The provisions of this chapter shall be strictly enforced by the Zoning Officer or other persons designated by the Commissioners of the Borough of Cape May Point.

It shall be his duty to examine all applications for zoning or occupancy permits for compliance with this chapter and to issue such zoning permits when the application complies with the regulations of this chapter or upon authorization of the Board of Adjustment or Planning Board.

He shall file and safely keep copies of all plans submitted, and the same shall form a part of the records of his office and shall be a public record available for inspection.

He shall submit quarterly reports to the Assessor, showing the owner, location and stated value of all proposed structures and/or additions for which he has issued permits.

He shall report to the Commissioners all items which are in violation of the terms and provisions of this chapter.

Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Establishment of Requirement for Zoning Permit.

Appointment of Zoning Officer and Duties. The Borough Commissioners shall designate, by resolution, a Zoning Officer, who shall be responsible for reviewing all applications for development and issuing zoning permits and inspecting structures and properties to determine compliance with all of the zoning ordinances of the Borough. If the Zoning Officer determines that an application for development does not comply with the zoning ordinances of the Borough, then he shall deny the application for a zoning permit and state his reasons therefor to the applicant. No zoning permit or building permit shall issue until the applicant demonstrates compliance with all of the zoning ordinances of the Borough or obtains a variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the Borough.

Contents of Application for Zoning Permit. The application for a zoning permit shall be on such forms as provided by the Zoning Officer. The application shall include the name and address of the owner of the real estate, the tax lot and block numbers of the real estate and the zone in which the real estate is located. The permit shall be accompanied by a set of architectural plans or, in the case of an accessory structure, a drawing to scale showing the structure or building to be constructed or used, including overhangs, porches, decks, bay windows, fireplaces, stairs and all other projections from the side walls of the building or structure. The application shall also be accompanied by a location survey prepared by a licensed surveyor, which shall show the proposed location of the building or structure on the lot, the location of all existing structures on the lot and the location of all structures or projections thereon on adjacent lots which are within 10 feet of any projection of the structure for which the application is being sought.

Issuance of Zoning Permit. All applications for a zoning permit shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer or to the Construction Code Official. The Zoning Officer shall review all applications for completeness. No application shall be acted upon until it is complete in accordance with paragraph d hereof. The time within which the application shall be approved or denied shall not begin until the application is complete. The Zoning Officer shall have 10 days within which he must notify the applicant that his application is incomplete and what is needed for the application to be made complete. Otherwise the application shall be deemed complete. The Zoning Officer shall communicate the contents of any denial to both the applicant and the Construction Code Official. The application for the zoning permit and the findings of the Zoning Officer shall remain in the office of the Construction Code Official and shall be a public record. Zoning permits are valid for a period of 360 days from the date of issuance and may contain conditions, including the demolition of existing structures on a property prior to commencement of construction. However, the Zoning Officer shall have discretion to grant such additional extensions as he sees fit which cumulatively shall not exceed an additional 360 day period.

Whenever an owner or group of owners own contiguous lots, no transfer of less than all of said contiguous lots or relocation of buildings shall be permitted without obtaining a permit from the Zoning Officer. Each applicant shall apply to the Zoning Officer with an accurate survey or plot plan, showing the dimensions of all lots involved and the location, including distances from all lines of all improvements situated thereon. Said permit shall only be issued in the situation where the transfer of the contiguous lots, a portion of those lots or the relocation creates no nonconformity with zoning ordinances of the Borough of Cape May Point either with reference to the lots transferred, the lots retained or the lots to which the building is relocated. In the event that a nonconformity should be disclosed during the course of the application to obtain the necessary permit, the property owner may seek relief by way of application to the appropriate Board.

After the effective date of this chapter, no building shall be occupied or used wholly or partly or changed in usage prior to issuance of an occupancy permit by the Construction Code Official, showing that the building complies with this chapter.

Endorsement on the building permit when requested by the owner of the premises or his authorized agent, for the permit of occupancy, shall be made by the Construction Code Official when he is satisfied all provisions of this chapter have been met.

A building shall be deemed ready for occupancy when the exterior has been finished in a permanent fashion according to the plans and specifications submitted to the Construction Code Official and when plumbing and sanitary facilities have been installed, connected and are operational.

Persons building all or part of their own structure or additions thereto for which a building permit has been issued may apply to the Board of Adjustment for a temporary occupancy permit pending completion of the structure. This temporary occupancy permit may be granted to the owner of the property only by the Board of Adjustment for an agreed period of time for the completion of certain exterior finish of the property or addition according to the approved plans as submitted, but shall not exceed 24 months from the date of the original building permit and shall be binding upon all parties, their heirs or assigns for the fulfillment of the completion of the structure according to the original approved plans and specifications.

Any person who shall violate this chapter or do any act or thing herein prohibited or refuse or fail to do any act or thing herein required to be done or refuse or fail to comply with an order of the Zoning Officer or an order of the Board of Adjustment shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to the penalty stated in Chapter 1, Section 1-5.

The Zoning Officer, Construction Code Official and any and all other aggrieved persons shall have the right of recourse to any and all remedies (whether by injunction, restraining order, mandamus or otherwise) which are or may hereafter be available by law.