No use or structure shall be established, erected, nor land developed until a zoning permit has been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer, who shall issue such permits in accordance with regulations in this chapter. A building permit may also be required pursuant to the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

A zoning permit shall not be required for customary agricultural uses, or for structures for which a building permit is not required, except that a zoning permit shall be required prior to changing the principal use of a property. Such uses and structures shall comply with all other requirements herein.

Permitted use. A zoning permit for a permitted use may be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer on his own authority. The zoning permit may be issued in conjunction with, and administered using the same form as, a building permit.

Site plan approval. A zoning permit for a permitted use, other than a one- or two-family dwelling, farm use, or an accessory use associated with a single- or two-family dwelling or farm use, may be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer after site plan approval from the Planning Board, as more fully described in Article X.

Special permit uses. A zoning permit for a special permit use may be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer after special use permit approval from the Town Planning Board and site plan approval from the Planning Board, as more fully described in Article IX.

Zoning permit after a request for variance. A zoning permit for a use or structure which requires a variance may be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer upon order of the Zoning Board of Appeals after a public hearing as more fully described in Article VIII.

Application. Application for a zoning permit shall be made with the Code Enforcement Officer on forms approved by the Town Board. Forms shall be made available at the offices of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Town Clerk.

Information.

Approval of water and sewage disposal systems. Evidence of approval of the water supply and the sewage disposal system plans by the Orleans County Health Department or its agent, or design plans signed by a licensed engineer, shall be submitted at the time of application. Applications lacking such information shall not be accepted.

Evidence of property ownership or intent to purchase. Copies of deeds, titles, purchase agreements, or other proof of ownership or intent to purchase shall be attached to an application before it will be accepted.

Licenses. Any use currently licensed by federal, state, county or Town agencies and already operating within the Town shall present evidence of currently valid licenses before any expansion permits are considered.

Fee. The appropriate nonrefundable fee established by the Town Board in its fee schedule shall be collected at the time of application. This fee schedule shall be filed and posted at the office of the Town Clerk.

Permits issued pursuant to this article shall expire in 12 months unless the project is completed.

The Code Enforcement Officer may grant an extension for time of completion and include any conditions or requirements deemed necessary or desirable. Applicants shall justify the need for the proposed extension. Unless such an extension is requested and approved, further work as described in the canceled permit shall not proceed until a new permit has been obtained.

If a project is not initiated within six months of the issuance of the permit, the permit issued shall be considered null and void, and a new application shall be required in order to obtain a new permit.

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 compliance shall have been issued therefor by the Code Enforcement Officer stating that the proposed use of the building or land conforms to the requirements of this chapter. A certificate of compliance shall not be granted unless a certificate of occupancy has been issued pursuant to the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.

Failure to obtain a certificate of compliance shall be a violation of this chapter and punishable as provided by Article VIII.

Within seven days after the completion of the change in use of a building or parcel of land, the applicant shall so notify the Code Enforcement Officer stating that such action has been completed. Within 15 days of the receipt of this letter, the Code Enforcement Officer shall conduct a final inspection of the premises to determine whether the new use complies with the requirements of this chapter. If the Code Enforcement Officer determines that said building or use complies with the provisions herein, he shall issue a certificate of compliance. If it is determined that the provisions specified herein are not fully complied with, the Code Enforcement Officer shall specify the violations and the terms and conditions for remedying these violations. A certificate of compliance shall not be issued until such violations are corrected.

No nonconforming building or use shall be maintained, renewed, changed or extended without a certificate of compliance having first been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer. The certificate of compliance shall state specifically wherein the nonconforming use differs from the provisions of this chapter.

The certificate of compliance may be issued at the same time, and may be administered using the same form, as the certificate of occupancy issued pursuant to the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.