(A) Zoning permit required. No building or other structure shall be erected, moved, added to, structurally altered, nor shall any building, structure or land be established or changed in use without a permit therefor, issued by the Zoning Inspector. Zoning permits shall be issued only in conformity with the provisions of this chapter unless the Zoning Inspector receives a written order from the Planning and Zoning Board deciding on appeal, conditional use or variance, as provided in this chapter.
(B) Conditions under which a zoning permit is required. A zoning permit is required for any of the following:
(1) Construction or structural alteration of any building, including accessory buildings;
(2) Occupancy and use of vacant land;
(3) Change in use of an existing building or accessory building to a use not listed as a permitted use in the zoning district where the building is located; and
(4) Any change in the use of a nonconforming use.
(C) Application for zoning permit.
(1) The application for a zoning permit shall contain the following:
(a) Name, address and telephone number of the applicant;
(b) Legal description of property, as recorded in the County Recorder’s office;
(c) Existing and proposed uses;
(d) Zoning district in which property is located;
(e) Plans and/or drawings drawn to approximate scale, showing the dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon; and the dimensions and location of existing and/or proposed buildings or alterations;
(f) Height of proposed buildings or alterations;
(g) Number and dimensions of existing and proposed off-street parking or loading spaces, if applicable;
(h) In every case where the lot is not provided with public water supply and/or disposal of sanitary wastes by means of public sewers, the application shall be accompanied by an approval by the County Health Department of the proposed method of water supply and for disposal of sanitary wastes prior to approval by the Zoning Inspector; and
(i) Such other material as may be requested by the Zoning Inspector to determine conformance with, and provide for the enforcement of this chapter.
(2) Where complete and accurate information is not readily available from existing records, the Zoning Inspector may require the applicant to furnish a survey of the lot by a registered surveyor. In particular cases, the Zoning Inspector may reduce the submittal requirements for applications, when the scope and scale of the proposed action warrants.
(D) Approval of zoning permits.
(1) (a) Within 30 days after the receipt of an application for a zoning permit, such application shall be either approved or disapproved by the Zoning Inspector, in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) One copy of the application shall be returned to the applicant by the Zoning Inspector, after such copy is marked as either approved or disapproved and attested to same by the signature of the Zoning Inspector, or his or her designated agent on such copy.
1. In cases of approval, the Zoning Inspector shall issue a placard or notice, to be posted in a conspicuous place on the property in question, attesting to the fact that the use or alternation is in conformance with the provisions of this chapter.
2. Upon issuance of a certificate of zoning compliance, one copy of the zoning permit shall be forwarded to the County Auditor along with one copy of the application. All zoning permits shall, however, be conditional upon the commencement of work within one year.
(2) In the case of disapproval, the Zoning Inspector shall state on the returned plans the specific reasons for disapproval.
(E) Submission to the Director of the Department of Transportation. Before any zoning permit 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 the Department of Transportation, or any land within a radius of 500 feet from the point of intersection of said centerline with any public road or highway, the Zoning Inspector shall give notice, by registered or certified mail to the Director of the Department of Transportation. The Zoning Inspector shall not issue a zoning permit for 120 days from the date the notice is received by the Director of the Department of Transportation. If the Director of the Department of Transportation notifies the Zoning Inspector that he or she shall proceed to acquire the land needed, then the Zoning Inspector shall refuse to issue the zoning permit If the Director of the Department of Transportation notifies the Zoning Inspector that acquisition at this time is not in the public interest thereof agreed upon by the Director of the Department of Transportation and the property owner, the Zoning Inspector shall, if the application is in conformance with all provision of this chapter, issue the zoning permit in conformance with the provisions of division (D) above.
(F) Record of zoning permit. A record of all zoning permits shall be kept on file in the office of the Clerk of the village or his or her agent, and copies shall be furnished upon request to any persons having proprietary or tenancy interest in the building or land affected.
(G) Expiration of zoning permits. If the work described in any zoning permit has not begun within one year from the date of issuance thereof, or has not been completed within two and one-half years from the date of issuance thereof, said permit shall expire. It shall be revoked by the Zoning Inspector, and written notice thereof shall be given to the persons affected, together with notice that further work as described in the expired permit shall not proceed unless and until a new zoning permit has been obtained or extension granted by the Planning and Zoning Board.
(H) Certificate of zoning compliance.
(1) Certificate of zoning compliance required. 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 partly altered or enlarged in its use or structure until a certificate of zoning compliance shall have been issued therefor by the Zoning Inspector stating that the development activity, as completed, conforms to the requirements of this chapter.
(2) Approval of Health Department required. If the property in question is not served by public water and sewer, a certificate of zoning compliance shall not be issued by the Zoning Inspector until approval of the water and sewage disposal systems have been given by the County Health Department, or Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
(3) Compliance with building regulations. In those cases where the development activity requires compliance with the Building Code currently in effect, the certificate of zoning compliance shall not be issued until a certificate of occupancy has been issued.
(4) Record of certificate of zoning compliance. The Zoning Inspector shall maintain a record of all certificates of zoning compliance and a copy of any individual certificate shall be furnished upon request to occupant or his or her legally authorized representative.
(Ord. 97-5, passed 8-4-1997)