search icon

Jackson Township Lebanon County
City Zoning Code

PART 17

ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

§ 27-1701 Appointment and Powers of Zoning Officer.

[Ord. 8, 4/3/1972, § 17.1; as amended by Ord. 6/4/1984, 6/4/1984, § 18.01; by Ord. 1-1991, 8/5/1991]
1. 
For the administration of this Chapter, a Zoning Officer, who shall not hold any elective office in the Township, shall be appointed.
2. 
The Zoning Officer shall meet the qualifications established by the Township and shall be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Township a working knowledge of municipal zoning.
3. 
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 this Chapter.
4. 
The Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to institute civil enforcement proceedings as a means of enforcement when acting within the scope of his employment.
5. 
The Zoning Administrator shall administer this Chapter in accordance with its literal terms and he shall not have the power to permit any construction, use or change of use which does no conform to this Chapter.
6. 
If the administrative official shall find that any of the provisions of this Chapter 27 are being violated, he shall notify in writing the person responsible for such violations, indicating the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct it. He shall order discontinuance of illegal use of land, buildings, or structures; removal of illegal buildings or structures; or of illegal additions, alterations, or structural changes; discontinuance of any illegal work being done; or shall take any other action authorized by this Chapter 27 to insure compliance with or to prevent violation of its provisions.

§ 27-1702 Building and Zoning Permits Required.

[Ord. 8, 4/3/1972, § 17.2; as amended by Ord. 7-1974, 12/2/1974, § III; by Ord. 6/4/1984, 6/4/1984, § 18.02]
No building or other structure shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted, removed, added to, used or the use therein changed unless and until a building and zoning permit is obtained from the Zoning Administrator. The permit requirements shall apply to all permanent, temporary, seasonal, part-time or movable buildings, structures, signs or uses, unless exempted elsewhere in this Chapter 27. No building and zoning permit shall be issued by the Zoning Administrator except in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter 27 unless he receives a written order from the Zoning Hearing Board in the form of an administrative review, special exception, or variance provided by this Chapter 27.

§ 27-1703 Application for Building and Zoning Permit.

[Ord. 8, 4/3/1972, § 17.3; as amended by Ord. 7-1974, 12/2/1974, § II; as amended by Ord. 6/4/1984, 6/4/1984, § 18.03]
Applications for a building and zoning permit shall be filed by the property owner, his authorized agent or an individual with a proprietary interest in the property, said individual to hereafter be known as the applicant. Applications shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator and contain the following:
A. 
Building and Zoning Permit Application Form. On a form supplied by the Zoning Administrator, the applicant shall provide information to describe the size, location and nature of the proposed building, structure or use. The applicant shall sign the application form to verify the accuracy of the information.
B. 
Plot Plan. All applications for a building and zoning permit shall be accompanied by a plot plan in accordance with the following:
(1) 
Three copies of the plot plan shall be submitted. In lieu thereof, an 8 1/2 inch by eleven inch plot plan is acceptable, provided it is suitable for photocopying.
(2) 
The plot plan shall show, where applicable, size, shape, and dimensions of the lot; size and location of all proposed buildings, additions or alterations; parking lots, parking spaces, driveways signs and other site improvements; and other information as may be necessary to determine conformance with this Chapter.
(3) 
Engineering, architectural or surveyor's plans may be required by the Zoning Administrator where necessary to accurately depict the proposed work on a property.
(4) 
The Zoning Administrator may waive the plot plan requirement where the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates that minimum standards are greatly exceeded.
C. 
Other Permit Prerequisites. At the time of the application, the applicant shall produce, where applicable, a valid sewage permit, road encroachment permit, Labor and Industry approval, subdivision approval or other approval preliminary to issuance of the building and zoning permit.
D. 
Application Fee. All applications for a building and zoning permit shall be accompanied by a fee in accordance with the current schedule of fees resolution adopted by the Township Supervisors.

§ 27-1704 Incomplete Applications.

[Ord. 8, 4/3/1972; as amended by Ord. 6/4/1984, 6/4/1984, § 18.04]
When an applicant fails to (1) complete and sign the building and zoning permit application form, (2) submit a plot plan, (3) pay the required application fee, (4) secure and produce other permit prerequisites, or (5) submit other information required by the Zoning Administrator, the application for a building and zoning permit shall be deemed incomplete. The Zoning Administrator may notify the applicant to request supplemental information to complete the application. Such notice shall prescribe a time period, not to exceed 30 days, for completion of the application by submission of the supplementary information. Failure to complete the application shall result in written disapproval, in accordance with § 1705 of this Chapter.

§ 27-1705 Issuance of a Building and Zoning Permit.

[Ord. 6/4/1984, 6/4/1984, § 18.05]
After an application has been determined to be complete, the Zoning Administrator shall take official action to approve or disapprove the permit application in accordance with the following:
A. 
Approval. When a completed application is found to conform with the provisions of this Chapter the Zoning Administrator, within 20 days of application completion, shall issue an approved Building and zoning permit. Issuance of the permit shall be accompanied by an approved plot plan, where applicable, and a placard for display on the premises during the construction or alteration period, building and zoning permits are nontransferable and are valid for work authorized therein only for the owner and property so designated.
B. 
Disapproval. When a completed application is found not to conform with the provisions of this Chapter the Zoning Administrator, within 20 days of application completion, shall disapprove the application for a Building and Zoning Permit. Plot plans submitted with the application shall also be disapproved. The disapproval shall be in writing, citing the deficiencies of the application. Appeals from a disapproval by the Zoning Administrator shall be taken in the manner set forth in Parts 18 through 20 of this Chapter 27.

§ 27-1706 Revocation of a Building and Zoning Permit.

[Ord. 6/4/1984, 6/4/1984, § 18.06]
Building and zoning permits issued on the basis of plans and applications approved by the Zoning Administrator authorize only the use, arrangement and construction set forth in such approved plans. A building and zoning Permit shall be revoked, in writing, by the Zoning Administrator for any of the following reasons:
A. 
When use, alteration or construction does not comply with or exceeds the scope of that authorized by the building and zoning permit.
B. 
When information pertinent to the application for a building and zoning permit has been falsified or misrepresented.
C. 
When other provisions of this Chapter are violated in conjunction with the use, alteration or construction authorized by the building and zoning permit.
D. 
When the original decision of the Zoning Administrator did not conform to the requirements of this Chapter.
Written revocation shall be provided to the applicant and shall indicate the reasons for such action. Additionally, the revocable offenses shall be deemed a violation of this Chapter and subject the violator to the penalties provided by Part 26 of this Chapter 27.

§ 27-1707 Expiration of a Building and Zoning Permit.

[Ord. 8, 4/3/1972, § 17.5; as amended by Ord. 6/4/1984, 6/4/1984, § 18.07 by Ord. 1-2005, 4/4/2005]
An approved building and zoning permit shall expire:
A. 
If the work described therein has not begun within six months from the date of issuance, unless a written extension has been granted by the Zoning Administrator in writing. The Zoning Administrator is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods of not more than 180 days each. The extensions shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.
B. 
If the work described therein has not been completed within two years from the date work commences, unless an extension has been granted in writing by the Zoning Administrator. The Zoning Administrator is authorized to grant, in writing, one or more extensions of time, for periods of not more than 180 days each. The extensions shall be requested in writing and justifiable cause demonstrated.

§ 27-1708 Certificate of Zoning Compliance.

[Ord. 8, 4/3/1972, § 17.4; as amended by Ord. 6/4/1984, 6/4/1984, § 18.08]
The Zoning Administrator shall maintain Certificate of Zoning Compliance forms which shall be utilized to record the following:
A. 
Nonconformities. Owners or occupants of nonconforming uses of land or structures and land in combination shall obtain a Certificate of Zoning Compliance to document wherein the use differs from the provisions of this Chapter. Authorization to renew, change, extend, enlarge or alter the nonconformity shall not be granted unless and until the specifics of the nonconformity are first recorded on a Certificate of Zoning Compliance and the change or alteration is found to comply with Part 13 of this Chapter. The Zoning Administrator may require written documentation to verify the characteristics of the use and the dates of establishment.
B. 
Approved Uses and Structures. Owners of occupants of uses or structures authorized by approved Building and Zoning Permits may request a Certificate of Zoning Compliance to verify that the use of construction completed is in compliance with the approved permit and the provisions of this Chapter 27. Similarly, owners or occupants of preexisting conforming uses or structures may request a Certificate of Zoning Compliance. Upon receipt of such a request, the Zoning Administrator shall inspect the premises and approve or disapprove a certificate of Zoning Compliance.
Nothing contained herein shall preclude the Zoning Administrator from conducting routine inspections and investigations to determine zoning compliance, nor shall it prevent him from responding to complaints on zoning violations. Furthermore, violations of the conditions, uses or construction approved within a Certificate of Zoning Compliance shall be a violation of this Chapter 27, punishable in accordance with Part 26 of this Chapter 27.
C. 
No permit for erection, alteration, moving, or repair of any building shall be issued until an application has been made for a certificate of zoning compliance, and the certificate shall be issued in conformity with the provisions of this Chapter 27 upon completion of the work.
D. 
A temporary certificate of zoning compliance may be issued by the administrative official for the period not exceeding six months during alterations or partial occupancy of a building pending its completion, provided that such temporary certificate may include such conditions and safeguards as will protect the safety of the occupants and public.
E. 
The administrative official shall maintain a record of all certificates of zoning compliance, and a copy shall be furnished upon request of any person.
F. 
Failure to obtain a certificate of zoning compliance shall be a violation of this Chapter 27 and punishable under Part 26 of this Chapter 27.