Duties of the Code Enforcement Officer.

Appeal. Any appeal from a decision or action of the Code Enforcement Officer shall be made directly by a party of interest to the Zoning Hearing Board, and such appeal shall be made within 30 days after the permit is issued or denied by the Code Enforcement Officer.

Complaints regarding violations. Whenever a violation of this chapter is alleged to have occurred, any person may file a written and signed complaint. Such complaint shall state fully the causes and basis thereof, and shall be filed with the Code Enforcement Officer. He shall record promptly such complaint and immediately investigate and take action thereon as provided by this chapter.

Notification of violation. If the Code Enforcement Officer shall find that any of the provisions of this chapter are being violated, he shall notify, in writing, the person responsible for such violation, indicating the nature of the violation, and order the action necessary to correct it or, where the violation threatens the public health, safety or general welfare, issue an immediate stop order.

Conditions for grant of permits. No permit of any kind as provided for in this chapter shall be granted by the Code Enforcement Officer for any purpose except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter or a decision of the Zoning Hearing Board or courts of competent jurisdiction.

Enforcement remedies. In case any building, structure, or land is or is proposed to be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted, maintained, or used in violation of this chapter, the Borough Council or, with the approval of the Borough Council, the Code Enforcement Officer, in addition to other remedies, may institute, in the name of the Borough, any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate such building, structure, or land or to prevent, in or about such premises, any act, conduct, business or use constituting a violation.

Requirements of permits. A permit shall be required prior to the erection or alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof, including signs, prior to the use or change in use of a building or land and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use.

Application for permits. Applications for permits shall be made to the Code Enforcement Officer on such forms as may be furnished by the Borough. Each application shall contain all information necessary to ascertain whether the proposed erection, alteration, use or change in use complies with the provisions of this chapter.

No building or use permit shall be issued until the proposed building or alteration and the proposed use of the property complies with all the provisions of this chapter.

Expiration of permits. Permits for the erection, razing, change, alteration, or removal of a building shall be valid or effective for a period of six months from the date of issuance thereof and shall thereafter be void, unless the work authorized by such permit shall have been substantially commenced within that period and continues with due diligence from that time forward. In no event shall a zoning permit be construed to authorize the development activities for more than a three-year period of time, after which time a new permit must be obtained. If, however, the applicant has been delayed in proceeding with the work for which the permit was granted for reasons beyond his or her control, and demonstrably not due to his or her own negligence, at the discretion of the Code Enforcement Officer, the permit may be renewed without additional cost to the applicant.

Certificate of occupancy.

Temporary permits. A temporary permit may be authorized by the Zoning Hearing Board as a special exception for a nonconforming structure or use which it deems necessary to promote the proper development of the community, provided that such nonconforming structure or use shall be completely removed upon expiration of the permit without cost to the Borough. Such a permit shall be issued for a specified period of time not more than two years.

Fees.

Penalties. For any and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, the owner, general agent or contractor of a building or premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist and the lessee or tenant of an entire building or the entire premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist and the owner, general agent, contractor, lessee or tenant of any part of a building or premises in which part such violation has been committed or shall exist and the general agent, architect, builder, contractor or any other person who knowingly commits, takes part in or assists in any such violation or who maintains any building or premises in which any such violation shall exist shall be liable, upon conviction thereof, to a fine or penalty not exceeding $500 for each and every offense. Wherever such persons shall have been officially notified by the Code Enforcement Officer or by service of a summons in a prosecution, or in any other official manner, that he is committing a violation of this chapter, each day's continuance of such violation after such notification shall constitute a separate offense punishable by a like fine or penalty. Such fines or penalties shall be collected as like fines or penalties are collected by the Borough.