(A) Establishment. It shall be unlawful to use or occupy or permit the use or occupancy of any building or premises, or both, or part thereof, hereafter created, erected, changed, converted, or wholly or partially altered or enlarged in its use of structure until a zoning permit has been issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, stating that the proposed use of the building or land conforms to the requirements of this chapter.
(B) Application. An application for permit shall be submitted in the form as the Zoning Enforcement Officer shall require.
(C) Plans. Application for permits shall be accompanied by the drawings of the proposed work, drawn to scale, including the flood plains, sections, elevations, and structural details, as the enforcement office may require.
(D) Plot diagrams. There shall also be filed a plot diagram showing the lot in a form and size suitable for filing permanently within the permit record, drawn to scale, with all dimension figures, showing accurately by the size and exact location of all proposed new construction or in the case of demolition, of the construction as is to be demolished and of all existing buildings and structures that are to remain.
(E) Amendments. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the filing of amendments to an application or to a plan or other record, accompanying the same at any time before the completion of the use for which the permit was sought. The amendment, after approval, shall be filed with and be deemed a part of the original application.
(F) Action upon application.
(1) It shall be the duty of the enforcement officer, to examine applications for zoning permits, within a reasonable time after filing.
(2) If, after examination, he or she finds no objection to the same and it appears that the proposed use will be in compliance with the laws and ordinances applicable thereto, he or she shall approve the application and issue a permit for the proposed use as soon as practicable.
(3) If this examination reveals otherwise, he or she will reject the application, noting his or her findings in a report to be attached to the application and delivering a copy to the applicant.
(G) Conditions of permit.
(1) (a) All uses performed under a permit issued by the Enforcement Officer shall conform to the approved application and plans, and approved amendments thereof.
(b) The location of all new construction as shown on the approved plat diagram or an approved amendment therefor, shall be strictly adhered to.
(c) It shall be unlawful to reduce or diminish the area of a lot or plat of which a plat diagram has been filed and has been used as basis for a permit, unless a revised plat diagram showing the proposed change in conditions shall have been filed and approved, providing that this shall not apply when the lot is reduced by reason of a street opening or widening or other public improvement.
(d) If the work described in any zoning permit has not begun within 2 years from the date of issuance thereof, the permit shall expire, it shall be cancelled by the Zoning Enforcement Officer, and written notice thereof shall be given to the person or persons affected.
(2) If the work described in any zoning permit has not been substantially completed within 3 years of the date of issuance thereof, the permit shall expire and be cancelled by the zoning enforcement officer, and written notice thereof, shall be given to the person or persons affected together with notice that further work as described in the cancelled permit shall not proceed unless a new zoning permit has been obtained.
(H) Signature required. Every use permit issued by the Zoning Enforcement Officer under the provisions of this chapter shall have his or her signature affixed thereto.
(1981 Code, App. A) (Ord. 624, Art. XIV, § 5A, passed 2-25-1975; Am. Ord. 769, passed 1-26-1988) Penalty, see § 10.99