[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 1]
It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, business or
corporation to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, the construction,
reconstruction, enlargement, alteration or relocation of any building
or structure unless an approved building permit has been obtained
from the Township Building Permit Officer.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 2]
For the purposes of this Part, the following definitions shall
apply:
A combination of materials to form a permanent structure
having walls and a roof. Included shall be all mobile homes and trailers
to be used for human habitation.
Any person, persons, partnership, business or corporation.
A combination of materials to form anything permanently affixed
to or in the ground or to any other building or structure permanently
affixed to or in the ground. Included shall be such things as driveways,
carports, porches, swimming pools, etc.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 3]
1.
Application for such a building permit shall be made in writing to
the Building Permit Officer on forms supplied by the Township. Such
application shall contain at least the following:
A.
Name and address of applicant.
B.
Name and address of owner of land on which proposed construction
is to occur.
C.
Name and address of contractor.
D.
Site location.
E.
Brief description of proposed work and estimated cost.
F.
A plan of the site showing the exact size and location of the proposed
construction as well as any existing buildings or structures.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 4]
The Building Permit Officer shall issue a building permit only
after it has been determined that the proposed construction will be
in conformance with all applicable requirements and regulations.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 5]
After the issuance of a building permit by the Building Permit
Officer, no changes of any kind shall be made to the application,
permit or any of the plans, specifications or other documents submitted
with the application without the written consent or approval of the
Building Permit Officer.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 6]
In addition to the building permit, the Building Permit Officer
shall issue a placard which shall be displayed on the premises during
the time construction is in progress. This placard shall show the
number of the building permit, the date of its issuance and be signed
by the Building Permit Officer.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 7]
Work on the proposed construction shall begin within six months
after the date of issuance of the building permit or the permit shall
expire unless a time extension is granted, in writing, by the Building
Permit Officer. Construction shall be considered to have started with
the first placement of permanent construction on the site, such as
the pouring of slabs or footings or any work beyond the stage of excavation.
For a structure without a basement or poured footings, the start of
construction includes the first permanent framing or assembly of the
structure or any part thereof on its pilings or foundation, or the
affixing of any prefabricated structure or mobile home to its permanent
site. Permanent construction does not include land preparation, land
clearing, grading, filling; excavation for basement, footings, piers
or foundations; erection of temporary forms; the installation of piling
under proposed subsurface footings or the installation of sewer, gas
and water pipes, or electric or other service lines from the street.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 8]
During the construction period, the Building Permit Officer
or other authorized official may inspect the premises to determine
that the work is progressing in compliance with the information provided
on the permit application and with all applicable Township laws and
ordinances. In the event the Building Permit Officer discovers that
the work does not comply with the permit application or any applicable
laws and ordinances, or that there has been a false statement or misrepresentation
by any applicant, the Building Permit Officer shall revoke the building
permit and report such fact to the Swatara Township Supervisors for
whatever action they consider necessary.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 9; as amended by Ord. 44,
6/11/1998]
Applications for a building permit shall be accompanied by a
fee in an amount as established by resolution, payable to the Township,
based upon the estimated cost of the proposed construction as determined
by the Building Permit Officer.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 10]
Any person aggrieved by the Building Permit Officer's estimate
of the cost of the proposed construction may appeal to the Swatara
Township Supervisors. Such appeal must be filed, in writing, within
30 days after the determination by the Building Permit Officer. Upon
receipt of such appeal, the Supervisors shall set a time and place
not less than 10 nor more than 30 days for the purpose of hearing
the appeal. Notice of the time and place of the hearing of the appeal
shall be given to all parties at which time they may appear and be
heard. The determination of the estimated cost by the Supervisors
shall be final in all cases.
[Ord. 6, 4/23/1973, § 11; as amended by Ord. 44,
6/11/1998]
Any person who fails to comply with any or all of the requirements
or provisions of this Part or who fails or refuses to comply with
any notice, order or direction of the Building Permit Officer or any
other authorized employee of the Township, upon conviction thereof
in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner
provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania
Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not
more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine
and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day
that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part
which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate
offense. In addition to the above penalties, all other actions are
hereby reserved, including an action in equity for the proper enforcement
of this Part. The imposition of a fine or penalty for any violation
of, or noncompliance with, this Part shall not excuse the violation
or noncompliance or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall
be required to correct or remedy such violations and noncompliances
within a reasonable time. Any structure or building constructed, reconstructed,
enlarged, altered or relocated in noncompliance with this Part may
be declared by the Swatara Township Supervisors to be a public nuisance
and abatable as such.
