Canton Township Washington County
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 26
PERMITS
§ 27-2601 Application for Zoning Permits, Building Permits or Certificate of Use and Occupancy.
[Ord. No. 4-2022, 6/9/2022]
The applicant shall be responsible to submit sufficient data with an application for a zoning permit, building permit, or certificate of use and occupancy to enable the Township to review said application for full compliance with the provisions of this and other applicable ordinances. The Township reserves the right to request the applicant to submit information certified by a professional engineer or registered surveyor licensed by the State of Pennsylvania, when it is deemed necessary for an accurate review of the application.
§ 27-2602 Permits.
[Ord. No. 4-2022, 6/9/2022]
1.
Building permit administration shall be governed by provisions of the currently adopted building code of the Township of Canton; provided, however, that no building permit shall be issued until the Zoning Officer has certified that the proposed building, structure, addition, or alteration thereto or any change of use complies with all of the provisions of this chapter and has issued a zoning permit. The issuance of a building permit does not indicate that a zoning permit can be issued, nor is it to be considered a license to begin work where a zoning permit is also required. The Zoning Officer shall deny a zoning permit, and any other permit authorized by this chapter, to any applicant to whom a permit may be denied pursuant to the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act, Act 90 of 2010, 53 Pa. C.S.A. § 6101 et seq.
2.
Zoning permit administration shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter.
A.
A zoning permit shall be required prior to:
(1)
A change in use of land or structure.
(2)
The placement, erection, alteration, improvement or construction of a structure, or portion thereof including, but not limited to fences. Except that a permit shall be required prior to construction or development that is located within the Floodplain Overlay, regardless of its cost.
(3)
The alteration or development of any improved or unimproved real estate.
(4)
The erection or alteration of any signs.
(5)
Any improvement or alteration to property subject to the provisions of the Floodplain Overlay of this chapter.
B.
No zoning permit shall be required for the following:
(1)
Ordinary repair to existing structures.
(2)
Sidewalks or walkways on grade.
(3)
Access drives.
(4)
Flagpoles for the display of official government flags of the United States and its political subdivision placed on one- and two-family dwelling properties.
(5)
Sidewalk or walkway steps when not connected to a building, porch, deck or other part of a building or structure.
(6)
Vegetation, including trees, landscaping and vegetative buffering.
(7)
Landscaping materials excluding patios, decks, or porches.
(8)
Decorative lawn ornaments and walls not exceeding 48 inches in height.
(9)
Children's play yards, trampolines, tree houses and swing sets placed on single-family detached, single-family semidetached, single-family attached and two-family detached dwellings and multifamily dwelling unit lots.
(10)
Handrails along sidewalk or walkway steps.
(11)
Parking spaces for single-family detached, single-family semidetached, single-family attached and two-family detached dwellings and multifamily dwelling units having less than four dwelling units per building.
(12)
Stormwater management facilities.
(13)
Traffic control devices, when located within public right-of-way or a governmental easement.
(14)
Utility structures not exceeding 84 inches in height, emergency call stations, and utility poles masts, or towers except that communications towers and recreational lighting poles shall require permitting.
(15)
Bus, tram and/or trolley ways and stops involving surface improvements only.
(16)
Railroad sidings.
(17)
Signs exempted are temporary, not to exceed 60 days.
C.
Applications for zoning permits shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer.
E.
In all instances in which the Zoning Officer expresses a reasonable doubt as to the ability of a proposed use or improvement, to meet all the above-described requirements, it will be incumbent upon the applicant to furnish adequate evidence in support of this application. If such evidence is not presented, the zoning permit will be denied.
F.
Application for a zoning permit shall be made by the owner or lessee of any building or structure, or the agent of either; provided, however, that if the application is made by a person other than the owner or lessee, it shall be accompanied by a notarized written authorization of the owner or the qualified person making an application, that the proposed work is authorized by this owner. The full names and addresses of the owner, lessee, applicant, and of the responsible officers, if the owner or lessee is a corporate body, shall be stated in the application.
G.
The Zoning Officer may call upon other Township staff and/or Township-appointed consultants in the review of submitted materials for applications.
H.
The Zoning Officer may revoke a zoning permit or approval issued under the provisions of this chapter in case of any false statement or misrepresentation of fact in the application or on the plans on which the zoning permit or approval was based or for any other cause set forth in this chapter.
I.
No permit shall be issued until the fee, in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of the Township Board of Supervisors, is paid to the Township of Canton. The payment of fees under this section shall not relieve the applicant or holder of said permit from payment of other fees that may be required by this chapter or by any other ordinances or law.
J.
Issuance of Zoning Permits. Upon receiving the application, the Zoning Officer shall examine the same within a reasonable time after filing. If the application or plans do not conform to the provisions of all pertinent local laws, the Zoning Officer shall reject such application in writing, stating the reasons therefore, and informing the applicant of his or her right to appeal the Zoning Officer's decision to the Township Hearing Board. If satisfied that the proposed work and/or use conforms to the provisions of this chapter and all laws and ordinances applicable thereto, and that the certificate of land use and occupancy as required herein has been applied for, the Zoning Officer shall grant or deny a permit application, in whole or in part, within 30 business days of the filing date.
K.
Reconsideration of Application. An applicant whose request for a permit has been denied by the Zoning Officer may make a later application for a zoning permit, provided all deficiencies which were the basis for the prior denial of the permit have been eliminated. The Zoning Officer shall not be required to conduct a new review of the application if this condition is not met. This shall require an additional application fee.
L.
Expiration of Permit. The zoning permit shall expire after one year from the date of issuance; provided, however, that the same may be extended every six months for a period not to exceed an additional two years, upon written request by the applicant which demonstrates good cause to the Zoning Officer. When a zoning permit is issued in conjunction with a building permit, the zoning permit shall remain valid so long as the building permit is valid. A permit may be valid for no more than five years from its issue date.
M.
Compliance With This Chapter. The zoning permit shall not be a license to proceed with the work and should not be construed as authority to violate, cancel, or set aside any of the provisions of this Chapter, except as stipulated by this Chapter. The issuance of a zoning permit does not indicate that a building permit can be issued nor is it to be considered a license to begin work where a building permit is also required.
N.
Compliance With Zoning Permit and Plot Plan. All improvements or uses shall conform to the approved application and plans for which the zoning permit has been issued as well as the approved plot plan any deviation is deemed a violation.
O.
Display of a Zoning Permit. All approved zoning permits shall be prominently displayed on the subject property during construction, renovation, reconstruction, repair, remodeling, or the conduct of other site improvements. Such permit displays shall occur within five days of permit issuance, or prior to the commencement of actual work on the site, whichever occurs first. Such permit display shall be continuous until the site receives its certificate of use and occupancy.
3.
Application For All Zoning Permits. An application shall be completed in its entirely. Additional information may be required.
§ 27-2603 Conditions of Permit.
[Ord. No. 4-2022, 6/9/2022]
All work or use shall conform to the approved application and plans for which the permit has been issued, as well as the approved plot plan.
§ 27-2604 Records.
[Ord. No. 4-2022, 6/9/2022]
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer to keep records of all applications received, all permits, and certificates of use and occupancy issued, reports of inspection and notices and orders issued. The Zoning Officer shall file and safely keep copies of all plans permitted, and the same shall form a part of the records of the Zoning Officer's office and shall be available for the use of the Township Board of Supervisors and other officials of the Township.
§ 27-2605 Certificate of Use and Occupancy.
[Ord. No. 4-2022, 6/9/2022]
When Certificate of Use and Occupancy is Required. It shall be unlawful to use or occupy any structure, building, or land or portion thereof hereinafter established until a certificate of use and occupancy for such structure, building, or land or portion thereof has been issued by the Township.