Shrewsbury Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
PART 18
ADMINISTRATION
§ 27-1800 Zoning Officer.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
§ 27-1801 Appointment.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
The provisions of this chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Zoning Officer who shall be appointed by the Shrewsbury Township Board of Supervisors.
§ 27-1802 Primary Duties.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
The primary duties of the Zoning Officer shall be as specified below. Upon appointment and until he is duly released, the Zoning Officer shall ensure that all the below duties are fully executed. By virtue of this chapter, the Zoning Officer is vested with the power to and shall:
1.
Receive all applications for zoning permits; issue permits when there is compliance with the provisions of this chapter, other Township ordinances and laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
2.
Inspect the lands and buildings within the Township to insure that they are being utilized in a manner consistent with the requirements of this chapter.
3.
Inspect buildings built or altered under this chapter to insure that they comply with the provisions of this chapter; and upon satisfactory completion of said inspection, issue a certificate of use and occupancy.
4.
Receive applications for special exceptions and variances and refer these applications to the Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board for action thereon.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
5.
Following refusal of a zoning permit or refusal of a certificate of use and occupancy, receive any appeals from alleged error of the Zoning Officer and any appeals for variances from the terms of this chapter and forward these to the Zoning Hearing Board for action thereon.
[Amended by Ord. No. 2023-05, 11/1/2023]
6.
Keep a permanent record of all plans and applications for permits and all permits issued, with a notation as to all conditions attached thereto.
7.
Maintain a map or maps showing the current zoning classification of all land in the Township.
§ 27-1803 Additional Duties Upon Request.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
When directed in writing by the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission or the Zoning Hearing Board as specified below, the Zoning Officer shall:
1.
Conduct investigations to determine compliance or noncompliance with the terms of this chapter. Such investigations shall be conducted only at the specific request of the Board of Supervisors and shall normally not involve matters that would be reviewed and investigated as part of the Zoning Officer's primary duties. Such investigations may be directed toward a problem located upon a specific site or they may be area-wide investigations to determine general compliance with the terms of this chapter.
2.
Institute, with the approval of the Board of Supervisors, proceedings in courts of proper jurisdiction for the enforcement of this chapter.
3.
Upon the request of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, or Zoning Hearing Board, present to such body facts, records or any similar information to assist such individuals or bodies in reaching a decision upon a specific application, plan, or appeal.
§ 27-1804 Limits of Authority.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
1.
The Zoning Officer shall administer 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 that does not conform to this chapter. Construction or uses that require special exception or variance shall be issued building or use certificates only by order of the Zoning Hearing Board. Construction or uses that require Planning Commission and Board of Supervisor review as land development under the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance[1] shall be issued building permits or use certificates only following final approval by the Board of Supervisors.
2.
The Zoning Officer shall issue no permits for the construction or use of land and buildings unless it conforms to all Township ordinances and the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
3.
The Zoning Officer shall revoke a permit or approval issued under the provisions of this chapter in case of any false statement or misrepresentation of fact in the application or on the plans on which the permit or approval was based. Moreover, any permit issued in error may be revoked immediately and shall in no case be construed as waiving any provision of this chapter.
§ 27-1805 Accountability.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
For purpose of accountability, the Zoning Officer shall maintain, upon forms provided by the Board of Supervisors, a log of all applications and inspections. Among other items such log shall contain the date, time, building permit number, and signature of the applicant or his authorized representative. Upon request by the Board of Supervisors, the log shall be submitted to the Supervisors for review.
§ 27-1806 Permits.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
1.
Building Permits.
A.
Hereafter, no building or structure shall be erected, moved, placed, constructed, or enlarged within the limits of Shrewsbury Township unless a permit to do so shall first be secured in accordance with the provisions of the Building Permit Ordinance of Shrewsbury Township, and unless such erection, movement, placement, construction, or enlargement is in strict accordance with the application submitted pursuant to the Building Permit Ordinance of Shrewsbury Township and with the permit issued pursuant thereto, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in such Ordinance.
B.
All of the provisions of the Building Permit Ordinance of Shrewsbury Township are incorporated herein by reference and any violation of that ordinance shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
2.
Zoning Permits.
A.
Hereafter, no use and building or structure shall be erected, moved, placed, constructed, or enlarged within the limits of Shrewsbury Township unless a zoning permit to do so shall first be secured in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance of Shrewsbury Township, and unless such erection, movement, placement, construction, or enlargement is in strict accordance with the application submitted pursuant to the Zoning Ordinance of Shrewsbury Township and with the permit issued pursuant thereto, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in such ordinance.
B.
All of the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance of Shrewsbury Township are incorporated herein by reference and any violation of that ordinance shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
3.
Time Period. If no time limit is stated, a six-month maximum period shall apply. The Zoning Officer may state a reasonable maximum time period on a temporary permit of 12 months. A temporary permit may be renewed at the discretion of the Zoning Officer.
§ 27-1807 Certificate of Use and Occupancy.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
§ 27-1808 Certificate Required.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
No land or buildings shall be occupied by a use or changed from one use to another, and no building or structure hereafter erected, constructed, altered, or extended shall be occupied or used until a certificate of use and occupancy shall have been issued by the Zoning Officer stating that the building and/or proposed uses fully comply with the provision of this chapter, the provisions of the Building Permit Ordinance of Shrewsbury Township, the provision of the Building Code of Shrewsbury Township, and the provisions of all other ordinances. Uses requiring review and approval as a land development under the Shrewsbury Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance shall not be issued a certificate of use and occupancy by the Zoning Officer until approval of any such land development by the Shrewsbury Township Board of Supervisors.
§ 27-1809 Application Requirement.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
Applications for certificates of use and occupancy shall be made in writing by the owner or authorized agent on forms approved by the Zoning Officer setting forth such information and data as the Zoning Officer may require including, but not limited to, the name of the owner of the property, the proposed use of the land or structure, and an itemized list of other uses and structures on the property, and shall be accompanied by a filing fee as established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The resolution may establish additional fees, if more than one inspection is required.
§ 27-1810 Certificate Procedures.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
1.
Construction. In cases where a building permit is required, all certificates of use and occupancy shall be applied for coincident with the application for the building permit. The Zoning Officer shall retain the certificate until he is notified that construction has been completed. Upon notification, the Zoning Officer shall make a final inspection to determine compliance with this and other applicable Township ordinances. (See § 27-1811.)
2.
Change of Use. In cases involving establishment of a use on land or a change of use on land or within a structure, application for a certificate of use and occupancy alone shall suffice. The Zoning Officer shall issue a certificate of use and occupancy granting such use, or by letter directed to the applicant at the address shown on the application, deny such use within five days following application, except in cases of special exception where further proceedings are necessary.
3.
Such certificate of use and occupancy shall be sufficient authorization to occupy the premises. If denied, the Zoning Officer shall state in writing the cause for such denial.
4.
Immediately following occupancy, the applicant shall notify the Zoning Officer, upon a form provided by the Zoning Officer at time of application, that occupancy has been completed. The Zoning Officer shall subsequently make an on-site inspection to determine compliance with the terms of all applicable Township ordinances and with statements and plans submitted by the applicant.
§ 27-1811 Certificate Approval.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
1.
If the Zoning Officer finds during his inspection that all work is in conformity, a certificate of use and occupancy shall be granted within five days following such inspection. If any part of the construction is found in violation of any Township ordinance, then the applicant shall be notified in writing within five days following the inspection as to the specific points of violation.
2.
Subsequent final inspections shall follow the same procedures outlined above. The Zoning Officer may, however, require an additional fee for any additional inspections caused by violations found by the Zoning Officer upon the site in question during any required inspection. Such additional fee shall be in accordance with the resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors.
§ 27-1812 Fees.
[Ord. No. 2015-03, 6/3/2015]
Each applicant shall, at the time of making application, pay a fee in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. No application, certificate, permit, or appeal shall be processed or approved without payment of the appropriate fee.