The Zoning Officer shall administer and enforce the zoning provisions of this chapter and shall be responsible for issuing zoning permits. No zoning permit shall be issued unless the proposal complies with this chapter. A zoning permit shall be issued prior to the issuance of a construction permit by the Construction Official.

The duties of the Zoning Officer shall be:

No certificate of occupancy for a new use of an existing structure shall be issued unless there is an approved zoning permit. All changes in occupancy of an existing structure which do not involve residential uses shall require a zoning permit which shall certify that the use complies with zoning laws of the Township. Prior to the issuance of a zoning permit for a change in occupancy, the Construction Official shall issue a certificate of continued occupancy which certifies that the building, structure and premises conform with the Uniform Construction Code of the State of New Jersey.

Violations. Failure to secure the required zoning permit or building permit previous to the erection, construction, alteration or addition to a building shall be a violation of this chapter. Structures erected without a permit or not in conformity with this chapter shall be removed.

Whenever a violation of this chapter occurs, or is alleged to have occurred, any person may file a written and signed complaint. Such complaint stating fully the causes and basis thereof shall be filed with the Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer shall record promptly such complaint, immediately investigate and take action thereon as provided by this chapter.

If the Zoning Officer shall find that any of the provisions of this chapter are being violated, he shall notify, in writing, the person responsible for such violations, indicating the nature of the violation and order the action necessary to correct it.

Notice of violation. When written notice of a violation of any provision of this chapter has been served by the Zoning Officer on the owner, owner's agent, occupant, contractor or builder, such violation shall be discontinued and/or removed immediately.

Fines and penalties. Any person, firm or corporation violating any provisions of this chapter shall, for each violation upon conviction thereof, be subject the penalty set forth in § 1-8 of the Edgewater Park Township Code.

Requirements for zoning permits. A zoning permit shall be required prior to the erection or structural alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof and prior to the use or change in use of a building or land, and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use. A zoning permit shall be issued or denied within 10 days of the date of a complete submission, and the work shall be commenced within one year after the issuance of the permit as provided in this chapter; otherwise, the permit shall be void.

Application for permits. Application for permits, including temporary permits, shall be made in writing to the Zoning Officer on such forms as may be furnished by the Township. No permit shall be considered complete or permanently effective until the Zoning Officer has certified that the work meets all the requirements of applicable codes and ordinances.

Plot plans for building permits. All applications for building permits shall be accompanied by five copies of a true and accurate plot plan, and all applications for a zoning permit shall be accompanied by one such plot plan. All such plot plans shall be drawn to scale, showing the location and size of each building to be erected upon each lot, the actual dimension of each lot to be built upon and such other information as may be necessary to enable the Construction Official and Zoning Officer to determine whether the proposed structure and use of land will conform to the Uniform Construction Code and the provisions of this chapter. The Zoning Officer shall keep a record of all applications for zoning permits and a record of all permits issued with a notation of all special conditions involved. He shall also file and safely keep copies of all plans submitted and the same shall become a part of the records of his office for the use of the governing body and other officials of the Township. A plot plan shall not be required where the only changes to be made to a building are interior or where the only change in use of a building is the transfer of ownership by deed or lease conveyance.

Upon completion of the erection or alteration of any building or portion thereof authorized by any permit, and prior to occupancy or use, the holder of such permit shall notify the Zoning Officer of such completion. No permit shall be considered complete or permanently effective until the Zoning Officer has certified that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter and other applicable ordinances.

Expiration of permits. No permit for the erection, razing, change, alteration or removal of buildings shall be valid or effective after one year from the date of issuance thereof and shall thereafter be void, unless the work authorized by such permit shall have been substantially commenced within one year from the date of issuance and proceeded with due diligence. One six-month renewal of a valid permit that is about to expire shall be permitted without additional cost to the applicant. If, however, the applicant has been delayed in proceeding with the work for which the permit was granted by reason of any reasonable cause not due to his own negligence, the permit may be renewed without additional cost to the applicant.

Applications. Excavation for a foundation or erection, construction or structural alteration of any building or structural alteration of any building or structure, or part thereof, or temporary buildings or structures, for construction purposes, shall not be undertaken until a building permit therefor shall have been issued by the Construction Official and a zoning permit therefor issued by the Zoning Officer.

Certificate of occupancy required. No vacant land shall be occupied or used, and no building or structure hereafter erected, structurally altered or changed in use, except for agricultural uses, shall be used or changed in use, until a certificate of occupancy, or a temporary certificate of occupancy shall have been issued, which certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy must have upon it the signatures of the Construction Official and Zoning Officer.

Issuance of certificate. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued absent satisfaction of the following requirements, where applicable:

Inspection for zoning permit. No zoning permit required by this chapter shall be issued by the Zoning Officer until he shall have made such examination of the application and plot plan and such inspection of the property as are necessary to enable him to determine whether the proposed structure or use of land will conform to the provisions of this chapter.

Inspection of new foundations. The property owner shall notify the Zoning Officer when the foundations for new construction are complete. The Zoning Officer shall inspect the site to ensure proper sitting of the foundations with regard to approved plans and compliance with other applicable provisions of this chapter, and shall submit his findings and required remediation, if necessary, in writing to the owner within 10 days of said notification.

Inspection for certificate of occupancy. No certificate of occupancy required by this article shall be issued until the Construction Official and Zoning Officer have made such inspection as is necessary to determine whether the erection or alteration of the building or structure has been completed in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, or that the proposed use of occupancy of land will conform to the provisions of this chapter.

Inspection at request of property owner. It shall be the duty of the Construction Official and Zoning Officer, upon request of the owner, to make an inspection at any stage of the erection or alteration of a building or structure for the purpose of determining whether such erection or alteration is being made in conformity with the Uniform Construction Code and the provisions of this chapter, but the failure of the Construction Official or the Zoning Officer to make any such inspection shall not in any manner entitle such owner to a certificate of occupancy if such erection or alteration when completed does not conform to the Uniform Construction Code or the provisions of this chapter.