It shall be unlawful for an owner, tenant, or occupant to use or to permit the use of any structure, building or land or part thereof, hereafter created, erected, changed, converted or enlarged, wholly or partly, until a zoning permit has been issued by the zoning officer. Such zoning permit shall show that such building or premises or part thereof, and the proposed use thereof, are in conformity with the provisions of this chapter or in conformity with the provisions of a variance granted according to law.

Any person desiring to change the use of his premises shall apply to the zoning officer for a zoning permit stating under oath such facts as required. A copy of the zoning permit shall be kept on file upon the premises affected until construction is completed and shall be displayed upon request of any authorized official.

All zoning permits shall be issued in triplicate and one copy shall be posted conspicuously on the premises affected whenever construction work is being performed thereon. No owner, contractor, workman or other persons shall perform any building operations of any kind unless the zoning permit covering such operation has been previously issued. Furthermore, no building operations of any kind shall be performed after notification of the revocation of said zoning permit.

A record shall be kept of all zoning permits issued and the original applications therefor shall be kept on file in the same manner as applications for building permits. No owner, tenant, or other persons shall use or occupy any building or structure thereafter erected or altered, the use of which shall be changed after passage of this chapter, without first obtaining a zoning permit.

A zoning permit once granted shall continue in effect so long as there is no change of use, or occupancy of the premises.

The zoning officer shall act upon all such applications within 15 days after receipt of a fully filled-in application, or shall notify the applicant in writing of his refusal to issue such permit and the reasons therefor.

Failure to notify the applicant in case of such refusal within said 15 days shall entitle the applicant for a zoning permit to file an appeal to the zoning board of adjustment as in the case of a denial.

The zoning officer may waive plans on minor alterations not affecting structural change.

The zoning officer shall collect a fee as set forth in Subsection 20-3.4, "Schedule of Fees".

If it shall appear at any time to the zoning officer that the application or accompanying plans are in any material respect false or misleading, or that the work is being done upon the premises differing materially from that called for in the application previously filed with him, and may be in violation of any provision of this chapter, he may forthwith revoke the zoning permit.

Upon written request from the owner, tenant or occupant made within six months of the effective date of this chapter, the zoning officer, after inspection, shall issue a zoning permit for an existing use legally in existence at the time this chapter takes effect, including nonconforming uses, certifying the extent and kind of use and whether any such existing use conforms with the provisions of this chapter; and if not, specifying the nonconformity in detail. After the expiration of the six month period, a zoning permit may only be issued for an existing use by the zoning board of adjustment after a hearing held on notice to all persons entitled thereto.