Township Of Washington
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Enforcement
§ 580-96 Enforcing official designated.
[Amended 9-7-1982 by Ord. No. 82-15; 8-26-1991 by Ord. No. 91-12]
The Zoning Officer shall be responsible for the enforcement of this chapter, its supplements and amendments now or hereafter in force. He may, on his own or upon the request of any interested person, investigate the possible occurrence that any building or other structure or any use, existing or contemplated, is or will be violative of any of the provisions of this chapter. It shall also be the duty of the members of the Police and Fire Departments of the Township to report any violations aforesaid to the Zoning Officer. If the Zoning Officer shall have a reasonable basis to believe, based upon his own observations or other evidence, that any of the provisions of this chapter, its supplements or amendments now or hereafter in force is being or is about to be violated, he shall forthwith notify the person or persons who appear as owners of the premises upon the latest tax list of the Township and any person who appears to be aiding or in any way contributing to said violation of his belief, in writing, ordering him or them at the same time to desist or refrain from such violation within five days of mailing such notice. The failure of any such person to comply with such notice within said time shall constitute a violation under this chapter. When the Zoning Officer shall be prevented, by absence from the municipality, conflict or other cause, from attending to the duties of the Zoning Officer, the Zoning Officer may designate the Chief Construction Official as Acting Zoning Officer and, upon such designation, the Acting Zoning Officer shall have all of the duties and powers of the Zoning Officer, including the power to enforce this chapter, its supplements and amendments now or hereafter in force.
§ 580-97 Negligence of enforcing official.
[Amended 9-7-1982 by Ord. No. 82-15]
Any negligence, dereliction of duty or oversight on the part of the Zoning Officer or other Township official charged with the duty of enforcing this chapter, its supplements or amendments now or hereafter in force shall not legalize any building or structure or use or action taken not in conformity with this chapter, its supplements or amendments now or hereafter in force.
§ 580-98 Violations and penalties.
A.
Violations and penalties. For any and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, the owner, contractor or other persons interested as lessee, tenant, architect, agent, servant, employee, officer or otherwise in any building or premises where said violation has been committed or shall exist shall, for each and every violation, be punished as provided in § 1-1 of Chapter 1, General Provisions. The court before whom conviction is had shall fix the amount of said penalty not in excess of the maximum herein provided. Each and every day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate and specific violation of this chapter.
[Amended 6-3-1985 by Ord. No. 85-5]
B.
Civil remedies. In addition to the foregoing, the municipality may institute and maintain a civil action to prevent the unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use of any building, structure or land, in violation of this chapter, or to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to prevent the occupying of such building, structure or land, or to prevent any act, conduct, business or use in violation of this chapter.