1. Zoning permit required
Hereafter, no use listed herein may be established or changed; no structure shall be erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, razed or removed; and no building used or occupied, or changed in use, until a zoning permit has been secured from the Zoning Officer. Upon completion of changes in use or construction, reconstruction, alteration or moving of structures, the applicant shall notify the Zoning Officer of such completion. No permit shall be considered as complete or as permanently effective until the Zoning Officer has noted on the permit that the work or occupancy and use have been inspected and approved as being in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
2. Application for zoning permit; certificate of approval.

A. All applications for zoning permits shall be made in writing by the owner, tenant, vendee under contract of sale or authorized agent on a form supplied by the Township, and shall be filed with the Zoning Officer. The application shall include four copies of the following information:

(1) A statement as to the proposed use(s) of the building or land.
(2) A site layout drawn to scale showing the location, dimensions and height of proposed buildings, structures or uses and any existing buildings in relation to property and street lines. If the application relates to property scheduled to be developed in successive stages, such plans shall show the relationship of the portion scheduled for initial development to the proposed layout of the entire property.
(3) The location, dimensions and arrangements of all open space, yards and buffer yards, including methods to be employed for screening.
(4) The location, size, arrangement and capacity of all areas to be used for motor vehicle access, off-street parking, off-street loading and unloading and provisions to be made for lighting such areas.
(5) The dimensions, location and methods of illumination for signs, if applicable.
(6) The location and dimensions of sidewalks and all other areas to be devoted to pedestrian use.
(7) Provisions to be made for treatment and disposal of sewage and industrial wastes, water supply and storm drainage.
(8) The capacity and arrangement of all buildings used or intended to be used for dwelling purposes, including the proposed density in terms of number of dwelling units per acre of land.
(9) A description of any proposed industrial or commercial operations in sufficient detail to indicate effects of those operations in producing noise, glare, air pollution, water pollution, fire hazards, traffic congestion or other safety hazards.
(10) Description of methods to be employed in controlling any excess noise, air pollution, smoke, fumes, water pollution, fire hazards or other safety hazards.
(11) Steep slope calculations.
(12) Any other data deemed necessary by the Zoning Officer to enable him to determine the compliance of the proposed development with the terms of this chapter.

B. No permit for any new use or construction which will involve the on-site disposal of sewage or waste, and no permit for a change in use or an alteration which will result in an increased volume of sewage or waste to be disposed of on the site, shall be issued until a certificate of approval has been issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources and conforms to all applicable Township regulations.
C. Nonresidential zoning permit applications, with the exception of permits for repairs, shall be referred to the Whitemarsh Township Planning Commission for review and comment prior to the issuance of said permits.

See Building and Zoning Permit Application for more information.

3. Period of validity of permit.
Any erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration or moving of a building or other structure, including a sign authorized by a zoning permit, shall be commenced, and any change in use of a building or land authorized by a zoning permit shall be undertaken, within one year after the date of issuance of the permit. If not, the permit shall be considered null and void. However, in case of erection or construction of a building, the right to proceed with construction may be extended annually without additional fees for an aggregate period of not more than three years, provided that the construction pursuant to said permit has commenced within the first one-year period.
4. Certificate of occupancy.

A. Hereafter, no structure erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, extended or moved, and no land or building changed in use, ownership or tenancy under a zoning permit, shall be occupied or used in whole or in part for any use whatsoever, until the owner and authorized agent has been issued a certificate of occupancy by the Zoning Officer, indicating that the building or use complies with the terms of zoning as provided in this chapter.
B. No certificate shall be issued until the premises in question has been inspected and found by the Zoning Officer to be in compliance with the Zoning Ordinance.
C. The issuance of a certificate of occupancy in no way absolves the owner or authorized agent from compliance with the intent of this chapter.

See Occupancy Permits for more detailed information.

5. Appeals from decision of Zoning Officer.
Appeals to the Board may be taken by any landowner, developer or person affected by any decision of the Zoning Officer. Such appeal shall be taken within the time limitations established by the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, as amended, by filing a notice of appeal with the Board, specifying the grounds thereof.
6. Permit fees.
The applicant for a permit shall, at time of making the application, pay to the Zoning Officer for the use by cash payments to the Township in accordance with a fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors upon the enactment of this chapter or as such schedule may be amended by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
See Fee Schedule for more information.
See Building, Permitting and Licensing for more information.
SeeArticle XXX: Administration for more information on Township administrative provisions.