A. 
Zoning Officer. The provisions of this chapter shall be administered by a Zoning Officer, the office of which is hereby established.
(1) 
Duties. The duties of the Zoning Officer shall be:
(a) 
To receive and check all applications for zoning permits and certificates of occupancy.
(b) 
To issue zoning permits and certificates of occupancy only for construction and uses which are in accordance with the regulations of this chapter and subsequent amendments; or through Board or court approval.
(c) 
To record and file all applications for zoning permits and certificates of occupancy together with accompanying plans and documents and keep them for public record.
(d) 
To prepare a complete list of all nonconforming uses and structures existing at the time of adoption of this chapter. This list shall be maintained up to date and shall be used in review of building and zoning permits. This list shall be available to the public.
(e) 
The Zoning Officer shall issue certificates of occupancy for nonconforming uses. He shall examine them periodically to determine that they do not expand beyond the limitations prescribed in the chapter.
(f) 
Upon specific request of the Commission or Board to furnish such facts, records and similar information, which will assist such body in reaching its decision.
(g) 
To be responsible for keeping this chapter, including the Zoning Map, up-to-date, and to include any amendments thereto.
(h) 
If the Zoning Officer shall find that any provisions of this chapter are being violated, he shall notify, in writing, the person responsible for such violation, indicating the nature of the violation and ordering the action necessary to correct it. He shall order discontinuance of illegal uses of land, buildings or structures; removal of illegal buildings or structures or of additions, alterations or structural changes thereto; order discontinuance of any illegal work being done; or shall take any other action authorized by this chapter to ensure compliance with or prevent violation of its provisions.
B. 
Zoning permits and certificates of occupancy.
(1) 
Zoning permits.
(a) 
A zoning permit shall be required prior to the erection, construction, moving or alteration of any building, structure or portion thereof.
(b) 
Applications for zoning permits shall be made, in writing, to the Zoning Officer and shall contain all information necessary to ascertain whether the proposed erection, construction, alteration or use complies with the provisions of this chapter, including the following:
[1] 
Plan in duplicate drawn to scale indicating:
[a] 
Actual dimensions and shape of the lot to be built upon.
[b] 
Exact size and location on the lot of all buildings and other structures, if any, and the location and dimensions of proposed buildings and other structures or alterations.
[c] 
Existing and proposed uses, showing the number of families the building is designed to accommodate.
(2) 
Applications for zoning permits shall be granted or refused within 15 days from date of application. One copy of the plans shall be returned to the applicant marked either approved or disapproved and attested to same by the signature of the Zoning Officer. The second copy of the plans, similarly marked, shall be filed in the office of the Zoning Officer.
C. 
Certificates of occupancy.
(1) 
A certificate of occupancy shall be required to be obtained by each occupant prior to the occupation for use or change of use of land, building or structure, or any portion thereof. This requirement shall apply to each new occupant notwithstanding the fact that a previous occupancy certificate was issued to another person, entity or individual.
[Amended 4-9-1996 by Ord. No. 1-1996]
(2) 
Application for a certificate of occupancy shall be made, in writing, to the Zoning Officer.
(a) 
When use of premises involves a new building or structure, or alterations to an existing building or structure, such application shall be made at the same time application for a zoning permit is made.
(b) 
When no construction or alteration is involved, application to occupy and use land may be made at any time. Such application shall contain all information necessary for the Zoning Officer to determine whether the proposed occupation and use of land conforms to the provisions of this chapter.
(c) 
An application for a certificate of occupancy shall be granted or refused within 15 days after the Zoning Officer has been officially notified of completion of construction or application to occupy and use land where no construction is involved.
This chapter shall be enforced by the Zoning Officer of Plymouth. No permit or certificate of occupancy provided for in this chapter shall be granted by him for any purpose except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, or with a decision of the Board or the courts.
Whenever a violation of this chapter occurs, or is alleged to have occurred, any person may file a written complaint stating fully the causes and basis thereof, which shall be filed with Zoning Officer. He shall acknowledge such complaint, immediately investigate, and take action thereon as provided in this chapter.
Fees for permits and administration of the provisions of this chapter shall be established by resolution.
A. 
Enforcement penalties. Any person, partnership or corporation who or which shall violate provisions of this chapter shall be prosecuted under the provisions of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Act of July 31, 1968, No. 247, as amended, Article VI, Section 616,[1] which provides; "Any person, partnership or corporation who or which shall violate the provisions of any zoning ordinance enacted under this act or prior enabling laws, shall upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500. In default of payment of the fine, such person, the members of such partnership, or the officer of such corporation shall be liable to imprisonment for not more than 60 days. Each day that a violation is continued shall constitute a separate offense. All fines collected for the violation of zoning ordinances shall be paid over to the municipality whose ordinance has been violated."
[1]
Editor's Note: Section 616, renumbered as § 10616, was repealed by 1988, Dec. 21, P.L. 1329, No. 170, § 59. For provisions regarding enforcement notice, see 53 P.S. § 10616.1. Also, see 53 P.S. § 10617.
B. 
Enforcement remedies. In case any building, structure, or land is, or is proposed to be, erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, converted, maintained or used in violation of this chapter, the Borough Council of Plymouth Borough or the Zoning Officer of Plymouth Borough or the Borough Solicitor, in addition to other remedies, may institute in the name of Plymouth Borough any appropriate action of proceeding to prevent, restrain, correct or abate such building, structure or land, or to prevent, in or about such premises, any act, conduct, business or use constituting a violation, as further provided by said Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, Article VI, 53 P.S. § 10617.