An approved zoning permit is required before any construction permit shall be issued by the Construction Official for work that, once completed, requires a certificate of occupancy. A zoning permit shall not be required for work exempted from the requirement for a certificate of occupancy.

Application for a zoning permit shall be made to the Zoning Officer on the form provided. For every application, the Zoning Officer shall require two sealed plot plans prepared by a New Jersey licensed professional engineer or land surveyor, drawn to scale and showing the size and location of all existing and proposed buildings, structures and other facilities, as well as architect's plans, elevation drawings, and manufacturers specification sheets and installation instructions for any prefabricated or mechanical equipment, sufficient to enable the Zoning Officer to determine whether all Township land use requirements are met. The Zoning Officer may consult with any Township staff or professionals, County agency or State agency when reviewing an application for a zoning permit.

The Zoning Officer may waive the requirement for sealed plot plans for additions, alterations or accessory structures to existing single- or two-family dwellings or de minimis site improvements of nonresidential premises and accept a sketch prepared by the owner or applicant. Where there is any question as to the site, location or any other zoning or land use requirement, the Zoning Officer shall require sealed plot plans.

A simplified application form with reduced requirements for common situations, including but not limited to an application for a sign permit, shall be available from the Zoning Officer.

The Zoning Officer shall issue or deny the zoning permit within 10 business days after receipt of a complete application. Upon notice to applicant of the pending issuance of a zoning permit, the applicant shall remit the fee required by the Ordinance before the zoning permit will be issued.

After reviewing the application, the Zoning Officer shall issue the zoning permit if the work proposed in the application is in compliance with this Ordinance and any approvals from the Planning Board, the Zoning Board of Adjustment or any other approving authority. If an application for a zoning permit is denied, the Zoning Officer shall notify the applicant in writing stating the reason(s) for the denial, together with advice to seek relief for site plan or variance approval.

If a zoning permit is approved by the Zoning Officer and it shall appear at any time to the Zoning Officer that the application or accompanying plan(s): is in any material way false or misleading; that the work being done on the premises is materially different from that indicated in the application or may be in violation of any provision of this Ordinance; or that any conditions imposed by an approving authority are not being met within the time or in the manner required by the approving authority, then the Zoning Officer may forthwith revoke the zoning permit.

If a zoning permit is denied or revoked by the Zoning Officer, an applicant may do one of the following: