It is the duty of the Zoning Officer to administer and enforce the provisions of this Ordinance. The Zoning Officer will inspect the structures and land in the City and order the owner, in writing, to remedy any condition found to exist in violation of any provision of this Ordinance and/or any site plan approved by the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Adjustment, as applicable, including any conditions of approval written in the approval resolution.

The Zoning Officer is hereby authorized to investigate any violation or alleged violation of the provisions of this Ordinance, whether by complaint of third persons or from their own personal knowledge or observation. When any building or structure is erected, constructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained, or any building, structure, or land is used in violation of any provision of this Ordinance, it is the duty of the Zoning Officer to proceed with the enforcement of said provision and the penalties provided for hereunder. Such enforcement may include the issuance of summons requiring an appearance in Municipal Court. The Zoning Officer may also pursue such other statutory method or methods, heretofore or hereafter provided, as may be available.

In the enforcement of the provisions of this Ordinance, the Zoning Officer may apply to the Municipal Court for a warrant to search and inspect the properties and premises upon which he/she has reason to believe any violation has taken or is taking place, and upon probable cause shown, the Municipal Court Judge may issue such a warrant, and the information obtained pursuant thereto is admissible as evidence in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of proving any case brought for violation of this Ordinance.

Within 15 days following the mailing of the notice to the owner, the owner must respond to the Zoning Officer as to the violation(s) and the remedies to be taken. A lack of response from the owner will result in an automatic filing of a summons in Municipal Court.

In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, altered, repaired, converted, or maintained, or any building, structure, or land is used in violation of this Ordinance, the proper local authorities or an interested party may institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance, or use to restrain, correct, or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of said building, structure, or land or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business, or use in or about such premises.

Each and every day such violation continues after the expiration of an abatement notice or after initial construction, as applicable, is deemed a separate and distinct violation.

The following rules apply in determining responsibility for violations and penalties:

The imposition of penalties herein do not preclude the City, or any other person, from instituting an action to prevent an unlawful construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, or use, or to restrain, correct, or abate a violation or to prevent the illegal occupancy of a building, land, or premises.