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Lake Crystal City Zoning Code

GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 156.01 TITLE.

   This chapter shall be known and may be cited and referred to as the “Lake Crystal Zoning Ordinance”; when referred to herein, it shall be known as “this chapter”.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008)

§ 156.02 PURPOSE AND INTENT.

   This chapter is enacted for the following purposes: to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants of the city by lessening congestion in the public rights-of-way, securing safety from fire, panic and other dangers; providing adequate light and air; preventing the overcrowding of land; avoiding undue concentration of population; facilitating the adequate provision of transportation, water, sewerage, schools, parks and other public requirements; conserving the value of properties; and encouraging the most appropriate use of land.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008)

§ 156.03 SCOPE AND INTERPRETATION.

   (A)   Scope. From and after the effective date of this chapter, the use of all land and every building or portion of a building erected, altered with respect to height and area, added to or relocated, and every use within a building or use accessory thereto in the city shall be in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. No lot shall be so reduced that the area of the lot or dimensions of the open spaces shall be smaller than herein prescribed. Any existing building or structure and any existing use of properties not in conformity with the regulations herein prescribed shall be regarded as nonconforming, but may be continued, extended or changed subject to the special regulations herein provided with respect to nonconforming properties or uses.
   (B)   Interpretation. In interpreting and applying the provisions of this chapter, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare. Where the provisions of this chapter impose greater restrictions than those of any statute, other ordinance or regulation, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. Where the provisions of any statute, other ordinance or regulation impose greater restrictions than this chapter, the provisions of the statute, other ordinance or regulation shall be controlling.
   (C)   Validity. If any portion of this chapter is deemed to be invalid or illegal, that the remaining portions of the ordinance would still be in effect. Specifically, the invalidation of one portion of the ordinance does not invalidate the entire ordinance.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008)

§ 156.04 RULES; LANGUAGE.

   (A)   Word usage. For the purpose of this chapter, words used in the present tense shall include the future; words in the singular shall include the plural, and the plural the singular; the word “building” shall include the word “structure”; the word “lot” shall include the word “plot”; and the word “shall” is mandatory and not discretionary.
   (B)   Permitted uses. Permitted uses of land or buildings, as hereinafter listed, shall be permitted in the districts indicated under the conditions specified; no building or land shall be devoted to any use other than a use permitted hereinafter in the zoning district in which the building, structure or land shall be located, except for the following exceptions:
      (1)   Uses lawfully established prior to the effective date of this chapter; and
      (2)   Conditional uses allowed in accordance with division (C) below.
   (C)   Conditional uses. Conditional uses of land or buildings, as hereinafter listed, may be allowed in the districts indicated, subject to the issuance of conditional use permits, in accordance with the provisions of § 156.64. Whenever a conditional use is named as a major category, it shall be deemed to include all and only those itemized uses listed.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008)

§ 156.05 DEFINITIONS.

   For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
   ACCESSORY BUILDING. A subordinate building or portion of the main building which is located on the same lot as the main building and the use of which is clearly incidental to the use of the main building.
   ALLEY. A public right-of-way which affords a secondary means of access to abutting property.
   BASEMENT. A portion of a building located partly underground, but having less than half of its floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining grounds.
   BOARDING HOUSE. Any dwelling other than a hotel or motel where meals or lodgings and meals for compensation are provided.
   BUILDING. Any structure for the shelter, support or enclosure of persons, animals, chattel or property of any kind, and when separated by party walls without openings, each portion of the buildings so separated shall be deemed a separate BUILDING.
   BUILDING HEIGHT. The vertical distance from the average of the highest and lowest point of that portion of the lot covered by the building to the highest point of the roof for flat roofs; to the deck line of mansard roofs; or to the tallest height for gable, hip and gambrel roofs.
   BUILDING-INTEGRATED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM. A solar energy system that is directly integrated into the building by replacing typical building materials.
   CELLAR. The portion of the building having more than half of the floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
   COMMUNITY SOLAR GARDEN. A solar-electric array that provides retail electric power (or a financial proxy for retail power) to multiple community members or businesses residing or located off-site from the location of the solar energy system, as defined by M.S. § 216B.1641, as it may be amended from time to time, or successor statute.
   CORNER LOT. A lot situated at the junction of and fronting on two or more streets.
   CURB LEVEL. The level of the established curb in front of the building measured at the center of the front. Where no CURB LEVEL has been established, the City Engineer shall establish the CURB LEVEL or its equivalent for the purpose of this chapter.
   DEPTH OF LOT. The mean horizontal distance between the mean front street and the mean rear lot line. The greater frontage of a corner lot is its depth, and its lesser frontage is its width.
   DEPTH OF REAR YARD. The mean horizontal distance between rear line of the building and the centerline of an alley, where an alley exists, otherwise a rear lot line. The building does include any open decks, patios or steps onto the main building.
   DISTRICT. A section of the city for which the regulations governing the height, area, use of buildings and premises are the same.
   DWELLING. Any building or part thereof which is designed or used exclusively for residential purposes by one or more human beings either permanently or transiently; a mobile home or house trailer shall be considered a dwelling. A building or portion thereof designed or used exclusively for residential occupancy, including one-family, two-family and multi-family dwelling units, and apartment buildings, but not including units used for occupancy in hotels or motels. May also be called a RESIDENCE or RESIDENTIAL BUILDING.
   DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY. A building designed for or occupied by more than two families. DWELLING, MULTI-FAMILY is residential building used for occupancy by three or more families living independently of each other and containing three or more dwelling units, but not including group, row, townhouses or dormitories.
   DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY. A building designed for or occupied exclusively by one family.
   DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY, ATTACHED (GROUP, ROW OR TOWNHOUSE). One of two or more residential dwellings joined to other dwellings by a common wall without openings and with individual entrances to each dwelling from the exterior. Each dwelling unit shall have principal access onto the ground floor and shall be occupied by not more than one family.
   DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY, DETACHED. A residential building containing not more than one dwelling unit and entirely surrounded by open space and yards located on the same lot.
   DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY. A building designed for or occupied by two families. DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY is a residential building containing not more than two dwelling units, but not including group, row or townhouses. May also be referred to as a DUPLEX.
   DWELLING UNIT. One or more rooms physically arranged so as to create an independent housekeeping unit for occupancy by one family. A DWELLING UNIT contains separate toilet, cooking and sleeping accommodations. DWELLING UNITS may be rented or owner-occupied. May also be called a RESIDENCE or ROOMING HOUSE DWELLING UNIT.
   FAMILY. Any number of individuals related either by marriage, blood, adoption or another legal unit as defined either by state or federal law.
   FARMING. The cultivation of the soil and all activities incident thereto.
   FLOOR AREA. The sum of the gross horizontal areas of the several floors of a building measured from the exterior walls including basements and attached accessory buildings.
   GARAGE, PRIVATE. A garage with a capacity of not more than four automobiles for storage only, which is erected as an accessory building.
   GARAGE, PUBLIC. Any premises except those described as a private or community garage, used for the storage or care of power-driven vehicles, or where any such vehicles are equipped for operation, repair or kept for remuneration, hire or sale.
   GLARE. The brightness of a light source, or reflected light, that causes eye discomfort, impairs visibility or creates a potentially hazardous situation for either pedestrians or motorists.
   GROUND-MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM. A solar energy system that is installed onto the ground directly or by means of brackets or poles.
   HOME OCCUPATION. Any occupation of a service character which is clearly secondary to the main use of the premises as a dwelling and does not change the character thereof.
   HOTEL. Any building or portion thereof where lodging is offered to transient guests for compensation and in which there are more than five sleeping rooms with limited cooking facilities in an individual room or apartment.
   JUNK YARD. Land or buildings where waste, discarded or salvaged materials are brought, sold, exchanged, stored, cleaned, packed, disassembled or handled, including, but not limited to, scrap metal, rags, paper, rubber products, glass products, lumber products and products from wrecking of automobiles, other vehicles accessory to any business or industrial use on the same lot.
   LODGING HOUSE. A building or premises where lodging is provided for compensation for three or more persons, but not exceeding 25 persons.
   LOT. One unit of a recorded plat or subdivision occupied or to be occupied by a building and its accessory buildings and including as a minimum such open spaces as are required under this chapter and having frontage on a public street.
   LOT AREA. The lot area is the land area within the lot lines.
   LOT, DOUBLE FRONTAGE. An interior lot having frontage on two streets.
   LOT, INTERIOR. A lot other than a corner lot.
   LOT LINES. The lines bounding a lot as defined herein. When a LOT LINE abuts a street, avenue, park or other public property except an alley, the line shall be known as a STREET LINE, and when a LOT LINE abuts an alley, it shall be known as an ALLEY LINE.
   LOT WIDTH. The width of a lot is the width measured at the building setback line.
   MOBILE HOME. Any vehicle required to have a certificate of title, but is used as a residence will be defined as a MOBILE OR MANUFACTURED HOME.
   MOTEL. A building or group of buildings used primarily for the temporary residence of motorists or travelers.
   NONCONFORMING USE. A use lawfully in existence at the effective date of this chapter and not conforming to the regulations for the district in which it is situated.
   ORNAMENTAL WIND DEVICES. Any device that rotates in a wind current, resulting in a pleasing effect for the viewer of the device that does not convert wind to energy.
   PERSONS. Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint stock association or body politic; includes any trustee, receiver, assignee or other similar representative thereof.
   PLOT. A tract other than one unit of a recorded plat or subdivision and occupied and used or intended to be occupied and used by a building and its accessory buildings and having a frontage upon a public street or upon a thoroughfare or upon a highway or upon a traveled or used road and including as a minimum such open spaces as required under this chapter.
   ROOF-MOUNTED SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM. A solar energy system mounted to a house or other building.
   SETBACK. The minimum horizontal distance between a building and the street line.
   SIGN. A name, identification, description, display, illustration or device which is affixed to or represented directly upon a building, structure or land in view of the general public, and which directs attention to a product, place, activity, person, institution or business.
   SIGN, BUSINESS. A sign, which directs attention to a business or profession or to a commodity, service or entertainment, sold or offered upon the premises where such a sign is located.
   SIGN, FLASHING. Any illuminated sign on which the illumination is not kept stationary or constant in intensity and color at all times when the sign in use.
   SIGN, ILLUMINATED. Any sign which has characters, letters, figures, designs or outlines illuminated by electric lights or luminous tubes as apart of the sign.
   SIGN, NAME PLATE. Any sign which states the name or address or both of the business or occupant of the lot where the sign is placed.
   SIGN, PYLON. A free-standing sign erected upon a single pylon or post, which is in excess of ten feet in height with a sign mounted on top thereof.
   SIGN, ROTATING. A sign which revolves or rotates on its axis by mechanical means.
   SIGN, SURFACE AREA OF. The entire area within a single, continuous perimeter enclosing the extreme limits of the actual sign surface. It does not include any structural elements outside the limits of the sign and not forming an integral part of the display. Only one side of a double-face or V-type sign structure shall be used in computing total surface area.
   SMALL WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM. A wind energy conversion system which has a name plate rated capacity of no greater than 40 kilowatts and is primarily intended to produce power for on-site consumption, as a supplement to utility power or in lieu of utility power.
   SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM. A set of devices whose primary purpose is to provide for the collection, storage and distribution of solar energy for space heating or cooling, electricity generation or water heating.
   SOLAR FARM. A commercial facility that converts sunlight into electricity for the principal purpose of wholesale sales of generated electricity.
   SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM. A system that includes a solar collector and a heat exchanger that heats or preheats water for building heating systems or other hot water needs of the building.
   STRUCTURE. Anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires location on the ground or attachment to something having a location on the ground.
   STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS. Any change in the supporting members of a building such as bearing walls, columns, beams or girders.
   STREET. A public right-of-way affording primary access by pedestrians and vehicles to abutting properties, whether designated as a street, highway, thoroughfare, parkway, throughway, road, avenue, boulevard, lane, place or however otherwise designated.
   USE. The purpose, for which land or premises or a building thereon is designated, arranged or intended or for which it is or may be occupied or maintained.
   USE, ACCESSORY. A use incidental or accessory to the principal use of a lot or a building and located on the same lot as the principal use.
   VARIANCE. A modification or variation of the provisions of this chapter as applied to a specific piece of property, except that modification in the allowable uses within a district shall not be considered a VARIANCE.
   WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM. Any device, such as a wind charger or wind turbine, which converts wind to a form of usable electric energy.
   YARD. Any space in the same lot with a building open and unobstructed from the ground to the sky.
   YARD, FRONT. A yard extending across the front of the lot between the inner side yard lines and lying between the front line of the lot and the nearest line of the building.
   YARD, REAR. An open space unoccupied except for accessory buildings on the same lot with a building between the rear lines of the building and the rear line of the lot, for the full width of the lot.
   YARD, SIDE. An open, unoccupied space on the same lot with a building between the building and the side line of the lot, and extending from the front lot line to the rear of the back yard.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008; Ord. 296, passed 3-7-2016)

§ 156.06 ADMINISTRATION, BUILDING PERMIT, CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY.

   (A)   Building Inspector. The office of the Building Inspector, along with the Zoning Administrator is hereby established for which the City Council may appoint the employee or employees of the city as it may deem proper. It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector and Zoning Administrator to enforce this chapter through the proper legal channels.
   (B)   Compliance with regulations.
      (1)   Hereafter, no person shall erect, alter, wreck or move any building or part thereof without first securing a building permit therefore.
      (2)   No building permit shall be required for an alteration costing an amount as set by the City Council from time to time if no structural alteration of the building is involved.
      (3)   A building permit shall be obtained before any construction or alteration takes place.
      (4)   For persons beginning and/or completing construction or alteration before a building permit has been obtained, the activity shall be treated as a violation of this chapter as stated in §156.09.
   (C)   Building permits.
      (1)   Application for a building permit shall be made to the Building Inspector on blank forms to be furnished by the city. Each application for a permit to construct or alter a building shall be accompanied by a plan drawn to scale showing the dimensions of the lot to be built upon and the size and location of the building and use and accessory buildings and uses to be erected or constructed. Applications for any kind of building permit shall contain other information as may be deemed necessary for the proper enforcement of this chapter or any other. The fee for a building permit shall be determined by the City Council. The Building Inspector shall issue the building permit only after determining that the building plans, together with the application, comply with the terms of this chapter.
      (2)   Building permits approved and/or issued shall expire 12 months from the approval date on the permit if construction has not begun or has not been completed.
   (D)   Certificate of occupancy.
      (1)   Application. Certificate of occupancy shall be obtained before:
         (a)   Any vacant land is hereafter occupied or used, except for agricultural purposes;
         (b)   Any commercial or industrial building hereafter erected or structurally altered is occupied or used; and
         (c)   The commercial or industrial use of any building or land is altered.
      (2)   Procedure.
         (a)   Application for a certificate of occupancy shall be made to the Building Inspector as part of the application for a building permit as required in division (C) above before any building or land shall be used or occupied. This certificate shall be issued within ten days after a written request for the same has been made to the Building Inspector, after the erection or alteration of the building or part thereof has been completed in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. Pending the issuance of such a certificate, the Building Inspector may issue a temporary certificate of occupancy for a period of not exceeding six months during the completion of the erection or alteration of the building. The temporary certificate shall not be construed as in any way altering the respective rights, duties or obligations of the owners or of the city relating to the use or occupancy of the premises or any other matter except under restrictions and provisions as will adequately ensure the safety of the occupants.
         (b)   Every certificate of occupancy shall state that the building or proposed use of a building or land complies with all provisions of law and of this chapter. A record of all certificates of occupancy shall be kept on file in the office of the Building Inspector and copies shall be furnished on request to any person having a proprietary or tenancy interest in the building or land affected. No fee shall be charged for a certificate of occupancy.
         (c)   No building permit for the erection or alteration of a building shall be issued before application has been made for a certificate of occupancy.
         (d)   A certificate of occupancy shall be issued for all lawful nonconforming uses of land or buildings created by adoption of this chapter, or in existence at the effective date of this chapter. Application for the certificate of occupancy for a nonconforming use shall be filed with the Building Inspector by the owner or lessee of the building or land occupied by the nonconforming use within one year of the effective date of this chapter. It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to issue a certificate of occupancy for a lawful nonconforming use. Failure to apply for the certificate of occupancy for a nonconforming use, or refusal of the Building Inspector to issue a certificate of occupancy for the nonconforming use shall be a prima facie evidence that the nonconforming use was either illegal or did not lawfully exist at the effective date of this chapter.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008)

§ 156.07 BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENT.

   (A)   Creation and membership. A Board of Zoning Adjustment is hereby established and vested with the administrative authority as is hereinafter provided. The Board shall consist of all members of the City Planning Commission; the City Attorney, and the Zoning Administrator shall serve as ex officio members without the right to vote on matters before the Board. The Zoning Administrator shall act as Secretary of the Board. The Board members shall be appointed by the Mayor and City Council. The Board shall serve without compensation. Its members shall be appointed for terms coinciding with their terms on the Planning Commission.
   (B)   Powers. The Board of Zoning Adjustment, subject to the approval and confirmation of the City Council in each case as hereinafter provided, shall have power to grant a variance adjustment in and exception to any of the provisions of this chapter to the extent of the following and no further:
      (1)   To vary or modify the strict application of the regulations or provisions contained in this chapter in cases in which there are practical difficulties or unnecessary hardships in the way of the strict application. No variance or modification of the uses permitted within a district shall be allowed; and
      (2)   To permit the extension of a district where the boundary line thereof divides a lot in one ownership at the time of the passage of this chapter, but the extension of any district shall not exceed 50 feet.
   (C)   Findings. The Board of Zoning Adjustment shall not recommend the granting of any variance or modification and the City Council shall not grant any variance or modification unless they find the following facts: the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the City Council shall have to find that there are special circumstances or conditions affecting the land to require the adjustment that is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of substantial property rights and that the application will not adversely affect the health or safety of persons residing or working in the area and will not be detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to the property or improvements in the area adjacent to the property of the applicant. If the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the City Council found that any application did not meet all three of these considerations, it would have no choice but to deny that motion.
   (D)   Appeals. Any person, firm or corporation objecting to the ruling of any official on the administering of the provisions of this chapter shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
   (E)   Procedure. Application for any adjustment permissible under the provisions of this section shall be made to the Zoning Administrator, in the form of a written application for a building permit or for a permit to use the property or premises as set forth in the application. An application for an adjustment shall be accompanied by payment of a fee in an amount as established by the City Council in addition to the regular building permit fee, it any. Upon receipt of any application, the officer shall set a time and place for a public hearing before the Board of Zoning Adjustment on the application. As least ten days before the date of the hearing, a notice of the hearing shall be published once in the official newspaper.
      (1)   After a public hearing has been held, the Board of Zoning Adjustment shall thereupon make its decision upon the application. If the application is denied, no further action shall be taken upon it; if the application is granted, the Board of Zoning Adjustment shall report its recommendations to the City Council within 15 days of the hearing at which the application was considered.
      (2)   In recommending any adjustment or variance under the provisions of this section, the Board of Zoning Adjustment shall designate such conditions in connection therewith as will, in its opinion, secure substantially the objectives of the regulation or provision to which the adjustment or variance is granted, as to light, air and the public health, safety, comfort, convenience and general welfare.
      (3)   No permit shall be issued under the provisions of this section unless and until a decision of the Board of Zoning Adjustment, as aforesaid, approving the same, is approved and confirmed by the City Council. In reporting its decision to the City Council, the Board of Zoning Adjustment shall report its findings with respect thereto and all facts in connection therewith, and shall specifically and fully set forth any adjustment or variance granted and the conditions designated. Upon receipt of the report, the City Council either shall by resolution approve and confirm the decision, with or without changes, whereupon the permit as applied for may be issued, or shall refuse to approve and confirm the decision. In all cases in which adjustments or variances are granted under the provisions of this section, the Board of Zoning Adjustment and the City Council shall require evidence and guarantees as it may deem necessary to insure compliance with the conditions designated in connection therewith.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008)

§ 156.08 AMENDMENT.

   (A)   Authority to amend. The City Council may amend, supplement or change the regulations, restrictions and boundaries in this chapter after the public hearing and other procedures are followed as set forth in this section.
   (B)   Initiation of amendments. Amendments to this chapter may be proposed by the City Council, or duly signed petitions may be presented to the City Administrator, requesting an amendment by the following:
      (1)   The City Planning Commission; and
      (2)   By one or more of the owner’s lessees, or occupants within the area proposed to be changed by the amendment.
   (C)   Informational requirements. All applications for changes in the boundaries of any zoning district which are initiated by the petition of the owner or owners or property, the zoning of which is proposed to be changed, shall be accompanied by a map or plat showing the lands proposed to be changed, proposed buildings and uses, and all lands within 200 feet of the boundaries of the property proposed to be rezoned, together with the names and addresses of the owners of the lands in such area as the same appear on the tax records of the county.
   (D)   Referral to the Planning Commission. Any proposal for the amendment of this zoning ordinance not originating from petition of the Planning Commission shall be referred to the Planning Commission for consideration and report before any final action is taken by City Council.
   (E)   Action by the Planning Commission. Before any amendment is adopted, the Planning Commission shall hold at least one public hearing thereon after a notice of the hearing has been published in the official newspaper at least ten days before the hearing. Following the hearing, the Planning Commission shall make a report of its findings and recommendations on the proposed amendment and shall file a copy with the City Council within 60 days after the hearing. If no recommendation is transmitted by the Planning Commission within 60 days after the hearing, the City Council may take action without awaiting the recommendation.
   (F)   Hearing and notice. A notice of the time, place and purpose of the hearing shall be published in the official newspaper of the municipality at least ten days prior to the day of the hearing. When an amendment involves changes in district boundaries affecting an area of five acres or less, a similar notice shall be mailed at least ten days before the day of the hearing to each owner of affected property and property situated wholly or partly within 350 feet of the property to which the amendment relates. For the purpose of giving mailed notice, the persons responsible for mailing the notice may use any appropriate records to determine the names and addresses of owners. A copy of the notice and a list of the owners and addresses to which the notice was sent shall be attested to by the responsible person all shall be made a part of the records of the proceedings. The failure to give mailed notice to individual property owners, or defects in the notice shall not invalidate the proceedings, provided a bona fide attempt to comply with this division (F) has been made.
   (G)   Action by the City Council. Upon receiving the report of the Planning Commission, the City Council may hold such public hearings, as it deems advisable. After the conclusion of the hearings, if any, the City Council may adopt the amendment or any part thereof in such form as it deems advisable. The amendment shall be effective only is a majority of all the members of the City Council concur in its passage.
   (H)   Zoning upon annexation. The following procedures shall apply for establishing zoning in areas annexed to the city.
      (1)   Interim zoning. Upon annexation, and until permanent zoning is adopted as provided below, each parcel of annexed land shall be automatically zoned to the R-1 Agriculture District.
      (2)   Permanent zoning. Within a reasonable time after annexation, permanent zoning shall be established for all annexed areas, according to the procedures set forth above in this section concerning Planning Commission review and recommendation, and hearing and final action by Council.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008)

§ 156.09 VIOLATIONS; ENFORCEMENT.

   (A)   Penalties for violations.
      (1)   Violation of the provisions of this chapter or failure to comply with any of its requirements shall constitute a misdemeanor.
      (2)   The owner or tenant of any building, structure, premises or part thereof, and any architect, builder, contractor, agent or other person who commits, participates in, assists in or maintains the violation may each be found guilty of a separate offense and suffer the penalties herein provided.
      (3)   Nothing herein contained shall prevent the city from taking other lawful action, such as an injunction or other civil relief, as is necessary to prevent or remedy any violation.
      (4)   Persons or contractors initiating any construction before a building permit is approved shall be charged twice the actual building permit fee.
   (B)   Enforcement. In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained, or any building, structure or land is used in violation of this chapter, the Zoning Administrator the Building Inspector and any police officer of the city, in addition to other remedies, may institute any proper action or proceedings in the name of the city and hereby shall have the powers of a police officer to prevent the occupancy of the building, structure or land or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about the premises.
(Ord. 266, passed 5- -2008)