A building permit shall be required prior to a change in use of land or structure or the erection, construction, improvement or alteration of any structure or portion thereof or the alteration or development of any improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations, or the erection or alteration of any permanent signs and/or temporary signs classified as T-1, T-3, T-4, T-5, T-8, T-9 and T-10 in Article XXVII of this chapter. Building permits shall also be required for the construction or installation of animal waste impoundments, lakes, ponds, dams or other water retention basins. No building permit shall be required for repairs or maintenance of any structure or land, provided that such repairs do not change the use the exterior dimensions of the structure or otherwise violate the provisions of this chapter.

Application for building permits shall be made in writing to the Zoning Officer.

Such building permits shall be granted or refused within 30 days from date of application.

No building permit shall be issued except in conformity with the regulations of this chapter, except after written order from the Zoning Hearing Board or the courts.

In all instances in which the Zoning Officer expresses a reasonable doubt as to the ability of a proposed use to meet all the requirements of this chapter, it will be incumbent upon the applicant to furnish adequate evidence in support of his application. If such evidence is not presented, the building permit will be denied.

The parcel or parcels shall be in a single and full ownership, or proof of option shall be furnished at the time of application. The full names and addresses of the landowner or developer and of the responsible officers, if the landowner or developer is a corporate body, shall be stated in the application.

The Zoning Officer may call upon other Township staff and/or Township-appointed consultants in the review of submitted materials for applications.

The Zoning Officer may revoke a permit or approval issued under the provisions of this chapter in case of any false statement or misrepresentation of fact in the application or on the plans on which the permit or approval was based or for any other cause set forth in this chapter.

No permit shall be issued until the fees prescribed by the Board of Township Supervisors pursuant to resolution shall be paid to the Zoning Officer. The payment of fees under this section shall not relieve the applicant or holder of said permit from payment of other fees that may be required by this chapter or by any other ordinances or law.

The actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be developed.

The exact location and dimensions of any structures to be erected, constructed and altered.

Existing and proposed uses, including the number of occupied units, businesses, etc., that all structures are designed to accommodate.

Off-street parking and loading spaces.

Utility systems affected and proposed.

Alteration or development of any improved or unimproved real estate.

The size of structures and the number of employees anticipated.

Any other lawful information that may be required by the Zoning Officer to determine compliance with this chapter.

For all new multifamily or nonresidential development or for any expansion of any existing multifamily or nonresidential development in excess of 20% of the existing building and/or impervious square footage, a site development plan prepared in accordance with the Township's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance[1] must be approved by the Township's Board of Supervisors prior to a building permit being granted by the Township.

All requirements and time frames specified by the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance apply and must be met prior to the review of the plan by the Township Board of Supervisors.

For any development requiring approval by any other state or federal or local agency, evidence of the required approval must be presented with the other information required on the building permit application.

A location plan showing the tract to be developed, zone boundaries, adjoining tracts, significant natural features and streets for a distance of 200 feet from all tract boundaries.

A plot plan of the lot showing the location of all existing and proposed buildings; driveways; parking lots, showing access drives, circulation patterns, curb cut accesses, parking stalls access from streets, screening fences and walls; waste disposal fields or other methods of sewage disposal; other construction features on the lot; and the location of all topographical features.

A description of the operations proposed in sufficient detail to indicate the effects of those operations in producing traffic congestion, noise, glare, air pollution, water pollution, vibration, fire hazards, safety hazards or the emission of any potentially harmful or obnoxious matter or radiation.

Engineering plans for the treatment and disposal of sewage and industrial waste, tailings or unusable by-products.

Engineering plans for the handling of traffic, noise, glare, air pollution, water pollution, vibration, fire hazards or safety hazards, smoke or emission of any potentially harmful or obnoxious matter or radiation.

Designation of the manner by which sanitary sewage and stormwater shall be disposed and water supply obtained.

The proposed number of shifts to be worked and the maximum number of employees on each shift.

Where use by more than one firm is anticipated, a list of firms which are likely to be located in the center, their floor area and the estimated number of employees.

If the work described in any building permit has not begun within 90 days from the issuance thereof, said permit shall expire; it shall be canceled by the Zoning Officer, and written notice thereof shall be given to the persons affected.

If the work described in any building permit has not been substantially completed within one year of the date of the issuance thereof, said permit shall expire and be canceled by the Zoning Officer, and written notice shall be given to the persons affected that further work as described in the canceled permit shall not proceed unless and until a new building permit has been obtained.

Upon completion of the erection or alteration of any building, structure or land or portion thereof authorized by any building permit and prior to occupancy or use, the holder of such building permit shall notify the Zoning Officer of such completion. No zoning permit shall be considered complete or permanently effective, nor shall any building be occupied or lot used, until said official has issued a certificate of use and occupancy attesting that the work has been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the building permit and the provisions of this chapter and other applicable ordinances.

In commercial and industrial zones in which operation standards are imposed, no certificate of use and occupancy shall become permanent until 30 days after the facility is fully operational when, upon a reinspection by the Zoning Officer, it is determined that the facility is in compliance with all operation standards.

Certificate of use and occupancy shall be granted or denied within 30 days from the date of application.

If the Zoning Officer finds that the work has not been performed in accordance with the approved application, he/she shall refuse to issue the certificate of use and occupancy and, in writing, give the reasons therefor and inform the permit holder of his right of appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board.

Before the issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy, the property owner of record shall be required to adequately post the numeric address on the street side of the structure near the main entrance or on the mailbox so that it is visible from the public cartway.