To administer and enforce the provisions of 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.

To receive, review, and issue zoning certificates and zoning and occupancy permits in accordance with §§ 27-1403 and 27-1404 of this chapter.

To maintain a permanent file of all zoning certificates and zoning and occupancy permits and related applications.

To inspect buildings, structures, and uses of land to determine compliance with this chapter.

To make and maintain accurate and current records of legal nonconforming uses, buildings, structures, and lots.

To issue enforcement notices for violations of this chapter consistent with the requirements of § 27-1410 of this chapter.

To institute civil enforcement proceedings as a means of enforcement when acting within the scope of his employment.

Correct zoning classification.

Compatibility of existing land uses.

Compatibility of proposed land uses.

Legal status of a nonconforming use, structure or lot.

No use of land shall be made, no building or structure shall be constructed, reconstructed, altered, remodeled, enlarged, moved, occupied, or used, no existing use of a building, structure, or lot shall be changed, no nonconforming use shall be changed, enlarged, or extended, and no retaining wall shall be constructed, reconstructed, altered, or moved until a zoning and occupancy permit has been issued by the Zoning Officer.

Where a change in occupancy or use of any structure or lot in any zoning district, whether or not there is any construction, reconstruction, structural alteration, or movement of the structure, will generate, on the average, an additional 20 peak hour trips on any adjacent street, the applicant shall comply with the requirements of § 22-313 of the Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22] (related to traffic impact study), which is incorporated herein by reference, prior to the issuance of a zoning and occupancy permit.

Any permit issued in conflict with the provisions of this chapter shall be null and void.

Whenever the proposed activity, whether new construction or alteration of an existing use requires a building permit under the Construction Code [Chapter 5, Part 1], the application for the zoning and occupancy permit shall be made prior to or simultaneously with the application for the building permit. However, the building permit shall not be issued until the zoning and occupancy permit has been granted.

When no building permit is required, the application for the zoning and occupancy permit may be made at any time prior to the use or occupancy of the building, structure, or property.

Permit applications shall be submitted in writing on such forms or in such format as established by the Township. The Zoning Officer may request any information necessary to determine the application's compliance with this chapter and any other applicable ordinance or resolution of the Township.

The Zoning Officer shall not issue the zoning and occupancy permit unless the property complies with all provisions and requirements of this chapter, the Construction Code [Chapter 5, Part 1], the Property Maintenance Code [Chapter 5, Part 2], the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22], the Stormwater Management Ordinance [Chapter 23], and all other applicable Township, county, state and federal laws, ordinances, resolutions, and regulations, and until all other required approvals and permits have been obtained from applicable Township, county, state and federal agencies, including, but not limited to, a PennDOT highway occupancy permit. The applicant shall submit copies of all such required approvals and permits to the Zoning Officer.

Where approvals are not required by other Township agencies or governmental entities, the Zoning Officer shall review and approve or disapprove the application. However, the Zoning Officer may seek the advice and recommendations of the Planning Commission on any application.

Upon completion of the applied-for work, the applicant shall notify the Zoning Officer who shall examine the building, structure, and/or use of the property involved to determine compliance with any conditions of the zoning and occupancy permit, and with the provisions of this chapter and all other applicable Township ordinances, resolutions, and regulations.

As a precondition to the issuance of any zoning and occupancy permit, a property owner shall permit the Zoning Officer to inspect both the exterior and interior of the property, as deemed necessary by the Zoning Officer. Any failure or refusal to permit such inspection shall result in denial of any application for a zoning and occupancy permit.

The application fee and deposit in an amount set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.

A written narrative setting forth the following:

For applications requesting a Zoning Map change, the application shall contain a map(s) showing the subject property, surrounding lots and zoning districts within a 1/2-mile radius and a one-mile radius of the subject property.

Mailed by the Township at least 30 days prior to the public hearing by first class mail to the addresses to which real estate tax bills are sent for all real property located within the area being rezoned, as evidenced by tax records within the possession of the Township. A good faith effort and substantial compliance shall satisfy the requirements of this subsection. This subsection shall not apply to a comprehensive rezoning.

Conspicuously posted by the Township at points deemed sufficient by it along the tract to notify potentially interested citizens in accordance with the requirements of the MPC.

The impact of the proposal upon streets, sewer facilities, water supplies, schools, and other public service facilities.

If the proposal is for a residential use, the impact of the proposal upon regional housing needs and the effectiveness of the proposal in providing housing units of a type actually available to and affordable by classes of persons otherwise unlawfully excluded by the challenged provisions of this chapter or the Zoning Map.

The suitability of the lot's soils, slopes, woodlands, wetlands, floodplains, aquifers, natural resources, and other natural features for the intensity of the proposed use(s).

The impact of the proposed use on the lot's soils, slopes, woodlands, wetlands, floodplains, natural resources, and natural features, the degree to which these are protected or destroyed, the tolerance of the resources to development, and any adverse environmental impacts.

The impact of the proposal on the preservation of agriculture and other land uses which are essential to the public health, safety, and welfare.

Except where a different penalty is provided, any person, partnership, or corporation who or which has violated or permitted the violation of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Township, pay a judgment of not more than $500, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Township as a result thereof. No judgment shall commence or be imposed, levied, or be payable until the date of the determination of a violation by the magisterial district judge. If the defendant neither pays nor appeals the judgment in a timely manner, the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation unless the magisterial district judge, determining that there has been a violation, further determines that there was a good faith basis for the person, partnership, or corporation violating this chapter to have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one such violation until the 5th day following the date of the determination of a violation by the magisterial district judge, and thereafter each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. All judgments, costs and reasonable attorney fees collected for the violation of this chapter shall be paid over to the Township.

The Court of Common Pleas, upon petition, may grant an order of stay, upon cause shown, tolling the per diem fine pending a final adjudication of the violation and judgment.

Enforcement Notice. The requisite enforcement notice, initiating a civil enforcement proceeding, shall contain the following information, in addition to any other information required by the MPC: