A. The Village Council shall enforce this chapter and may require directly or delegate the authority to require the issuance of specified permits, certificates or authorizations as a prerequisite to:

(1) The erection, construction, alteration, repair, remodeling, conversion, removal or destruction of any building or structure;

(2) The use or occupancy of any building, structure or land; and

(3) The subdivision or resubdivision of any land.

B. Pursuant to this provision, there is hereby created the office of the Zoning Officer of the Village of Ridgewood.

C. Duties of Zoning Officer and Village Engineer. It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer to enforce Articles X, XI and XIII of this chapter and of the Village Engineer and Public Works Director or their designee, to enforce Articles VII and IX of this chapter. Pursuant to that duty, such officials are authorized to investigate any violation or alleged violation of such article coming to his/her attention, whether by complaint of third persons or from their own personal knowledge or observation. When any building or structure is erected, constructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained or any building, structure or land is used in violation of any provision of Articles VII, IX, X, XI and XIII, it shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer or Village Engineer and Public Works Director, or their designated representative, as applicable, to proceed with the enforcement of said article and the penalties provided for hereunder. Such enforcement may include the issuance of summons requiring an appearance in Municipal Court. They may also pursue such other statutory method or methods, heretofore or hereafter provided, as may be open to them.

D. In the enforcement of Articles VII, IX, X, XI and XIII, the Zoning Officer or Village Engineer and Public Works Director, as applicable, may apply to the Municipal Court Judge of the Village for a warrant to search and inspect the properties and premises upon which he/she has reason to believe any violation of said article has taken or is taking place, and upon probable cause shown, the Municipal Court Judge may issue such a warrant and the information obtained pursuant thereto shall be admissible as evidence in any court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of proving any case brought for violation of this chapter.

**Webmasters Note: The previous subsections, C. and D., have been amended as per Ordinance No. 3035.

In case any building or structure is erected, constructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained or any building, structure or land is used in violation of this chapter, the proper local authorities, as contained herein, or an interested party may institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use to restrain, correct or abate such violation, to prevent the occupancy of said building, structure or land or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about such premises, Each and every day such violation continues after the expiration of an abatement notice or after initial construction, as the case may be, shall be deemed a separate and distinct violation.

The owner or user of any building or structure, lot or land or part thereof where anything in violation of this chapter shall be placed or shall exist and any architect, builder, contractor, agent, person or corporation employed in connection therewith and who assists in the commission of such violation shall each be guilty of a separate misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall each be liable for a penalty as set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article I.