The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by a Zoning Officer with the aid of the Police Department and other municipal agencies. The Zoning Officer shall be appointed at the first meeting of the Township Commissioners following the adoption of this chapter, to serve until the first day of January next following, and shall thereafter be appointed annually to serve a term of one year and/or until his successor is appointed. The Zoning Officer may succeed himself. He shall receive such compensation as the governing body by resolution shall provide.

It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer and he shall have power:

   A.   To keep a permanent record of all plans and applications for permits and all permits issued with notations as to special conditions attached thereto. All records shall be open for public inspection and shall be the property of the Township.

   B.   To review applications for zoning permits for erections or alterations of structures or changes of use and determine whether such construction or use is in accordance with the general requirements of this chapter, all other applicable ordinances and with the laws and regulations of the commonwealth.

   C.   To conduct inspections and surveys to determine compliance or noncompliance with the terms of this chapter. In carrying out such surveys, the Zoning Officer or his representative may enter upon any land or buildings .

   D.   To make written orders requiring compliance with the provisions of this chapter to be served personally or by certified, registered or first class mail. [Amended 2-8-2000 by Ord. No. 1021]

   E.   To institute proceedings in courts of proper jurisdiction for the enforcement of provisions of this chapter.

   F.   To maintain a map showing the current zoning classification of all land.

   G.   To maintain a map and register showing the registration, identity, location and type of all nonconforming uses .

   H.   To participate in all proceedings before the Zoning Hearing Board, present facts and information to assist the Board in reaching a decision, resist and oppose any deviations from the standard provisions of this chapter and have decisions of the Board reviewed in a court of proper jurisdiction when, in the judgment of the Zoning Officer, such review is desirable.

   I.   At the request of any individual, to certify as to the zoning of a particular property and/or determine whether the existing uses of the property comply with the Township Zoning Code. [Added 3-9-1999 by Ord. No. 989]

   A.   No building or structure shall be constructed or altered in the Township, nor shall the use of any building , structure or land be changed until a permit has been secured from the Zoning Officer. [Amended 2-13-1996 by Ord. No. 904]

   B.   Upon receipt of the permit (issued under this chapter or Chapter 73, Building Construction, of the Township) the permittee shall post the notice as supplied by the Zoning Officer or Building Inspector on a conspicuous place on the property described in said notice. Posting will be considered adequate when laced securely on a stake or structure located adjacent to the street upon which the property abuts, provided that the location shall be such as to permit the notice to be visible and readable from said abutting street . Posting of a single notice on the builder's shanty or on a sample house of a development involving three or more lots for which permits issued at one time shall be acceptable.

   C.   No permit shall be valid beyond one year from the date of issuance, unless extended by the Zoning Officer or Building Inspector; provided, however, that no permit shall be valid beyond 18 months from its issuance.

   A.   All applications for permits shall be made in writing by the owner or tenants or authorized agent and shall be filed with the Zoning Officer. Unless any of the following requirements are waived by the Director of Code Enforcement, upon request, the application shall:

      (1)   Include a statement as to the proposed use of the building and/or land.

      (2)   Be accompanied by working plans, drawn to scale, showing the location of the building in relation to property and road lines.

      (3)   Include a statement that the side lines of all roads shown on the plan have been located and staked on the premises by a surveyor or other person competent to give such location.

      (4)   Give the name and address of the person who has so located and staked the road lines.

   B.   If the applicant desires the Zoning Hearing Board to grant a special exception , then, in addition, the applications shall set forth the nature of the special exception and shall state briefly the reasons why such special exception should be granted.

Appeals from the decision of a Zoning Officer shall be taken within 30 days. Where the decision includes the issuance of a permit , under the provisions of this chapter and/or Chapter 73, Building Construction, of the Township, the time for the taking of an appeal can be extended upon the presentation to the Zoning Hearing Board of:

   A.   Proof that notice of the permit had not been posted as required under § 255-187B; or

   B.   Proof that no visible work was performed or use was made of the property so as to bring knowledge to the aggrieved party of the issuance of a permit . No appeal shall be taken beyond six months of the date of issuance of the permit .

The applicant for a permit shall, at the time of making the application, pay to the Zoning Officer for the use of the Township, a fee in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Commissioners upon the enactment of this chapter or as such schedule may be amended by resolution of the Board of Commissioners. 43