Borough of Houston, PA Chapter 180 Occupancy Permits

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Houston 6-14-1995 by Ord. No. 437. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 180-1 Permit required.

A. Upon completion of the authorized new construction, alteration, remodeling, change of use of building on land under the provisions of a building permit, such building shall not be occupied until an occupancy permit has been issued by the Borough Building Inspector. The Building Inspector's refusal to issue a certificate of occupancy shall include a written statement to the applicant containing reasons for such denial.

B. A certificate of occupancy is required for the following:

(1) Occupancy of a new building.

(2) Occupancy and use of a building hereafter moved or altered so as to require a zoning permit.

(3) Change in the use of an existing building or structure other than to a use of the same type.

(4) Occupancy and use of vacant land.

(5) Change in the use of land except to another use of the same type.

(6) Any change in use of a nonconforming use.

(7) Partial or temporary occupancies.

C. A certificate of occupancy shall state that the building or the proposed use of a building or land complies with all provisions of this chapter and is deemed to authorize the continued occupancy and use of the building and land so long as such building and use is in full conformity with the provisions of this chapter.

D. The certificate shall authorize only the use stated in the application, and if any structure on the premises is to be occupied as a dwelling, the occupancy thereof is limited to the number of families or persons stated in the application.

§ 180-2 Permit fee.

No application shall be approved until such time as the applicant has paid the application fee, which shall be included as part of the building permit fee, and the premises has been inspected by the Building Inspector or his delegate and, thereafter, a determination has been made that the premises are in compliance with this chapter.

§ 180-3 Approval.

A. No certificate of occupancy shall be approved until the subject project has been completed or the Building Inspector has determined the same to be fit for the use intended by the applicant. If the applicant desires to make use of the premises or project prior to its completion, the same is strictly prohibited until such time as an application has been made for a certificate of occupancy and all rules and regulations pertaining thereto and as contained herein have been determined by the Building Inspector to have been met. No premises, structure, swimming pool or the like shall be used until such time as a certificate of occupancy has been approved. If the project has not been completed and a partial use or occupation of the premises is desired by the applicant, the applicant must first make application to the Zoning Officer, pay a fee equal to the amount of the original cost of the permit and, thereafter, once the same has been examined by the Building Inspector and has been determined by him to be fit for the limited or partial use intended, said applicant may use and/or occupy the premises; however, nothing contained in this provision shall be interpreted or used as an excuse or viewed as a waiver of any of the other terms contained hereinabove pertaining to the expiration of any and all certificates for purposes of completion of the original project.

B. An application for a certificate of occupancy shall be approved or denied within 10 days of the date of the application.

§ 180-4 Compliance with performance standards.

In commercial and general manufacturing districts in which performance standards are imposed, no certificate of occupancy shall become permanent until 30 days after the facility is fully operating, when, upon a reinspection by the Zoning Officer, it is determined that the facility is in compliance with all performance standards.