The Building Commissioner shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and exercise the powers and duties as provided in MGL c. 40A, § 7. The Building Commissioner, when refusing to act on a written complaint of a zoning violation, must give the reason, in writing, to the complainant within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the complaint.

All applications for permits shall be in writing and shall be accompanied by a plan, drawn to scale, showing the size and dimensions of the lot or lots to be built upon, the streets and other premises upon which it abuts and the size and location of the building to be erected or altered. The application shall set forth the use or uses proposed or intended and such other information as requested by the Building Commissioner.

No building or structure shall be erected or altered and no land, building or structure shall be used for a new, different, changed or enlarged use without a building permit therefor first having been obtained from the Building Commissioner, or, in case no building permit is required, unless a certificate of occupancy is issued by said Building Commissioner certifying that the use proposed is in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.

The Building Commissioner, in conjunction with the Planning Board or its designee(s), shall enforce the site plan and design review process as outlined in this chapter. No building permit shall be issued without prior approval of the site plan and architectural design by both the Building Commissioner and the Planning Board or its designee(s). A foundation permit may be issued at the discretion of the Building Commissioner.

The Town Council, forthwith upon the adoption of this chapter, shall appoint a Board of Appeals as provided in MGL c. 40A, § 12.

The Board of Appeals shall exercise all the powers and duties set forth in MGL c. 40A, § 14, and may, in appropriate cases and subject to appropriate conditions and safeguards, make special exceptions to the terms of this chapter in harmony with its general intent and purpose, particularly with reference to the provisions of § 200-16, Article IV, § 200-24, and Article VI of this chapter, and with reference to the use of lots located in two (2) or more districts.

At the time of filing an appeal, application or petition with the Board of Appeals, the applicant shall deposit with the Board of Appeals a permit fee as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Appeals under its rules and regulations as provided in MGL c. 40A, as amended.

Appeals, applications, and petitions to the Board of Appeals shall be in writing and shall present the facts, reasons, and arguments supporting the request for relief sought and shall be filed with the Town Clerk, who, upon receipt, shall notify said Board. For all actions brought before the Board, as part of the facts, the applicant shall identify the owner of the property and the applicant, and their interests in the property. A purchase and sale agreement, lease agreement, or letter of intent may be submitted to satisfy this requirement. No application shall be considered complete until this requirement is met.

The Board of Appeals shall consist of five (5) members as well as five (5) alternate members, and said Board of Appeals shall be known as the Board of Appeals for building appeals, planning appeals and zoning appeals as of May 1, 1969, as petitioned for by the Town Manager at the direction of the June 1968 Special Town Meeting.

No use variance shall be permitted in any zone except where specifically authorized by this chapter.

Reconsideration of proposed changes in zoning. As provided in MGL c. 40A, no proposed bylaw making a change in any existing zoning bylaw, which has been unfavorably acted upon by the Town Council, shall be considered on its merits by the Town Council within two (2) years after the date of such unfavorable action, unless the adoption of such proposed bylaws is recommended in the final report of the Planning Board as required by MGL c. 40A, § 5.

Effective date of amendments. Zoning amendments become effective when adopted by the Town Council as provided by MGL c. 40A, § 5.

Procedure for zoning amendments. Adoption or change of zoning bylaws may be initiated by the submission of the proposed bylaw to the Town Council, by the Board of Appeals, the Planning Board, the Town Council, by an individual owning land to be affected by the change or adoption, by request of registered voters of the Town as provided in MGL c. 39, § 10, or by a regional planning agency. A proposal to amend this chapter which affects the Zoning Map shall include a complete boundary description, together with a plan of the area to be affected, showing existing zoning lines and proposed zoning lines, stating all pertinent dimensions, in feet, at a scale of not less than one hundred (100) feet to the inch. Within fourteen (14) days following receipt of any proposal to amend this chapter, the Town Council shall submit the same to the Planning Board for its review. Within sixty-five (65) days following the receipt by the Planning Board of a proposed amendment to this chapter, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing concerning the proposed amendment. The contents, posting and publication of the public hearing notice shall be as required by MGL c. 40A, § 5. Whenever a proposed amendment affects the Zoning Map, notice shall also be sent, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to all owners of land within three hundred (300) feet of the land affected, including land in adjoining towns if any, all as they appear on the most recent applicable tax list.

Town Council action on proposed amendments. No vote to adopt any proposed amendment to this chapter shall be taken until a report, with recommendations, from the Planning Board has been submitted to the Town Council or twenty-one (21) days have elapsed following the public hearing by the Planning Board without the submission of such report. Upon the submission of a report by the Planning Board or at the expiration of the twenty-one-day period following the public hearing without submission of a report, the Town Council may adopt, amend or reject any proposed amendment to this chapter. A vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those present and voting shall be necessary for the adoption of any proposed amendment to this chapter. If the Town Council fails to act on any proposed amendment to this chapter within six (6) months following the date of the public hearing by the Planning Board, no action shall be taken unless another public hearing is held with notice and report as provided for above.

If written complaint is made to the Building Commissioner, or if the Building Commissioner has reason to believe that any provision of this chapter is being or is about to be violated, the Building Commissioner shall make or cause an investigation to be made into the facts. Where complaint is made to the Building Commissioner, the Building Commissioner shall take action upon such complaint within fourteen (14) days of receipt thereof and shall report such action in writing to the complainant.

If the Building Commissioner finds no violation or prospective violation, any person aggrieved by this decision or any officer or board of the Town may, within thirty (30) days, appeal to the Board of Appeals.

If the Building Commissioner finds a violation or prospective violation, the Building Commissioner shall give immediate notice, in writing, to the owner and to the occupant of the premises and shall order him or her to cease and desist and refrain from such violation. Any person aggrieved by the Building Commissioner's decision, or any officer or board of the Town, may, within thirty (30) days, appeal to the Board of Appeals.

If, after such order, such violation continues and no appeal to the Board of Appeals is taken within thirty (30) days, the Building Commissioner shall forthwith make application to the Superior Court for an injunction or order restraining the violation and shall take such other action as is necessary to enforce the provisions of this chapter.

If, after action by the Building Commissioner, an appeal is taken to the Board of Appeals, and after a public hearing the Board of Appeals finds that there has been a violation or prospective violation, the Building Commissioner shall issue an order to cease and desist and refrain from such violation unless such order has been previously issued under Subsection C.

If such violation then continues, the Building Commissioner shall forthwith make application to the Superior Court for an injunction or order restraining the violation and shall take such other action as may be necessary to enforce this chapter.

Penalties for violations of any provisions of this chapter may, upon conviction, be affixed in an amount not less than $20 nor more than $300 for each offense. Each day or portion of a day that any violation is continued shall constitute a separate offense.