The Building Inspector, in accordance with MGL c. 40A, § 7 (as amended by Sts. 1975, Chapter 808, Section 3) shall enforce the Zoning Bylaw and shall withhold a permit for the construction, alteration, or moving of any building or structure if the building or structure as constructed, altered, moved, or occupied would be in violation of any provision of this Zoning Bylaw or any applicable provision of the Subdivision Control Law of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the Rules and Regulations for the Subdivision of Land of the Town of Townsend,[1] or any applicable provisions of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Building Code, and of any other applicable laws, bylaws, or regulations, all as most recently amended from time to time.

No structure shall be erected, altered, or moved, nor shall any land or structure be occupied in Townsend without a written permit issued by the Building Inspector. Building permits and occupancy permits shall be applied for in writing on the form prescribed by the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall not issue any such building permit or occupancy permit unless the plans for the structure and intended use thereof, including use of the land on which the structure is located, in all respects comply with the provisions of all laws, bylaws, and regulations set forth in Article XIV, except as the same may have been changed by special permit or variance granted by appropriate authority.

The Building Inspector shall not issue any permit for occupancy or construction until all applicable laws, bylaws and regulations have been complied with.

A form prescribed by the Building Inspector shall be submitted to the Building Inspector with every application for a building permit or occupancy permit. The form shall be prepared in each case in duplicate. Upon submission of the form with the building permit or occupancy permit application, one form shall be filed in the Building Inspector's office and one shall be forwarded by the Building Inspector to the Town Hall for reference by Town boards.

The Townsend Zoning Bylaws shall be enforced by the Building Inspector or his duly appointed representative. The Building Inspector, upon being informed in writing of a possible violation of this bylaw or on his own initiative, shall make or cause to be made an investigation of facts and an inspection of the premises where such violation may exist. The Building Inspector, upon evidence of any violation and after investigation thereof, shall give notice to the owner and the occupant, if different, of such premises. The Building Inspector shall demand in such notice that such violation be abated within a reasonable time, such time to be designated in said notice by the Building Inspector. Such notice and demand shall be given by mail, addressed to the owner at the address appearing for him on a most recent real estate assessment record of the Town of Townsend and to the occupant at the address of the premises of such apparent violation. If the Building Inspector charged with enforcement of zoning ordinances or bylaws against any person allegedly in violation of the same and such Building Inspector declines to act, he shall notify, in writing, the party requesting such enforcement of any action or refusal to act, and the reasons therefor, within 14 days of receipt of such request.

If, after such notice and demand, such violation has not been abated within the time therein specified, the Building Inspector shall immediately refer the matter to Town Counsel for appropriate action.

Any violation of any provision of this bylaw or of any regulation by the Town's Health Officer pursuant to this bylaw shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $300. Each violation and each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense, punishable by a fine as aforesaid.