The provisions of this Ordinance shall be administered and enforced by the county building inspector or other designated agent. This official shall have the right to enter upon any premises at any reasonable time prior to the issuance of certificate of occupancy for the purpose of making inspections of buildings or premises necessary in carrying out his duties in the enforcement of this Ordinance.

It shall be unlawful to commence the excavation for or the construction of any building or other structure or erect temporary field offices, or to commence the moving, alteration or repair (except necessary repairs, not affecting the external or party walls, chimneys, stairways or heights of building) of any structure until the building inspector or other designated agent has issued for such work a building permit including a statement that the plans, specifications and intended use of such structure in all respects conform with the provisions of this Ordinance. Application for a building permit shall be made to the building inspector or other designated agent on forms provided for that purpose.

It shall be unlawful for the building inspector or other designated agent, to approve any plans or issue a building permit for any excavation or construction until he has inspected such plans in detail and found them to be in conformity with this Ordinance. To this end, the building inspector or other designated agent shall require that every application for a building permit for excavation, construction, use of land, moving or alteration be accompanied by a plan or plat drawn to scale and showing the following insufficient detail to enable the building inspector or other designated agent to ascertain whether the proposed excavation, construction, use of land, moving or alteration is in conformance with this Ordinance, and applicable building codes:

1.

The actual shape, proportion and dimensions of the lot to be built upon.

2.

The existing and intended use of all such building or other structures.

3.

The shape, size, and location of all buildings or other structures to be erected, altered or moved and any building or other structures already on the lot.

4.

The setback and sidelines of buildings on adjoining lots and such other information concerning the lot or adjoining lots as may be essential for determining whether the provisions of this Ordinance are being observed.

If the proposed excavation, construction, moving, or alteration as set forth in the application, are in conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance and other related laws and ordinances, the building inspector or other estimated agent shall issue a building permit accordingly. If an application for a building permit is not approved, the building inspector or other designated agent shall state in writing on the application the cause of such disapproval. Issuance of a building permit shall, in no case, be construed as waiving any provision of this Ordinance.

No land or building or other structure or part thereof hereafter erected, moved or altered in its use shall be used until the building inspector or other designated agent has issued a certificate stating that such land or structure or part thereof is found to be in conformity with the provisions of this Ordinance.

Within three (3) days after the owner or his agent has notified the building inspector or other designated agent that a building or premises or part thereof, is ready for occupancy or use, it shall be the duty of the building inspector or other designated agent, to make a final inspection thereof, and to issue a certificate of occupancy if the building or premises or part thereof is found to conform with the provisions of this Ordinance, or is such certificate is refused, to state the refusal in writing with the cause.

Ordinance violations may be tried in the Magistrate Court upon citation issued by the building inspector or his designated agent.

Any person, firm, or corporation who violates any provision of the Zoning Ordinance of Unified Government of Georgetown-Quitman County, Georgia, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction in the magistrate court of this county, shall be fined an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisoned up to sixty (60) days, or both for each violation. Each day such violation continues shall constitute s separate offense and shall subject such person, firm, or corporation to a fine or incarceration specified by this Article for each such offense.

Each citation shall state the time and place at which the accused violator is to appear for trial, shall identify the violation with which the accused is charged, shall have an identifying number by which it shall be filed with the court, shall indicated the identity of the accused and the date of service, and shall be signed by the building inspector or other designated agent who shall complete and serve the citation.

Prosecutions for violations of this Ordinance in accordance with this Article shall be commenced by the completion, signing and service of the citation by the building inspector or other designated agent either of who is authorized by this Ordinance to issue citation. The original of the citation shall be personally served upon the accused, and a copy shall be promptly filed with the Magistrate Court. No person shall be arrested prior to the time of trial for violations under this section, but any person who fails to appear at trial shall be arrested thereafter on a warrant of the court and required to post a bond for his future appearance.

In case any building or other structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained, or any building, structure or land is used in violation of this Ordinance, the county building inspector, the designated agent, or any other appropriate authority or any adjacent or neighboring property owner who would be specifically damaged by such violation, in addition to other remedies, may institute injunction, mandamus, or other appropriate action or proceeding to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use, to correct or abate such violation or to prevent occupancy of such building, structure or land.