The duty of administering and enforcing the provisions of this ordinance is hereby conferred upon the city planner. His duties shall include receiving applications for zoning amendments and variances, keeping on file for public review the official zoning map, advising the planning commission on matters relating to the administration of the zoning ordinance, and other general requirements which are deemed necessary by the city to administer this ordinance. It shall also be the duty of all officers and employees of the city to assist the city planner by reporting to him new construction, reconstruction or new land uses, and apparent violations of this ordinance.

No building, sign, or other structures shall be erected, moved, added to, or structurally altered without a permit therefore, issued by the building inspector. No building or sign permit shall be issued by the building inspector except in conformity with the provisions of this ordinance, unless authorized by the planning commission and city council in the form of an administrative review, special exception, or variance as provided by this ordinance.

All applications for building permits for the construction of any building or for the alteration of any building where such alteration will cause an increase in the land coverage of such building, shall be accompanied by an acceptable drawing or plat in duplicate drawn to scale showing the lot plan, the location of the building on the lot as constructed or altered, accurate dimensions of the building and lot, the number of dwelling units each building is designed to accommodate, if any, the dimensions of any proposed parking lot and spaces, the locations and dimensions of points of access and egress from abutting public streets, and other information as may be necessary to enable the city planner to determine that the proposed structure and use of land will conform to the provisions of this ordinance. Such plat shall be in accord with, and accompanied by, a boundary line survey made by a qualified engineer or surveyor duly registered in Mississippi, if required by the planning commission or building inspector. The original copy of such applications and plats shall be kept in the office of the building inspector, and the duplicate copy shall be kept with the building permit at the building at all times during construction.

The building inspector shall issue an occupancy permit upon a determination that the building, sign or other structure as constructed, or the change in occupancy, as proposed, conforms in all respects to the zoning ordinance, the building code and other applicable regulations.

(a)

No buildings hereafter erected or structurally altered shall be used, occupied or changed in use, until an occupancy permit shall have been issued by the building inspector (or if he is not available, the city manager), stating that the building or proposed use of a building or premises complies with the provisions of these regulations.

(b)

An occupancy permit shall be required of all nonconforming uses. Application for an occupancy permit for nonconforming uses shall be filed with the building inspector within 12 months from the effective date of this ordinance. After said time, certificate shall be issued only when absolute proof is present to show that a nonconforming use existed prior to the enactment of the ordinance.

(c)

No permit for excavation for any building, except single-family dwellings, shall be issued before application has been made for an occupancy permit.

(d)

Occupancy permits shall be applied for coincident with the application for a building permit and shall be issued within ten days after the erection of structural alteration of such buildings shall have been completed in conformity with the provisions of these regulations. A record of all permits shall be kept on file in the office of the building inspector.

The building inspector is authorized to issue a temporary occupancy permit for temporary uses, as follows:

(a)

Religious meetings in a tent or other temporary structure in C-3, I-1 and I-2 districts, for a period not to exceed 60 days.

(b)

Open lot sale of Christmas trees in the C-3, I-1 and I-2 districts for a period not to exceed 45 days.

(c)

Contractor's office and equipment sheds, and trailer-offices in any district for a period of one year, provided that such office be placed on the property to which it is appurtenant.

(d)

All temporary occupancy permits may be renewed provided that it is determined that said use is clearly of a temporary nature, will cause no traffic congestion, and would not create a nuisance to surrounding uses.