[Amended STM 10-2-1978 by Art. 1]
No building shall be erected, altered or moved in the Town without a written permit issued by the Building Inspector. Permits shall be applied for in writing. The Building Inspector shall not issue any such permit unless the plans for the building and the intended use thereof in all respects fulfills the provisions of this chapter, except as may have been specifically permitted otherwise by action of the Board of Appeals, provided that a written copy of the terms governing any such permission be attached to the application and to the resulting building permit issued. One copy of each such permit, as issued, including any conditions or exceptions attached thereto, shall be kept on file in the office of the Building Inspector. This provision shall not apply to alterations of less than $2,000.
Each application for a permit to build, alter or move a building shall be accompanied by a plot plan in such number of copies and drawn to such scale as is required by the Building bylaws of the Town. Each such plot plan shall show dimensions and areas of lots and of structures to be erected, altered or moved and adjacent streets or angles of all lot lines shown thereon, and also of any streets or ways. Such plot plans shall also indicate approved street grades and proposed elevations of the tops of foundations, the locations of existing sanitary sewers, storm drains and water pipes in any street shown and the locations of all existing buildings and structures within the application area, provided that the cost of said construction exceeds $500.
[Amended STM 10-2-1978 by Art. 1; ATM 5-3-2005 by Art. 47; 11-16-2021 STM by Art. 4]
This chapter shall be enforced by the Building Inspector or other person designated by the Select Board. The Building Inspector, upon being informed, in writing, of a possible violation of this chapter or on his own initiative shall make or cause to be made an investigation. After investigation and inspection, he shall give written notice of such premises. The Building Inspector shall demand in such notice that such violation is abated within a reasonable time, designated therein by the Building Inspector. Such notice and demand may be given by mail addressed to the owner at the address appearing for him on the most recent real estate tax records of the Town and to the occupant at the address of the premises of such seeming violation. A copy of said notice shall be filed with the Select Board. The Building Inspector shall also comply with the notice requirements in MGL C. 40A, § 7.
[Amended STM 10-2-1978 by Art. 1]
If, after such notice and demand, such violation has not been abated within the time specified, the Building Inspector shall institute appropriate action or proceedings in the name of the Town to prevent, correct, restrain or abate any violation of this chapter. Penalties as specified in § 205-58 shall begin immediately upon expiration of the time specified for abatement by the Building Inspector if such abatement has not taken place.
[Amended STM 10-2-1978 by Art. 8; ATM 5-3-1997 by Art. 34]
Any violation of any provision of this chapter or of any regulation by the Town Health Officer pursuant to this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than $300. Each violation and each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense, punishable by fine as aforesaid.
[Added STM 11-18-2014 by Art. 14]
In addition to the provisions of enforcement listed above, the Building Commissioner may, in his discretion, enforce the provisions of the Zoning Bylaw by noncriminal disposition pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 21D. Each day on which a violation exists shall be deemed to be a separate offense. Noncriminal citations may be appealed to Gardner District Court or Worcester County Housing Court in accordance with MGL c. 40, § 21D. The penalty for violation of any provision of the Zoning Bylaw pursuant to this section shall be $50 for the first offense; $75 for the second offense; $100 for the third offense; and $125 for the fourth and each subsequent offense.