Lower Salford Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XIX
Administration
§ 164-126 Enforcement; Zoning Officer.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by a Zoning Officer with the aid of the Police Department and other municipal agencies. The presently appointed Zoning Officer shall continue in office until the next succeeding reorganization meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Thereafter, the Zoning Officer shall be appointed annually at the reorganization meeting of the Board of Supervisors and shall serve until the next succeeding reorganization meeting or until his successor is appointed. He shall receive such compensation as the governing body by resolution shall provide.
§ 164-127 Powers and duties of Zoning Officer.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer and he shall have power to:
(1)
Keep a record of all plans and applications for permits and all permits issued with notations as to special conditions attached thereto. All records shall be open for public inspection.
(2)
Review applications for zoning permits for erections or alterations of structures or changes of use, determine whether such construction or use is in accordance with the general requirements of this chapter, all other applicable ordinances and with the laws and regulations of the commonwealth. The Zoning Officer shall issue no permit unless it conforms with all applicable ordinances, statutes and regulations.
(3)
Conduct inspections and surveys to determine compliance or noncompliance with the terms of this chapter. In carrying out such surveys, the Zoning Officer or his representative may enter upon any land or building.
(4)
Make written orders requiring compliance with the provisions of this chapter to be served personally or by certified mail.
(5)
Maintain a map showing the current zoning classification of all land.
(6)
Participate in all proceedings before a Zoning Hearing Board, presenting facts and information to assist the Board in reaching a decision which shall be compatible with this chapter.
[Amended 8-4-1982 by Ord. No. 82-8]
(7)
Institute civil enforcement procedures when the provisions of the Township's ordinances are not being followed.
[Added 12-26-1990 by Ord. No. 90-11]
B.
The Zoning Officer shall issue no permit for the construction or use of any land or building unless it also conforms to the requirements of all other ordinances of Lower Salford Township and with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
§ 164-128 Building permit; use and occupancy permit.
A.
No structure shall be constructed, altered, added to in any way, relocated or demolished or the use of any structure changed or industrial or public water supply wells drilled, nor shall any unoccupied open areas of any lot be utilized, whether by patios, swimming pools or parking areas, other than for residences or other uses, until a building permit is secured from the Building Official.
B.
A use and occupancy permit shall be required prior to any of the following:
(1)
Each change in use of any commercial or industrial building or property where a building permit is not applicable.
(2)
Use of land or change in the occupancy use thereof, except that the placing of vacant land under cultivation shall not require a use and occupancy permit.
(3)
Change in use of any nonconforming use where a building permit is not applicable.
(4)
Each change of tenant or occupant of any commercial or industrial building even if the general type of use does not change.
[Added 4-22-1999 by Ord. No. 99-6]
C.
Permit expiration. Every permit issued under the authority of this chapter shall expire and become invalid if the authorized work or utilization of the property has not commenced within six months after issuance of the permit or if the authorized work or utilization of the property has been suspended or abandoned for a period of six months or more after the commencement of work or utilization of the property.
[Amended 10-22-1998 by Ord. No. 98-12]
D.
Upon completion of the work authorized by any permit, the applicant for the permit shall notify the Building Official of such completion. No permit shall be considered as complete or as permanently effective until the Building Official has noted on the permit that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
§ 164-129 Application for permit.
A.
All applications for zoning permits shall be made in writing by the owner or authorized agent and shall be filed with the Zoning Officer. The application shall:
(1)
Include a statement as to the proposed use of the structure or land:
(2)
Be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing the location of the structure in relation to property and road lines;
(3)
Include a statement that the side lines of all roads shown on the plan have been located and staked on the premises by a surveyor or other person competent to give such location; and
(4)
Give the name and address of the person who has so located and staked the road lines.
B.
If the applicant desires the Zoning Hearing Board to grant a special exception or variance, then, in addition, the application shall set forth the nature of the special exception or variance and shall state briefly the reasons why such special exception or variance should be granted.
[Amended 8-4-1982 by Ord. No. 82-8]
§ 164-130 Fees.
Each applicant for any permit required under this chapter or for any variance from or special exception to this chapter shall, at the time of making application, pay to the Zoning Officer for the use of the Township a fee or fees in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors or as such schedule may be amended from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
§ 164-131 Appeals.
An appeal from the decision of the Zoning Officer shall be taken within 30 days thereof.