(a) A certificate of occupancy shall be obtained from the Director of Public Service and Safety or his or her designee as described below in paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) except projects that will be issued a certificate of occupancy by the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Industrial Compliance.
(b) No vacant land shall be occupied or used, and no structure hereafter erected, structurally altered or changed in use shall be used or changed in use, until a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the Director of Public Service and Safety or his or her designee.
(c) A certificate of occupancy, either for the whole or part of a new building or for alteration of an existing building, shall be applied for coincident with the application for a building permit and shall be issued within five working days after the erection or alteration of such building or part thereof has been completed in conformity with the provision of the Zoning Code, the Building and Housing Code, the Subdivision Regulations and any other applicable law or ordinance.
(d) A certificate of occupancy for the use or occupancy of vacant land, for a change in the use of land or for a change in the use of an existing building shall be applied for and issued before any such land is occupied or used or before such land or building is changed in use. Such certificate shall be issued within five working days after application has been made therefor, provided that such proposed use is in conformity with the provisions of the Zoning Code.
(e) A certificate of occupancy shall be applied for through the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance per requirements of the Ohio Building Code for any change of use in any commercial structure that changes the use of what the building is currently approved. If no certificate of occupancy currently exists for a commercial structure, it may be required by the Director of Public Service and Safety or his or her designee to be obtained.
(f) Upon the completion of project for which a certificate of occupancy is issued by the Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Industrial Compliance, a copy of said certificate of occupancy shall be provided to the Director of Public Service and Safety or his or her designee.
(g) A record of all certificates of occupancy shall be filed with the Director or his or her designee with a copy for the Wapakoneta Fire Department.
(h) No fee shall be collected for a certificate of occupancy.
(Ord. 92-62. Passed 9-16-92; Ord. 2007-37. Passed 9-17-07; Ord. 2008-28. Passed 6-16-08.)