[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council
of the Township of Stafford 12-16-1986 by Ord. No. 86-68. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Amended 2-17-1987 by Ord. No. 87-19]
A.
Zoning permits shall hereafter be secured from the
Zoning Officer prior to construction, erection or alteration of any
building or structure or part of a structure or use of a building
or structure or land. A zoning permit shall also be required prior
to the construction of any improvements or ground coverings which
increase impervious surface coverage upon a lot. All requests for
zoning permits shall be made in writing by the owner or his authorized
agent and shall include a statement of the use or intended use of
the building or structure or land and shall be accompanied by a plan
of the lot delineating thereon the exact size, shape and location
of all proposed structures and such other information as may be necessary
for the enforcement of this chapter. There shall be a fee of $25 for
processing said zoning permit, which fee shall accompany the application.
[Amended 4-18-1989 by Ord. No. 89-32; 3-20-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-33]
B.
Any change to an original zoning permit (i.e., alteration
or use of structure or property) shall void the original, requiring
a new zoning permit.
C.
Any zoning permit issued in conjunction with a building
permit shall expire within one year from the date of issuance of the
zoning permit if the authorized work or use is not commenced within
that time. If the authorized work is abandoned for a period of six
months after commencement of the work or use, the zoning permit shall
be considered void.
D.
Zoning permits shall not be required before the issuance of a building
permit by the construction official in the case of reroofing, residing,
window changes, fireplaces, wood/coal stoves or interior renovations
of a residential dwelling where the footprint of said dwelling is
not being altered and there is no increase in the living area or cubic
content of the structure. If a change of the structure or use would
result in an issuance of a building permit, a zoning permit would
be required prior to the issuance of the building permit.
[Amended 9-26-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-21]
E.
Prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy
by the Construction Official, a final review of the zoning requirements
shall be made by the Zoning Officer.
(1)
For new residential construction. An as-built survey showing the location of the structure, the intended use, off-street parking and compliance with § 130-72 and Chapter 194, as certified by a licensed engineer or licensed land surveyor, shall be submitted to and reviewed by the Zoning Officer. Prior to the issuance of a zoning permit for a new single-family dwelling, the Township Engineer must approve a grading plan and a grading permit must be issued pursuant to Chapter 118, Grading and Drainage. If the property is located in a flood hazard area (A or B Zone), the applicant must provide finished grade elevations at the lot corners and elevation of the lowest structural member certified by a registered engineer. Certification of the design of the enclosure openings below the lowest floor elevation must be made by a registered architect or engineer to meet the requirements of Chapter 114, Flood Hazard Areas. Prior to the final review of the zoning requirements, the finished grading must be inspected and approved by the Township Engineer.
[Amended 9-3-1996 by Ord. No. 96-60; 1-20-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-03]
(2)
For new nonresidential construction. Prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy by the Construction Official, a final review of the zoning requirements and any approvals granted by the Planning Board or the Zoning Board of Adjustment will be necessary. If the site is located in a flood hazard area, the applicant must provide all information needed to make a determination on the requirements of Chapter 114.
F.
Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy
by the Construction Official, exclusive of one-family dwellings and
sites involving no prior approvals from the Planning Board or Zoning
Board, a zoning permit must be applied for and approved by the Zoning
Officer. Information required prior to the zoning permit being issued
shall include, but not be limited to:
[Amended 6-24-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-76]
G.
For purposes of this chapter, a project shall be considered
abandoned if no progress is made within any six-month period after
the time of commencing the project or no inspection has been requested
in that six-month period.
H.
Zoning permits shall hereinafter be secured from the Zoning Officer prior to the construction of any and all streets, curbs, sidewalks, water and sewerage facilities and storm drainage systems or the clearing of land or removal of trees in excess of 20,000 square feet, except where such construction is solely for a single-family residence. Prior to the issuance of a zoning permit, the developer shall have complied with the requirements of §§ 130-96 and 194-5D, where applicable. Within the Pinelands Area of the Township, the aforementioned exceptions shall not apply, and zoning permits shall be required prior to the commencement of any development involving the clearing of land or removal of trees equal to or more than 1,500 square feet, including that associated with single-family residences.
[Added 10-16-1990 by Ord. No. 90-05; amended 4-16-1991 by Ord. No. 91-23]
I.
Within the Pinelands Area of the Township, the issuance of zoning permits shall be subject to the application, notice and review requirements contained in § 211-9.
[Added 4-16-1991 by Ord. No. 91-23]
J.
In the event that the Zoning Officer is caused to
reinspect the site, a reinspection fee of $15 shall be charged to
the applicant.
[Added 9-3-1996 by Ord. No. 96-60]
K.
Fences, internal walkways and patios, decks and accessory
structures.
[Added 9-8-1998 by Ord. No. 98-62; amended 3-20-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-33; 9-25-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-20; 11-24-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-38]
(1)
For fences, internal walkways and patios, decks and
accessory structures, the applicant is permitted to depict, by hand,
on the original survey the location of the new fence, internal walkway
and patio, deck or accessory structure, so long as the original survey:
(2)
If the Zoning Officer has reasonable cause to question the accuracy
of the handwritten depiction of the new fence, internal walkway, patio, deck
or accessory structure, the applicant shall be required to obtain
an as-built survey certified by a licensed engineer or a licensed
land surveyor. The property owner will sign an affidavit stating that
the Township assumes no responsibility for the location of the fence,
internal walkway, patio, deck or accessory structure and any dispute
arising out of the placement of the fence, internal walkway, patio,
deck or accessory structure is the responsibility of the property
owner.
(3)
If a property owner proposes to replace an existing fence with a
new fence in the same location and does not have a survey a survey
is not required if the property owner submits a notarized affidavit
that the new fence will be installed in the exact location as the
fence being replaced.
(4)
Minor repairs to an existing fence do not require a permit. Minor
repairs include no change in fence location and repair/replacement
of no more than 50% of the existing fence.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer to keep
a record of all applications for permits and a record of all permits
and certificates issued, with a notation of all special conditions
involved. He shall file and safely keep copies of all plans submitted,
and the same shall form a part of the records of his office and shall
be available for the use of the Township Council and of other officials
of the Township, county or state.
B.
The Zoning Officer shall prepare a monthly report
for the Township Council summarizing, for the period since his last
previous report, all zoning permits and certificates issued by him
and all complaints of violations and the actions taken by him.
The provisions of this chapter shall be administered
and enforced by the Zoning Officer. The Zoning Officer shall not issue
any permit for any structure or use which does not conform to the
provisions of the Township ordinances. It shall be the duty of the
Zoning Officer, upon the filing with him of any plans for the construction,
alteration or repair of any structure, to require the owner or agent
of the owner of such structure or land to certify, in writing, the
use or intended use of any structure or land so to be constructed,
altered or repaired, and he shall thereupon determine if such structure
or use is permitted by the provisions of the Township ordinances.
In case he shall determine that such structure or use, or both, is
nonconforming, he shall notify such owner or agent, in writing, to
that effect, stating in what respect such building or use is a nonconforming
structure or use.
A zoning permit issued by the Zoning Officer
shall be valid for a period of one year from its date of issuance.
[Added 3-3-1987 by Ord. No. 87-25]
Any owner, contractor or agent or any person,
firm or corporation who shall build, construct, erect, structurally
alter, enlarge, rebuild or repair any building or structure or commence
said work without having first obtained a zoning permit as required
by this chapter and in violation thereof shall, upon conviction thereof,
be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment for a term
of not to exceed 90 days, or both. The continuation of such violation
for each successive day shall constitute a separate punishable offense.
In addition to fines and penalties, the violation of any provision
of this chapter shall be subject to abatement or other injunctive
relief by order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
