certificate of Occupancy. In all cases in which a certificate of occupancy is required, but a building permit is not required, a certificate of occupancy shall not be issued unless a certificate of zoning compliance has been issued by the Zoning Administrator and is in effect.
(d) Non-Conforming Uses, Structures of Lots. A certificate of zoning compliance shall not be issued for any use, building, structure or lot, unless said use, building, structure or the lot upon which it is situated meets all the requirements of this Ordinance. A certificate of zoning compliance may be issued for an existing legal non-conforming use, building, structure or lot; however, in such cases, the certificate of zoning compliance shall clearly list all such non-conformities. A certificate of zoning compliance shall not be issued for any use, building, structure or lot if any illegal non-conformity exists thereon.
(e) Issuance of Certificate. The Zoning Administrator shall examine or cause to be examined all applications for a certificate of zoning compliance and amendments thereto within a reasonable time after filing. If the application or the plans do not conform to all requirements of this Ordinance, the Zoning Administrator shall reject such application in writing, stating the reasons therefore. If the application or plans do so conform, the Zoning Administrator shall issue a certificate of zoning compliance as soon as practical. The Zoning Administrator shall also stamp or endorse all sets of corrected and approved plans submitted with such application as "Approved."
(f) Duration. An application for a certificate of zoning compliance shall be deemed to have been abandoned six (6) months after the date of filing unless such application has been diligently pursued, a building permit has been issued, or a certificate of occupancy has been issued for a use not requiring a building permit. The Zoning Administrator may, for reasonable cause grant not more than two (2) extensions of time, for periods not exceeding ninety (90) days each. Any permit issued shall become invalid if the authorized work is suspended or abandoned for a period of six (6) months after time of commencing the work.
(g) Conditions of Certification. Issuance of a certificate of zoning compliance shall be subject to the following conditions:
(1) No permit shall be issued until the required fees have been paid.
(2) All work or use shall conform to the approved application and plans for which the permit has been issued and any approved amendments thereof.
(3) All work or use shall conform to the approved final site plan, if required.
(h) Inspection. Prior to the issuance of a certificate, an inspection shall be completed by the Zoning Administrator if deemed necessary to examine or cause to be examined all buildings, structures and lots for which the certificate of zoning compliance is to be granted.