The Code Enforcement Officer shall not hold any elective office in the Borough and shall meet the qualifications established by the Borough Council and shall be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of said council a working knowledge of municipal zoning. The Code Enforcement Officer shall administer this chapter in its literal terms and shall not have the power to permit any construction or any change of use which does not conform to this chapter. Specific responsibilities shall include the following:

Permits for construction or uses, which require a special exception or a variance from the provisions of this chapter shall be issued by the Code Enforcement Officer, but only upon order of the Zoning Hearing Board as prescribed by Article XVIII herein.

In the event that any building, structure, landscaping, sign, or land is or is proposed to be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted, maintained or used in violation of any ordinance enacted under this chapter or prior enabling laws, the Borough Council, or with the approval of the Borough Council, an officer of the municipality, or any aggrieved owner or tenant of real property who shows that his property or person will be substantially affected by the alleged violation, in addition to other remedies, may institute in the name of the Borough any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct or abate such building, structure or land, or to prevent, in or about such premises, any act, conduct, business or use constituting a violation. When any such action is instituted by a landowner or tenant, notice of that action shall be served upon the Borough at least 30 days prior to the time the action is begun by serving a copy of the complaint on the Borough Council. No such action may be maintained until such notice has been given.

Enforcement proceedings shall be initiated when violations of any of the provisions of this chapter occur. Written notice of a violation is to be served by the Code Enforcement Officer or duly authorized representative of the Code Enforcement Officer on the owner, agent, occupant, contractor or builder. Such violation shall be discontinued immediately. Enforcement proceedings shall be initiated as follows:

The Magisterial District Judge shall have initial jurisdiction over proceedings brought under this section.

For any and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, the owner, general agent, or contractor of a building or premises where such violation has been committed or shall exist, and the lessee or tenant of any part of the building or premises in which part such violation has been committed or shall exist, and the general agent, architect, building contractor or any other person, partnership or corporation who knowingly commits, takes part or assists in any such violation, or who maintains any building or premises in which any violation shall exist, shall upon conviction thereof in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Borough, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500 plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Borough as a result thereof. No judgement shall commence or be imposed, levied, or payable until the date of determination of a violation by the Magisterial District Judge. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgement, the Borough may enforce the judgement pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day that the 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 defendant to have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one violation until the fifth day following the date of determination of a violation by the Magisterial District Judge, and thereafter, each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. All judgements, costs and reasonable attorney fees collected for the violation of zoning ordinances shall be paid to the Borough.

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

Nothing contained in this section shall be construed or interpreted to grant any person or entity other than the Borough of Spring City the right to commence any action for enforcement pursuant to this section.

Applications for building permits shall be submitted, in such form as the Code Enforcement Officer may prescribe, by the owner or lessee of any building, structure or land, or his authorized representative; however, the responsibility of obtaining the building permit and compliance with all ordinances shall rest with the owner of the parcel.

The parcel or parcels, buildings, or parts thereof for which an application is submitted shall be in single and full ownership of the applicant, or proof of equitable ownership shall be submitted with the application for the building permit.

The application shall contain a description of the proposed work and/or use and occupancy of the building, structure and/or land, and any other information required by the Code Enforcement Officer to determine compliance with this chapter and any other applicable ordinances.

There shall, in addition, be included with all applications such other plans, documents, fees and information as may be necessary to enable the Code Enforcement Officer to ascertain compliance with this chapter and all other pertinent ordinances.

Upon receipt of the application, the Code Enforcement Officer shall check it to determine compliance with this chapter and any other applicable ordinances. Within 30 days after receipt of the application, the Code Enforcement Officer shall either approve or disapprove the application accordingly. If the application is disapproved, the Code Enforcement Officer shall provide to the applicant, in writing, the reasons for the disapproval and shall inform the applicant of his right to appeal the decision to the Zoning Hearing Board.

Upon approval of an application and the payment of the required fee, as defined by the Borough Council and as may be amended, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a building permit which shall be visibly posted on the premises during the entire time the proposed work is being undertaken.

Upon completion of the erection, addition to, or alteration of any building, structure, or portion thereof authorized by any building permit obtained in compliance with this chapter, and prior to use or occupancy, the holder of such permit shall notify the Code Enforcement Officer of such completion. Use and occupancy shall not be authorized until the Code Enforcement Officer has certified that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with this and other applicable ordinances, and has issued a use and occupancy permit as provided in § 525-111, below.

A building permit shall expire one year from the date of issuance, provided that it may be extended at the discretion of the Code Enforcement Officer for a six-month period where good faith is demonstrated by the applicant.

A use and occupancy permit shall be required prior to any of the following:

It shall be unlawful for any person to use or occupy any building or other structure or land until a use and occupancy permit, if required, has been duly issued therefor. The Code Enforcement Officer shall not issue such a certificate unless he has inspected the building, structure, or land to be used or occupied, and determined compliance with this chapter and any other applicable ordinances.

Upon receipt of the application, the Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect the premises to determine compliance with the building permit application, this chapter, and any other approved ordinances. Within 15 days after receipt of the application, the Code Enforcement Officer shall either approve or disapprove the application and notify the applicant accordingly. If the applicant is disapproved, the Code Enforcement Officer shall provide to the applicant, in writing, the reasons for the disapproval.

Upon approval of an application, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a Certificate of Use and Occupancy to the applicant for the use indicated on the approved application.

Upon request, the Code Enforcement Officer may issue a temporary use and occupancy permit for a building, structure, or portion thereof before all of the work covered by the building permit is completed. Such portion or portions may be used and/or occupied prior to completion of all work provided that such temporary occupancy would not tend in any way to jeopardize life or property.

Temporary certificates of use and occupancy shall also be required for such uses as tents, trailers, and temporary buildings on construction sites. Such temporary certificates shall be valid for no longer than six months. Temporary structures, buildings, or uses shall comply with the standards of § 525-54F(3).

By publishing notice once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Borough. The first publication shall not be more than 30 days and the second publication shall not be less than seven days from the date of the hearing.

Such notice shall state the time and place of the hearing, and shall include either the full text of the proposed change or amendment, or a brief summary thereof, setting for the principal provisions in reasonable detail and a reference to a place within the Borough where copies of the proposed change or amendment may be examined.