Swansea City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XII
Enforcement of Zoning Bylaw
§ 265-12.1 Enforcement officer.
A.
Except as otherwise provided, this bylaw shall be enforced by the building inspector. He shall not approve any application of any kind or plans or specifications or intended uses which are not in all respects in conformity with this bylaw.
B.
If the building inspector is requested in writing to enforce this bylaw and declines to act, he shall notify in writing the party requesting such enforcement of any action or refusal to act and state the reasons therefore within 14 days of the receipt of such request.
§ 265-12.2 Building permits; certificates of occupancy.
A.
No construction, relocation, alteration or addition to any building or structure shall be commenced except upon issuance of a building permit by the building inspector. Unless work is commenced within six months of permit issuance and continues expeditiously to completion, the construction and operation shall conform to any subsequent zoning amendment.
B.
No building erected, altered, or in any way changed as to construction or class of use, under a permit or otherwise, shall be occupied or used without an occupancy permit, signed by the building inspector, which permit shall not be issued until the building and its uses, and the uses incidental thereto, comply in all respects with this bylaw.
C.
In the case of subdivisions, where new streets have been or are being built to serve new dwellings, a certificate of occupancy will not be issued until the street has been completely constructed or the board of selectmen has approved partial construction as being safe for all types of travel, including fire trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles.
§ 265-12.3 Violations and penalties.
Whoever violates any provision of this bylaw, may be punished by a fine up to a maximum of $100 for each offense. If any person persists in a violation after the violation has been called to his attention by the building inspector and reasonable time given to abate or correct it, every day on which such violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
§ 265-12.4 Injunctions.
Whenever the building inspector determines that a zoning violation which has been brought to his attention is sufficiently detrimental to the public good, so as to necessitate the immediate cessation of such violation, the inspector shall bring the matter to the attention of the selectmen and cause a bill of equity to be filed in the superior court to enforce the provisions of the Massachusetts Zoning Act, as amended, or of this bylaw and, in appropriate case, shall seek to have such violation restrained by injunction.
§ 265-12.5 Conflict of laws.
A.
This bylaw shall not interfere with or annul any bylaw, rule or regulation, or permit, not specifically annulled by the language of this bylaw, except that, where this bylaw imposes a greater restriction upon the use or location of buildings, structures or premises than is imposed by existing provisions of law or bylaws, this bylaw shall control.
B.
Nothing herein shall prevent the enforcement of the requirements of the state building and environmental code, the minimum housing code, or any other code having precedence. The more restrictive code shall apply.