The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by the Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Township Board in conformance with applicable state enabling legislation.
(A) Responsibility. The Township Board with recommendation of the Planning Commission shall employ a Zoning Administrator to act as its officer to effect proper and adequate administration of this chapter. The Township Board may designate the Building Inspector, Township Manager or other administrative officer as the Zoning Administrator. The term of employment, compensation and any other conditions of employment shall be established by the Township Board. For the purpose of this chapter, the Zoning Administrator shall have the power of a police officer.
(B) Duties of Zoning Administrator.
(1) All applications for permits or certificates shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator who may issue certificates of occupancy or sign permits when all applicable provisions of this chapter have been met. The Zoning Administrator shall be empowered to make inspections of buildings or premises to carry out his or her duties in the enforcement of this chapter.
(2) The Zoning Administrator shall record all nonconforming uses existing at the effective date of this chapter for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of § 156.035.
(3) Under no circumstances is the Zoning Administrator permitted to make changes in this chapter nor to vary the terms of this chapter in carrying out his or her duties.
(C) Sign permit. Prior to the construction, erection or structural alteration of a sign, a permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Administrator. Application shall be on a standard prepared form obtained from the Zoning Administrator.
(D) Certificate of occupancy. A certificate of occupancy shall be obtained from the Zoning Administrator for any of the following:
(1) Occupancy and use of vacant land (including parking lot construction) or of a building hereafter erected or structurally altered;
(2) Change in the use of land or building, except to another use which represents a continuation of a use under a previous certificate of occupancy; and
(3) Any change in use or enlargement of a non-nonconforming use or building.
(E) Application for certificate of occupancy.
(1) Application. In all cases where a building permit is required, written application for a certificate of occupancy shall be made coincident with the application for such building permit, and in all cases shall be made not less than ten days prior to the time when a new, changed or enlarged use of building, structure or premises is intended to begin.
(2) Information required. Application for certificate of occupancy shall be accompanied by a plat, in duplicate and drawn to scale, showing the exact dimension of the premises to which the certificate of occupancy is to apply; the lines of all lots or parcels under separate ownership contained therein; the width and alignment of all abutting streets, alleys, easement of access and public open spaces; the size, position and height of all buildings or structures erected or altered thereon; and such other information as may be deemed necessary by the Zoning Administrator for the proper enforcement of this chapter.
(3) Accessory building or structures. When erected at the same time as the principal building or structures on a lot shown on the application thereof, shall not require separate certificate of occupancy.
(4) Record of application. A record of all such application for certificate of occupancy shall be kept on file by the Zoning Administrator. Whenever the building, structure, premises and uses thereof as set forth on the application are in conformity with the provisions of this code and other applicable regulations.
(Prior Code, § 15.1601) (Ord. eff. 12-1-2019)