The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer. The Code Enforcement Official shall enforce resolutions of the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board.

It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer to keep a record of all applications for permits, together with a record of all permits issued. He or she shall file and safely keep copies of all plats submitted and shall have them available for the use of the officials of the Borough of Closter.

The Zoning Officer shall not issue a permit for the construction or use of any building or property unless there first is filed with him or her a copy of the plans and specifications for the construction or alteration, together with a plot plan drawn to scale showing the location of all present and proposed buildings on the same. In addition thereto, he or she shall require a complete statement of the use for which any present or proposed buildings or premises are to be occupied. No such permit shall be issued unless the construction or use shall also conform to the requirements of this or all other ordinances of the Borough of Closter.

All requests for building permits shall be made in writing, on forms supplied by the Construction Official, by the owner or his or her authorized representative.

All building permits granted by the Construction Official shall be valid for a period of six months from the date of issuance, and all such permits shall bear the date of issuance. If no construction or alteration has commenced within said six-month period after issuance, the applicant may not commence any construction or alteration thereafter unless he or she has applied for and obtained an extension of said building permit for an additional six-month period prior to the expiration thereof. The Construction Official is authorized to extend any building permit for an additional six-month period, making a total period of one year. If no construction or alteration has commenced one year from the date of issuance of the original building permit, no construction or alteration may commence thereafter under said building permit. The applicant thereafter shall be required to obtain a new building permit in compliance with this chapter and all other ordinances of the Borough of Closter at said time.

No building hereinafter erected or altered shall be occupied or used, in whole or in part, for any use whatsoever, and no property shall be used and no change of use shall hereafter be made of any building or part thereof or any premises used until a certificate of zoning approval has been issued by the Zoning Officer indicating that the building complies with the provisions of this chapter.

When any structure or building or premises have been used or occupied for a use which constituted a nonconforming use and such use is discontinued or such occupancy ceases, then no person shall thereafter occupy or use said structure or building or premises for any use whatsoever until a certificate of zoning approval has been issued by the Zoning Officer indicating that the proposed occupancy or use is authorized and complies with the requirements of this chapter.

Existing buildings. Upon request from an owner of an existing building or structure, the Zoning Officer shall issue a certificate of continued zoning approval, provided that there are no violations of law or orders of the Zoning Officer pending and it is established after inspection and investigation that the alleged use of the building or structure has heretofore existed. The certificate of continued zoning approval shall evidence only that a general inspection of the visible parts of the building has been made and that there are no apparent violations of the regulations. Nothing in this provision shall prevent the continued use and occupancy of any such lawfully existing building or structure.

Application for such certificate of zoning approval shall be made upon forms to be obtained from the Zoning Officer, which application form shall include an endorsement of approval, where necessary as hereinafter specified, for the issuance of such certificate of zoning approval by each of the following:

Upon presentation of such application, properly endorsed to the Zoning Officer, the issuance of such certificate of zoning approval shall be granted or denied within 10 days from the date of the application therefor.