Bridgeton City Zoning Code
SECTION 410
060 Permits and Certificates.
[Ord. No. 70-25 §6, 3-18-1970; Ord. No. 05-42 §1, 9-21-2005; Ord. No. 25-39, 12-17-2025]
A.
General. No application for a building permit or other permit or license or for a certificate of occupancy shall be approved by the Building Official, and no permit of license shall be issued by any other City department which would authorize the use or change in use of any land or building contrary to the provisions of this Chapter, or the erection, moving, alteration, enlargement or occupancy of any building designed or intended to be used for a purpose or in a manner contrary to the provisions of this Chapter. Any permit, zoning certificate or certificate of occupancy or other certificate issued in conflict with the provisions of this Chapter shall be null and void.
B.
Zoning Certificates. Except as hereinafter provided, no permit pertaining to the use of the land or buildings shall be issued by an officer, department or employee of this City unless the application for such permit has been examined by the office of the Zoning Administrator and has affixed to it a certificate of the office that the proposed building or structure and use thereof complies with all the provisions of this Chapter. However, with respect to the performance standards of this Chapter for manufacturing and other specified uses, the Zoning Administrator shall accept as proof of compliance with such standards the certificate of an architect or professional engineer licensed by the State of Missouri stating that the building or structure and proposed use thereof does conform with the said performance standards for the district in which it is located. Upon receipt of such certificate and if all other relevant requirements of this Chapter are met, the Zoning Administrator shall without further delay, approve and authorize the issuance of a zoning certificate, provided that within fifteen (15) days from the date of such approval, the Zoning Administrator shall examine said application and shall advise the architect or professional engineer in writing if the building, structure or use thereof does not in fact comply with the performance standards of this Chapter for the district in which it is or is to be located. Failure of the architect or professional engineer to show compliance within thirty (30) days of such notification shall be cause for revocation of the zoning certificate.
C.
Plats. Every application for a building permit shall be accompanied by:
1.
A plat of the piece or parcel of land, lot, lots, block or blocks, or parts or portions thereof, drawn to scale showing the actual dimensions and certified by a land surveyor or civil engineer licensed by the State of Missouri as a true copy of the piece or parcel, lot, lots, block or blocks, or portions thereof, according to the registered or recorded plat of such land.
2.
A plat drawn to scale in such form as may from time to time be prescribed by the Zoning Administrator, showing the ground area, height and bulk of the building or structure, the building lines in relation to lot lines, the use to be made of the building or structure or land, and such other information as may be required by the Zoning Administrator for the proper enforcement of this Chapter.
Each of the two (2) plats shall be attached to the application for a building permit when it is submitted for a zoning certificate and shall be retained by the Zoning Administrator as a public record. |
D.
Certificate Of Occupancy (New Construction Or Change In Use).
1.
Scope Of Permits.
a.
No buildings or additions thereto constructed after the effective date of this Chapter, and no addition to a previously existing building shall be occupied, and no land vacant on the effective date of this Chapter shall be used for any purpose until a Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) has been issued by the office of the Zoning Administrator. No change in use to the production, processing, or storage of materials or goods, and no change in use from the production, processing or storage of one (1) kind of materials or goods to another kind, shall be made until a Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) has been issued by the office of the Zoning Administrator. Every Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) shall state that the use or occupancy complies with all the provisions of this Chapter.
b.
Application For Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction Or Change In Use). Every application for a building permit shall be deemed to be an application for a Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use). Every application for a Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) for a new use of land, where no building permit is required, shall be made directly to the office of the Zoning Administrator.
c.
Issuance Of Certificate Of Occupancy (New Construction Or Change In Use). No Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) shall be issued until construction has been completed or the use has been established and has been inspected and certified by the office of the Zoning Administrator to be in compliance with all the provisions of this Chapter, provided that pending the issuance of a regular Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use), a temporary certificate may be issued as provided in Subsections (D)(1)(d) through (f) below. A Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) shall be issued or written notice shall be given to the applicant stating the reasons why a Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) cannot be issued no later than fourteen (14) days after the office of the Zoning Administrator is notified in writing that the building or premises is ready for occupancy.
d.
Application For Temporary Certificate. Every application for a temporary certificate shall be made in writing directly to the office of the Zoning Administrator.
e.
Issuance Of Temporary Certificate. A temporary certificate shall be issued, or a written notice shall be given to the applicant stating the reasons why a temporary certificate cannot be issued, no later than fourteen (14) days after the office of the Zoning Administrator receives such application. A temporary certificate may be issued only for a commercial building. A temporary certificate may not be issued for any building when, in the opinion of the City Engineer or his or her designee, there is a danger to public health, safety, or welfare. A temporary certificate must state those items that must be completed to obtain the regular certificate, and, in order for a regular certificate to be issued, such items must be completed and approved by the appropriate City Official prior to the expiration of the temporary certificate and issuance of the regular Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use). The duration of a temporary certificate may not exceed six (6) months after the date of its issuance. Occupancy of the building shall become void and illegal, and all occupants must immediately vacate the property upon the expiration of the temporary certificate, if a regular Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) is not issued and obtained prior to the expiration of the temporary certificate.
f.
Guarantee For Temporary Certificate. Whenever an applicant seeks a temporary certificate, the applicant shall deposit one (1) of the following types of security in a form acceptable to the City and in an amount equal to one hundred fifty percent (150%) of the estimated cost of completion of the remaining improvements:
(1)
Cash;
(2)
A certified check;
(3)
An irrevocable letter of credit from a bank located in the St. Louis metropolitan area and otherwise acceptable to the City; or
(4)
A surety bond forfeitable to the City from a surety company acceptable to the City. The estimate of such cost shall be solely at the discretion of the City Engineer. If the applicant fails to complete all required improvements prior to the expiration of the temporary certificate, the City shall have the right, but not the obligation, to enter the applicant's property and building to complete the improvements with the funds available.
2.
Certificate Of Occupancy (New Construction Or Change In Use) For Non-Conforming Uses. Certificates of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) for non-conforming uses lawfully existing on the effective date of this Chapter shall be issued by the Zoning Administrator, and the Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use) shall state that the use is a non-conforming use and does not conform with the provisions of this Chapter. The Zoning Administrator shall notify all occupants of property being used as non-conforming uses, and said occupants shall, within thirty (30) days of receipt of such notice, apply at the office of the Zoning Administrator for a Certificate of Occupancy (New Construction or Change in Use).