The Township Council shall appoint a Zoning Administrative Officer to enforce the provisions of this chapter. It shall be his duty to examine all applications for permits, issue permits only for construction and uses which are in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, record and file for public record all applications for permits with any accompanying plans and documents and make such reports as the Township Council may require. Permits for construction and uses which are a special exception or variance to requirements of this chapter shall be issued only upon order of the Board of Adjustment. Nothing herein contained shall require any change in plans or construction of a lawful use, a permit for which has been issued before the effective date of this chapter and which is completed within one year of the effective date of this chapter. For applications involving low- and moderate-income units as set forth in the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan of the Master Plan and applicable court orders, the Zoning Administrative Officer shall not take any action until a review and report is received from the Housing Officer.

A permit shall be required prior to the erection, structural alteration or alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof or prior to the making of any addition to any building or structure or portion thereof and prior to the use or change in use of a building or land and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use. Applications for permits shall be made, in writing, to the Zoning Administrative Officer on such forms as may be furnished by the Township. Such application shall contain all information necessary for the Zoning Administrative officer to ascertain whether the proposed erection, alteration, addition, use or change in use complies with the provisions of this chapter. In the case of uses or buildings which require approval of the New Jersey Department of Labor, copies of the application and plans furnished to such agency shall meet the terms of this section. For applications involving low- and moderate-income units as set forth in the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan of the Master Plan and applicable court orders, the Zoning Administrative Officer shall not take any action until a review and report is received from the Housing Officer.

Permits shall be granted or refused within 10 business days after the written application has been filed with the Zoning Administrator Officer. Proof of payment of all outstanding taxes and assessments shall be a requirement for the issuance of a zoning permit.

Upon the completion of the erection, location or alteration of any building or portion thereof for which a building permit shall have been issued by the Building Inspector, but prior to the use or occupancy of such building or alteration, the holder of the permit shall notify the Zoning Officer of the Township of Mount Laurel of such completion, whereupon the Zoning Officer shall inspect the premises and, upon ascertaining that the erection, location or alteration referred to in the building permit has been done in conformity with said permit and the terms and provisions of this chapter, statute or order of the Board of Adjustment, shall issue a certificate, in writing, to be designated certificate of occupancy or conformity, that said work has been inspected by him and approved as in conformity with all zoning requirements of the Township. Such certificate of occupancy or conformity may be endorsed by the Zoning Officer upon the original building permit. No person shall use or occupy any building hereafter erected or located on any lot or use or occupy any alteration of any building hereafter made, unless and until a certificate of occupancy or conformity shall have been duly issued as required by this chapter.[1]

The certificates of occupancy or conformity required by this chapter are in addition to and not in lieu of any and all other permits and certificates that are or may be required by law or by any government agency or by virtue of any other ordinance or ordinances of the Township of Mount Laurel or otherwise.

Fees for permits shall be paid in accordance with a fee schedule to be adopted by the Township Council, and all such fees shall be paid into the Township Treasury. Each applicant for an appeal, special exception or variance shall, at the time of making application, pay a fee, in accordance with the aforementioned fee schedule.

Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-8(e), no application fees or escrow review fees shall be charged on any development application, the primary purpose of which is to allow for improvements designed to promote accessibility for disabled person(s).