Appointment. The Board of Supervisors shall appoint a Zoning Officer pursuant to the provisions of Section 614 of Act 247, as amended, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.[1] The Zoning Officer shall be appointed, shall not hold elective office and shall have a working knowledge of zoning and subdivision procedures. The Zoning Officer shall be permitted, subject to approval by the Supervisors, to appoint a representative(s) to assist with the administration of the powers and duties assigned to the Zoning Officer in this chapter. Said appointed representative(s) shall have the power and authority to enforce this chapter in the same manner which the Zoning Officer has.

Powers and duties. The Zoning Officer shall administer 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 the requirements of this chapter. The Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to institute civil enforcement proceedings as a means of enforcement within the scope of his responsibilities. Within this power, the Zoning Officer shall have duties as follows:

Requirement of permits. A building and/or zoning permit shall be required prior to the erection, addition, or alteration of any building or portion thereof. In addition, permits for driveways, road occupancy, and occupancy prior to the use or change in use of a building or land, and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use shall be required. It shall be unlawful for any person to commence work for the erection or alteration of any building until a permit has been duly issued therefor.

Application for permits. All applications for permits shall be accompanied by plans in triplicate drawn to scale, showing the actual shape and dimensions of the lot to be built upon, the exact size and location of any buildings existing on the lot, the lines within which the proposed building or structure shall be erected or altered, the existing and intended use of each building or part of a building, the number of families or dwelling units the building is designed to accommodate and such information as may be necessary to determine compliance with this chapter and all other pertinent ordinances. All applications shall be on a form provided by Darlington Township and with accompanying plans and documents shall become a public record after the permit application is issued or denied.

Issuance of permits. No permit shall be issued until the Zoning Officer has certified that the proposed building, addition or alteration complies with all the provisions of this chapter, as well as with all the provisions of any existing or hereafter enacted Building Code, permit ordinance or zoning ordinance amendment. No permit shall be required where the construction proposed is less than 145 square feet, whether as an accessory structure to the principal structure or as the sole type of structure to be placed on a parcel or tract of land.

Temporary permits. A temporary permit may be issued by the Zoning Officer for a nonconforming structure or use which he deems necessary to promote the proper development of the community, including but not limited to temporary second dwellings, provided that such nonconforming structure or land and structure in combination, or use, shall be completely removed upon expiration of the permit without cost to the Township. Such permits shall be issued for a specified period of time not to exceed one year, and may be renewed annually for an aggregate period not exceeding three years. Application to the Zoning Hearing Board for review of said request shall be accompanied by a fee set by the Board of Supervisors.

Fees. Fees are to be paid in advance for building/zoning permits, conditional use applications, certificates of occupancy, special exception applications, variance applications, request for interpretations and zoning changes or amendments. Fees shall be set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

During construction. A record shall be made indicating the time and date of the inspection and the findings of the Zoning Officer that the construction conforms to plans submitted with the application for the building permit.

If the actual construction does not conform to the application, a written notice of a violation shall be issued by the Zoning Officer, and such construction shall be discontinued. Upon proper correction of the violation and receipt of written notice from the Zoning Officer, construction shall proceed.

At the completion of construction a record shall be made indicating the time and date of the inspection; the findings of the Township representative that the construction conforms to the approved plans; and the opinion of the agent in regard to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

A certificate of occupancy shall be a statement issued by the Zoning Officer setting forth either that a building, structure or parcel of land complies with the provisions of this chapter, or that a building or structure lawfully may be occupied for specified uses under the provisions of this chapter, or both.

No vacant land shall be occupied or used, and no structure or part of a structure hereafter erected, structurally altered or changed in use shall be occupied or used, until a certificate of occupancy is issued by the Zoning Officer or duly authorized representative of Darlington Township.