If you are establishing a new use, a zoning application must be completed and submitted to the City of Easton. The Zoning Administrator reviews each application to determine the type of development process and or permit required for any proposed land use.
A. Zoning permit required. No person shall excavate for or store material, machinery or equipment on a lot in connection with the erection, enlargement, construction, placement, reconstruction, alteration, repair, extension, replacement, installation, restoration or conversion of any building or structure, or change the use, increase the intensity of use or extend or displace the use of any building, structure and/or lot or portion thereof in the City, nor cause any land disturbance, changes in grade, or development of land without first filing an application with the office of the Zoning Administrator, in writing, and obtaining the required zoning permit therefor. The application for a zoning permit shall be made prior to the time an application for a building permit is filed with the municipal officer who is authorized and designated to issue building permits. For purposes of administration, the zoning permit required herein may be made part of a building permit but shall at no time be construed to be a building permit.
B. Application form. The application for a zoning permit shall be submitted in such form as the Zoning Administrator may prescribe.
C. Who makes application. Application for a zoning permit shall be made by the owner or lessee or agent or either of the building, other structure and/or lot, or by the contractor or certified design professional employed in connection with the proposed work. If the application is made by a person other than the owner in fee, it shall be accompanied by a duly verified affidavit of the owner or the qualified person making the application that the proposed work is authorized by the owner in fee and that the applicant is authorized to make such application. The full names and addresses of the owner, lessee, applicant and of the responsible officers, if the owner or lessee is a corporate body, shall be stated in the application.
D. Permit time limitation.
(1) A zoning permit shall be deemed to have been abandoned six months after date of issue unless the authorized development, use and/or construction has been diligently prosecuted, except that, for reasonable cause, the Zoning Administrator may grant up to two extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each.
(2) If the time period for a corresponding variance or other action has expired, the zoning permit shall also expire.
E. Action on application.
(1) The Zoning Administrator shall examine or cause to be examined all applications for permits and amendments thereto within 90 days of the filing of the application. If the application or the plans do not conform to the provisions of this chapter, he/she shall reject such application, in writing, stating the reasons therefor. He/she may also have the right to reject the applications or plans if the provisions of any City, county, state or federal laws have not been complied with. He shall also inform the applicant of his right to appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board.
(2) If he/she is satisfied that the proposed use conforms with the regulations and provisions of this chapter and all laws and ordinances applicable thereto, and that the certificate of use and occupancy as required herein has been applied for, he/she shall issue a permit thereafter as soon as practical.
F. Compliance with chapter required. A zoning permit shall not be construed as authority to violate, cancel or set aside any of the regulations and provisions of this chapter, except as specifically stipulated by modification or legally granted variance or special exception by the Zoning Hearing Board; nor shall a zoning permit be construed as a permit to build.
G. Posting permit. The zoning permit required under this section shall be kept posted upon the premises for which it was issued. It shall be displayed so that it can be seen from the street during the entire time the authorized development and/or construction as defined in the application is being performed.
H. Permit revocation. The Zoning Administrator may revoke a permit, certificate or approval issued under the provisions of this chapter in case of any false statement or misrepresentation of fact in the application or on the plans on which the permit or approval was based.
I. SUSPENSION OF WORK. Any zoning permit issued shall become invalid if the development is suspended or abandoned for a period of six months after the time of commencing such development as approved by the permit, except that, for reasonable cause, the Zoning Administrator may grant up to two extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each.
Please see the Zoning Application Forms section for the appropriate forms.
