No land shall be occupied or used, and no residential, or non-residential structure or commercial building shall be occupied or used in whole or in part, for any purpose whatsoever, until the director of public works has issued a certificate of occupancy. The use, occupancy or tenancy of a building or part thereof, shall not be changed without a certificate of occupancy being issued by the director of public works.

Whenever any building is leased, sold or otherwise transferred, the building owner, agent or property manager shall be required to apply for a property inspection as set forth in Section PM 301 of the City of Jennings Property Maintenance Code. After any and all violations against the property have been corrected, the occupant shall file for, and be issued, a certificate of occupancy and, in the case of a commercial activity, a business license, prior to occupying the building. No certificate of occupancy or business license shall be issued prior to correction of any and all violations against the property. Temporary certificates of occupancy shall not be issued.

A certificate of occupancy shall remain in effect and not expire, provided that no change of occupancy occurs.

A record of all certificates of occupancy shall be kept on file in the office of the director of public works and copies shall be furnished on request to any person having a proprietary or tenancy interest in land or building affected by such certificate of occupancy.

No merchant or operating license shall be granted to any applicant nor shall any license be renewed until a certificate of occupancy has been issued to the applicant of such license.