A.

Enforcement of the Ordinance.

1.

The Planning and Zoning Department, shall enforce all applicable portions of this Ordinance. Appeals from these decisions may be taken to the Board of Adjustment (see Appendix A, Section XIII)

2.

It shall be the duty of all officers and employees of St. Charles Parish to assist the Planning and Zoning Department by reporting new construction, enlargements, alterations, repairs, demolitions, and changes of the occupancy of any buildings or structures, regulated by the building and/or zoning codes and upon seeing violations.

3.

No excavation of land nor construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, demolition, replacement, removal, or of any building may be undertaken in the parish without the appropriate Building Permit, visibly posted on site, as required by Chapter 6 Article II of this Code of Ordinances.

4.

No change in the use or occupancy of any land or existing building other than for single-family dwelling purposes shall be made; nor shall any new building be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued by the Department of Planning & Zoning. Every certificate shall state that the new structure and/or occupancy complies with all provisions of this Ordinance including:

a.

Zoning regulations (Appendix A).

b.

Floodplain management regulations (Appendix A, Section XX).

c.

Building codes (Chapter 6, Article II).

5.

Where uncertainty exists with respect to the boundaries of the various zoning districts as shown on the district map accompanying and made a part of this Ordinance, the following rules apply:

a.

The district boundaries are either streets, alleys, or property lines unless otherwise shown, and where the districts designated on the map accompanying and made a part of this Ordinance are bounded approximately by street, alley, or property lines, the street, alley or property lines shall be construed to be the boundary of the district.

b.

Where the district boundaries are not otherwise indicated, and where the property has been or may hereafter be divided into blocks and lots, the district boundaries shall be construed to be the lot lines, and where the districts designated on the district map accompanying and made a part of this Ordinance are bounded approximately by lot lines, the lot lines shall be construed to be the boundaries of the districts unless the boundaries are otherwise indicated on the map.

c.

In unsubdivided property, the district boundary lines on the map accompanying and made a part of this Ordinance shall be determined by use of the scale appearing on the map.

6.

In interpreting and applying the provision[s] of this Ordinance, they shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the promotion of the public safety, health, convenience, comfort, morals, prosperity, and general welfare. It is not intended by this Ordinance to interfere with or abrogate or annul any easements, covenants, or other agreements between parties, except that if this Ordinance imposes a greater restriction, this Ordinance shall control.

B.

Home Occupation Permit: No service or business shall hereafter be started until an application form, as furnished by the Parish Planning and Zoning Department, has been completed and submitted to such department and approved per the requirements of section XXII of the St. Charles Parish Zoning Ordinance of 1981.

(Ord. No. 86-7-6, 7-7-86; Ord. No. 89-9-10, 9-18-89; Ord. No. 83-1-5, § II, 1-3-83; Ord. No. 89-7-6, § I, 7-24-89; Ord. No. 07-3-6, § I, 3-19-07)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 07-3-6, § I, adopted March 19, 2007, amended former section XI in its entirety to read as herein set out.