The building inspector, as zoning administrator, shall be in charge of the administration and enforcement of this ordinance.

1.

Duties. The building inspector shall:

a)

Receive applications required, issue permits and furnish certificates, all in his judgement and discretion as authorized;

b)

Examine premises for which permits have been issued and make necessary inspections to determine compliance;

c)

When requested by the city commission or when the interest of the city so requires, make investigations and render written reports;

d)

Issue such notices or orders as may be necessary;

e)

Keep careful and comprehensive records of applicants, permits, certificates, inspection, reports, notices, orders and all localized actions of the city commission and shall file the same permanently by street address.

f)

Keep all such records open to public inspection, at reasonable hours, but not for removal from his office.

g)

Report to the city commission at least once each month as to permits and certificates issued and orders promulgated;

h)

Request and receive the assistance and cooperation of the police department, the legal department and other city officials;

i)

Inform the city commission of all violations and all other matters requiring prosecution or legal action;

j)

Be entitled to rely upon any opinion of the legal department as to the interpretation of this ordinance or the legal application of this ordinance to any factual situation;

k)

Discharge such other duties as may be placed upon him by this ordinance.

Cross reference— Officers and employees, § 2-61 et seq.

1.

No permit as required by the building inspector of the City of Watervliet shall be issued by the building inspector for the construction of a building, structure or land improvement or an alteration or enlargement of an existing building, structure or land improvement and the uses thereof, until the building inspector has certified in such permit that the application for a permit with accompanying plans and specifications conforms with the regulations of this ordinance.

2.

When a permit is not required by the building ordinance of the City of Watervliet for an improvement and the use thereof requiring conformance with the regulations of this ordinance, an application for a zoning certificate shall be filed with the building inspector. A zoning certificate shall be issued only when the application shows conformance with the regulations of this ordinance.

3.

All applications for building permits or zoning certificates shall be accompanied by a plat in duplicate, drawn to scale showing the actual dimensions of the lot or lots to be built upon, the size of the building or structure to be erected or structurally altered, its location on the lot or lots and such other information as may be necessary to provide for the enforcement of these regulations. A careful record of such applications and plats shall be kept in the office of the building inspector. The building inspector shall, in writing, approve or disapprove all building permits or zoning certificates within 30 days after submission thereof; failure to act shall be deemed approval thereof.

1.

No building or addition thereto, constructed after the effective date of this ordinance and no addition to a previous existing building shall be occupied, and no land vacant on the effective date of this ordinance shall be used for any purpose until an occupancy certificate has been issued by the building inspector. No change in a use in any district shall be made until an occupancy certificate has been issued by the building inspector. Every occupancy certificate shall state that the use of occupancy complies with all the provisions of this ordinance.

2.

Every application for a building permit shall also be deemed to be an application for an occupancy certificate. Every application for an occupancy certificate for a new or changed use of land or building where no building permit is required shall be made to the building inspector.

3.

No occupancy certificate for a building or addition thereto, constructed after the effective date of this ordinance, shall be issued until construction has been completed and the premises have been inspected and certified by the building inspector to be in full and complete compliance with the plans and specifications upon which the zoning certificate was based. No addition to a previously existing building shall be occupied, and no new use of a building in any district shall be established until the premises have been inspected and certified by the building inspector to be in full compliance with all the applicable standards of the zoning district, in which it is located. Pending the issuance of a regular certificate, a temporary certificate may be issued to be valid for a period not to exceed six months from its date during the completion of any addition or during partial occupancy of the premises. An occupancy certificate shall be issued or written notice shall be given to the applicant stating the reasons why a certificate cannot be issued, not later than 14 days after the building inspector is notified, in writing that the building or premises is ready for occupancy.

Certificates for the continued occupancy nonconforming uses existing at the time of passage of this ordinance or made nonconforming by this ordinance, shall state that the use is a nonconforming one and does not conform with the provisions of this ordinance. The building inspector shall notify the owners of the property being used as a nonconforming use and shall furnish said owner with a certificate of occupancy for such nonconforming use.