To receive and process applications for permits, certificates, variances, conditional uses, appeals and other applications required under the terms of this Chapter.

To prescribe the form of all applications, permits and certificates required under the terms of this Chapter.

To issue permits for the construction, alteration or erection of all buildings or structures which are in accordance with the requirements of this Chapter, within 30 days after receipt of an application for such a permit. In cases of applications for a conditional use or a variance, permits shall be issued only upon written order of the appropriate approving agency. It shall be the responsibility of the Zoning Officer to process requests for hearings before the Zoning Hearing Board and in certain instances (i.e., conditional uses and amendment requests), hearings before the Township Supervisors.

To refuse applications for permits which do not meet the requirements of this Chapter within 30 days following receipt of such application. Said refusal shall be in writing and shall state the reasons for such action.

To examine land, buildings and structures to determine their consistency with this Chapter at the time of application filing, during the work and upon completion of the work.

To issue or refuse requests for certificates of compliance within 10 days after final inspection of the activity. Refusals shall be in writing and shall state the reasons for such action.

To issue written enforcement notices as specified in §27-1505A of this Chapter where it appears that there has been a violation, and to institute civil enforcement proceedings with the appropriate district justice on behalf of the Township as a means of enforcing the zoning regulations. Duplicate copies of such notices shall be referred to the Zoning Hearing Board and to the Board of Supervisors.

To maintain and update the Official Zoning Map.

To maintain a log of all applications, permits or certificates issued, variances granted, inspections made, reports rendered and notices or orders issued.

To issue preliminary opinions (in accordance with the procedure established in §916.2 of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. §10916.2, regarding whether a landowner’s proposed use or development complies with applicable ordinances and maps based on plans and other materials submitted by the landowner, and if such opinion is favorable, to publish notice thereof once each week for two successive weeks in a newspaper of general, local circulation. Such notice shall include a general description of the proposed use or development, its location, and the places and times where the plans and other materials may be examined.

To perform such other duties as may be made necessary by the terms of this Chapter.

To perform the duties of administration and enforcement of the most recent revision of the floodplain regulations issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Zoning Officer will act as the Township Floodplain Administrator.

A zoning permit shall be required prior to the erection, construction, addition, or alteration of any building or structure or portion thereof; prior to the use or change in use of a building, structure or land; prior to the erection or alteration of signs, prior to the change or extension of a nonconforming use; or prior to development in any floodplain district. It shall be unlawful for any person to commence work for the erection or alteration of any building or structure, or for a change in land use, until a zoning permit has been duly issued therefor. (In some instances, additional permits may also need to be obtained prior to beginning construction or alterations.)

Exemptions. Zoning permits shall not be required for the following activities outside of identified floodplain areas:

The commencement of any of the following activities; or the construction, enlargement, or expansion of any structure used, or intended to be used, for any of the following activities:

The commencement of, or any construction of, a new manufactured home park or manufactured home subdivision, or substantial improvement to an existing manufactured home park or manufactured home subdivision.

A written request including a completed permit application form.

A small scale map showing the vicinity in which the proposed site is located.

A plan of the entire site, clearly and legibly drawn at a scale of one inch being equal to 100 feet or less, showing the following:

Plans of all proposed buildings, structures and other improvements, clearly and legibly drawn at suitable scale showing the following:

The following data and documentation:

Enforcement Notice. Whenever it appears to the Zoning Officer that there has been a violation of any provision of this Chapter, the Zoning Officer, on behalf of the Township, shall give notice of such alleged violation as hereafter provided. Such enforcement notice shall:

Causes of Action. In case any building, structure, landscaping or land is, or is proposed to be, erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted, maintained or used in violation of this Chapter, the Township Zoning Officer may institute in the name of the Township any appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct, or abate such building, structure, landscaping or land, or to prevent any action, conduct, business, or use in or about such premises constituting a violation. Any aggrieved owner or tenant of real property who shows that his property or person will be substantially affected by the alleged violation may also institute an appropriate corrective action or proceeding. Such action must be preceded, however, by serving a copy of the complaint on the Township Supervisors at least 30 days prior to being instituted. No such action may be maintained until such notice has been given.

Enforcement Remedies. Any person, partnership or corporation who or which has violated or permitted the violation of the provisions of this Chapter, whether enacted under current law or prior law, shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by Wolf Township, pay a judgment of not more than $500 plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Township as a result thereof. No judgment shall commence or be imposed, levied or be payable until the date of the determination of a violation by the district justice. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, Wolf Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation, unless the district justice, determining that there has been a violation, further determines that there was a good faith basis for the person, partnership or corporation violating this Chapter to have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one such violation until the fifth day following the date of the determination of a violation by the district justice and thereafter each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. All judgments, costs and reasonable attorney fees collected for the violation of this Chapter shall be paid over to Wolf Township. The Court of Common Pleas, upon petition, may grant an order of stay, upon cause shown, tolling the per diem fine pending a final adjudication of the violation and judgment. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed or interpreted to grant to any person or entity other than Wolf Township the right to commence any action for enforcement pursuant to this Section.