The Borough Council shall appoint a Zoning Administrative Officer, who may also serve as Construction Code Official of the Borough of Swedesboro, to enforce the provisions of this chapter. It shall be his duty to examine all applications for permits, issue permits only for construction and uses which are in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, record and file for public record all applications for permits, with any accompanying plans and documents, and make such reports as the Borough Council may require. Permits for construction and uses which are a special exception or variance to requirements of this chapter shall be issued only upon order of the Planning Board, when exercising jurisdiction. Nothing herein contained shall require any change in plans or in construction of a lawful use for which a building permit has been issued.

A permit shall be required prior to the erection or structural alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof and prior to the use or change in use of a building or land and prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use. Applications for permits shall be made in writing to the Zoning Administrative Officer on such forms as may be furnished by the Borough. Such application shall contain all information necessary for the Zoning Administrative Officer to ascertain whether the proposed erection, alteration, use or change in use complies with the provisions of this chapter and applicable law. In the case of uses or buildings which require approval of the New Jersey Department of Labor, copies of the application and plans furnished to such agency shall meet the terms of this section.

Permits shall be granted or refused within 20 business days after the written application has been filed with the Zoning Administrative Officer. Upon completion of the erection or alteration of any building or portion thereof authorized by any permit and prior to occupancy or use, the holder of such permit shall notify the Zoning Administrative Officer of such completion. No permit shall be considered complete or permanently effective until the Zoning Administrative Officer has certified that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter, other applicable ordinances and applicable law.

Fees for permits shall be paid at the time of filing the application in accordance with the fee schedule as set forth in Chapter 140, Fees, and all such fees shall be paid into the Borough Treasury. Each applicant for an appeal, conditional use or variance shall, at the time of making application, pay a fee as set forth in Chapter 140, Fees, or, when application is made to the Planning Board, in accordance with the fee schedules of the Planning Board, when exercising jurisdiction.

Except where the State Uniform Construction Code, in the case of actions of the Construction Code Official, provides for different appeal procedures, any person aggrieved by the action of the Zoning Administrative Officer may appeal such action to the Borough Council. Such appeal shall be filed, in writing, with the Borough Clerk and shall be filed within 15 days after said person shall have been given notice of the action complained of. The appeal so filed shall set forth as concisely as possible the action complained of, in what manner the appellant is adversely affected and in what respect it is claimed the action is erroneous or illegal. The Borough Council shall have jurisdiction either to affirm, reverse or modify the action of the Zoning Administrative Officer. The Borough Council shall act on the appeal within 30 days of filing of the same.