Bellmawr City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XXIII
Permits and Fees
§ 260-146 Actions requiring building permits.
A building permit shall be required prior to the erection, construction or alteration of any building or structure or any portion thereof, prior to the moving of a building into the Borough or from one place in the Borough to another, and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use.
§ 260-147 Application for permit.
Applications for permits, including temporary permits, shall be made in writing to the Construction Official on such forms as may be furnished by the Borough. Such applications shall include building and plot plans of a satisfactory nature, in duplicate, and shall contain all information necessary for such official to ascertain whether the proposed erection, alteration, use or change in use complies with the provisions of this chapter. No permit shall be considered complete or permanently effective until the Construction Official has certified that the work meets all the requirements of applicable codes and ordinances.
§ 260-148 Issuance or refusal of permit.
§ 260-149 Expiration of permit.
No permit for the erection, razing, change, alteration or removal of buildings shall be valid or effective after one year from the date of issuance thereof and shall thereafter be void, unless the work authorized by such permit shall have been substantially commenced within one year from the date of issuance and proceeded with due diligence. If, however, the applicant has been delayed in proceeding with the work for which the permit was granted by reason of any reasonable cause not due to his own negligence, the permit may be renewed without additional cost to the applicant.
§ 260-150 Certificates of occupancy.
[Amended 2-22-1990 by Ord. No. 1:3-90]
Upon completion of the erection or alteration of any building or portion thereof authorized by any construction permit and prior to occupancy or use, the holder of such permit shall notify the Construction Official of such completion. Upon receipt of the necessary documents from the subcode officials and the Zoning Officer, if applicable, the Construction Official shall execute the certificate of occupancy. No such building shall be occupied nor lot used until a certificate of occupancy has been issued, in accordance with this section. If such occupancy occurs, it shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
§ 260-151 Certificates of continued occupancy.
[Added 2-22-1990 by Ord. No. 1:3-90]
A.
Whenever there shall occur a change in occupancy in any residential building, including a change of occupancy in apartments, without a change of zoning use, a certificate of continued occupancy shall be required.
B.
Whenever the aforesaid change shall occur, the owner of said dwelling or premises shall notify the Construction Official at least 10 days prior to such change in occupancy and make the dwelling or premises available to the Construction Official or his designee for inspection to determine if said dwelling or premises is in compliance with the terms of all applicable statutes, ordinances and regulations. If the Construction Official determines that there is compliance, a new occupancy certificate shall be issued, provided that all applicable fees have been paid. If after inspection the Construction Official determines that said dwelling or premises is not in compliance, then no certificate of continued occupancy shall be issued until such compliance is achieved. Any occupancy by a new owner or tenant without said certificate having been issued shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
§ 260-152 Change of use certificates.
[Added 2-22-1990 by Ord. No. 1:3-90]
A.
Whenever there shall occur a change of use in any building, even if no variance is required and the change of use is from one permitted use to another permitted within a zone, a certificate of change of use is required. In such event, no certificate of continued occupancy (as set forth in § 260-151 above) shall be required. This provision in no way relieves an applicant from obtaining any other zoning interpretations, variances or authorizations which may be required.
B.
Whenever the aforesaid change of use shall occur, the owner of said dwelling or premises shall notify the Construction Official at least five days prior to such change in use and make the dwelling or premises available to the Construction Official or his designee for inspection to determine if said dwelling or premises is in compliance with the terms of all applicable statutes, ordinances and regulations. If the Construction Official determines that there is compliance, a change of use certificate shall be issued, provided that all applicable fees have been paid. If after inspection the Construction Official determines that said dwelling or premises is not in compliance, then no certificate of change of use shall be issued until such compliance is achieved. Any occupancy or use without said certificate having been issued shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
§ 260-153 Fees.
[Amended 2-22-1990 by Ord. No. 1:3-90]
A.
In addition to certain fees set forth in Chapter 170, Construction Codes, Uniform, of this Code, the Borough Council shall determine a schedule of fees, charges and expenses as well as a collection procedure for all permits and other matters pertaining to this chapter. Said schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Borough Construction Official.
B.
The Borough Council shall be empowered to reevaluate the fee schedule and make necessary changes to it.