Centre Hall City Zoning Code

The Borough Council shall appoint a Zoning Officer who shall meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. The Zoning Officer shall administer and enforce this Chapter in accordance with its literal terms, and shall not have the power to permit any construction or any use or change of use which does not conform to this Chapter. The duties of the Zoning Officer shall be as follows:

Fees. The Borough Council shall establish a schedule of fees and a collection procedure for all zoning matters provided for by this Chapter or the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Said schedule of fees shall be established by resolution of the Borough Council, and may be amended by resolution from time to time.

The schedule of fees shall be posted in the office of the Zoning Officer.

All such fees shall be payable to the Borough.

No request for a zoning permit or any other application provided for in this Chapter or the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code shall be considered complete nor considered filed until all fees have been paid in full.

No application or appeal shall be considered filed until the appropriate filing fee shall have been paid in full.

A zoning permit shall be required prior to the erection, extension or alteration of any structure or portion thereof (including driveways and sidewalks), except those listed in Part 2, § 27-206F, and prior to the use or change in use of a structure or land. No such zoning permit shall be required for normal maintenance activities and minor repairs which do not constitute an erection, extension or alteration as herein defined. No permit shall be granted by the Zoning Officer for any purpose except in compliance with the provisions of this Chapter or, upon appeal, in compliance with a decision of the Zoning Hearing Board or the courts.

Application for Zoning Permits. To apply for a zoning permit, the applicant shall submit an application for a zoning permit to the Zoning Officer along with all required fees. When required by this Part, site plans and other information shall accompany the application.

Review of Application. All applications for zoning permits shall be granted or denied by the Zoning Officer within 30 days from the date of receipt of the application and fees for such. The Zoning Officer shall notify the applicant in writing of all action taken on the application for a zoning permit within said 30 day period. If the application is denied, such notification shall specify the provisions of this Chapter with which such application does not comply. If, for any reason, the Zoning Officer fails to notify the applicant of all action taken in the manner and time limit set forth above, such application shall be considered approved as submitted.

Permit Expiration. A zoning permit shall be valid for a period of 24 months from the day of issuance, or until a certificate of occupancy is issued, whichever is first. A permit may be extended by the Zoning Officer upon proper application and payment of fees for a period not to exceed 18 months.

Site Plan. A site plan, as described below, shall accompany all applications for a zoning permit whenever such applications propose the following: (A) a proposed use or structure located in or within 100 feet of a floodplain as stipulated in Part 7, § 27-701; (B) a proposed use or structure on steep slopes as stipulated in Part 7, § 27-702; (C) a proposed use required to have a parking lot as stipulated in Part 7, § 27-708; (D) whenever development is proposed involving the location of two or more primary uses or structures on a single lot including, but not limited to, apartment complexes, shopping centers, and industrial parks; and (D) any proposed use or structure located in any Commercial or Industrial District except for single-family and two-family detached or single-family semidetached dwellings.

Submission and Content of the Site Plan. Three copies of the site plan shall be submitted to the Zoning Officer along with the application for a zoning permit. The site plan shall be drawn to a scale of one inch equals 50 feet or larger and contain the following written and graphic information unless an item is waived by the Zoning Officer because such is unnecessary to determine conformance with this Chapter.

Review Procedure. All applications for a zoning permit which include a site plan as herein required shall be reviewed in the same manner as stipulated in § 27-902.2, above, except that (A) upon receipt of the application, the Zoning Officer shall forward one copy of the site plan to the staff of the Centre County Planning Commission for review and comment, and (B) upon approval of the application, the Zoning Officer shall sign two copies of the site plan, return one copy to the applicant along with the requested zoning permit and retain the other copy for his files.

Within 15 days of an application for a certificate of occupancy, the Zoning Officer or his designated agent shall inspect the premises and determine if the action taken complies with the regulations of this Chapter. If it does, a certificate of occupancy shall be issued within the 15 day time limitation. The 15 day inspection period begins with the notification of the Zoning Officer by the applicant.

If the action fails to comply with the regulations of this Chapter, the Zoning Officer shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the denial of a certificate of occupancy and shall state the provisions of this Chapter with which the action does not comply. The applicant may correct the defects cited in the denial of the Zoning Officer for a certificate of occupancy. If, upon notification by the applicant and inspection of the premises, the Zoning Officer finds that the defects have been corrected and that no additional defects have been created, a certificate of occupancy shall be issued within two working days.

Failure of the Zoning Officer to properly grant or deny an occupancy permit in the manner and time period stipulated above shall constitute an approval of the application for a certificate of occupancy, and the premises may be occupied or otherwise used as stipulated in the zoning permit.

Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. A temporary certificate of occupancy may be issued in the manner prescribed above, pending (1) the completion of a structure or the fulfillment of requirements for a change in use to allow for partial occupancy and (2) the posting of a bond or certified check in an amount equal to the Zoning Officer's estimate of work remaining to be completed for a permanent certificate. The certificate shall be valid only until such time as the action for which the zoning permit was issued is complete, or for a period of six months after issuance, whichever is less.

Upon expiration of the temporary certificate of occupancy, the applicant shall apply for a permanent certificate of occupancy or, if the action remains incomplete, may apply for one additional temporary certificate of occupancy. If the action remains incomplete after all additional temporary certificates have expired, the Zoning Officer shall use the proceeds of the bond or certified check to complete the necessary work. Any costs incurred by the Borough over and above the amount of the bond or certified check shall be paid by the zoning permit holder prior to occupying the structure or otherwise using the land.

Complaints Regarding Violations. Whenever a violation of this Chapter occurs, or is alleged to have occurred, any person may file a complaint to the Zoning Officer stating fully the causes and basis thereof. The Zoning Officer shall record such complaint, investigate and take action thereon as provided by this Chapter.

Notice of Violation. If the Zoning Officer shall find that any provision of this Chapter has been violated, he shall initiate enforcement proceedings by sending an enforcement notice as provided for by § 616.1 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10616.1.

Penalties. Penalties and remedies for violations of this Chapter are stipulated in §§ 617 and 617.2 of Article VI of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, 53 P.S. §§ 10617 and 10617.2.