The position of Zoning Inspector is hereby created. The Inspector and such assistants as may be determined necessary, shall be appointed by the Mayor and shall receive such compensation as Council may provide. The Inspector shall keep records of all applications for zoning certificates and the action taken thereon.
Before constructing, locating, changing the use of or altering any buildings, including accessory buildings or changing the use of any premises, including fences, swimming pools and satellite receiving equipment, application shall be made to the Zoning Inspector's office for a preconstruction permit. The application shall indicate the exact location of the proposed construction, alteration or change of use and shall include a plot plan, plans and specifications showing proposed locations and dimensions, of the building and the proposed use, and shall include a fee as shall be established by Council to cover the cost of processing the application, all of which shall be included in the permanent record of applications.
Within ten days after receipt of the application for a preconstruction permit, the Zoning Inspector shall either issue a building permit if the proposed construction, alteration or change of use by the application is deemed in accordance with the Zoning Code and is accompanied by the proper building fee, as set by Council, or shall refuse to issue a building permit if the application does not comply with the requirements of the Building Code.
Should the Zoning Inspector issue a building permit, the preconstruction fee shall be deducted from the building permit fee.
Should the Zoning Inspector determine the proposed construction, alteration or change of use application is not in accordance with the Building Code and refuses to issue a building permit, the Zoning Inspector shall so inform the applicant in writing of his decision with the information that within twenty days from receipt of the decision by the Zoning Inspector, the applicant has the right to file a written appeal of the Zoning Inspector's decision with the Board of Zoning Appeals, which shall set a date to hear such appeal.
In the event of an emergency, including fire, windstorm, flood or other act destroying totally or partially a dwelling house, building or other structure, making it uninhabitable or unusable, the zoning regulations herein may be temporarily suspended insofar as they may apply, at the discretion of the Inspector, by permitting a temporary structure to be used in the place of the destroyed building while it is being repaired or replaced. Under such conditions the Inspector may permit the use of tents, trailers or building for a six-month period.
A building permit when obtained by an applicant shall not be transferred to another person or to another property and the fee paid therefor shall be nonrefundable.
A building permit shall expire at the end of three hundred sixty-five days from the date such permit is picked up by the applicant, and unless construction, location, change in use of or alteration of any building or premises is commenced within sixty days, a new application for another building permit must be made to the Inspector. For any renewal, reconstruction, enlargement or other change of any nonconforming use, the owner of the premises must make an application to the Inspector for a building permit.
It shall be the sole responsibility of the record owner of the real estate to secure any permit required in this Zoning Ordinance, regardless of any private contract, lease or agreement to the contrary. Enforcement of this Ordinance shall be against the record owner of the real estate.
(Ord. 2696-95. Passed 1-4-95.)