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Town of Coventry
Town of Coventry Zoning Ordinance
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§ 255-311

Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO).

§ 255-311. Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO). [Added 10-14-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-22] The Director of the Department of Planning and Development shall be the ZEO.

  • A. Qualifications. The minimum qualifications of the ZEO shall be the ability to intelligently interpret this chapter and to enforce the chapter in an effective, firm and tactful manner, and to carry out such other related duties as may be required by law.

  • B. Duties. The ZEO has authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter, which includes performance of the following duties:

    • (1) Order the correction of any violation of this chapter;

    • (2) Order that the illegal uses of land, buildings or structures be discontinued or cease;

    • (3) Order the removal of illegal buildings, structures, illegal additions, and/or structural alterations;

    • (4) Order that any illegal work in progress be discontinued or cease;

    • (5) Interpret the zoning ordinances of the Town and this chapter; and opine thereon on behalf of the Town in their official capacity as ZEO;

    • (6) In accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-24-54, upon written request, issue a zoning certificate or provide guidance, clarification and/or information to a requesting party;

    • (7) Research, drafting, and signing of and in connection with zoning certificates;

    • (8) Research, drafting, and signing of and in connection with modification permit;

    • (9) Inspect suspected and/or credibly reported Code violations;

    • (10) Research, perform site inspections, drafting and signing in connection with zoning enforcement documents, including but not limited to Notice of Orders ("NOO") and Notice of Violations ("NOV");

    • (11) Keep records in connection with the performance of their duties as ZEO;

    • (12) Collect fees and fines for enforcement of this chapter or law; and pay all funds received over to the Town's finance department at the direction of the Finance Director; and (13) Perform other duties and exercise other powers as are authorized by this chapter, law or are otherwise lawfully delegated to the ZEO.

  • C. Delegation of duties. The ZEO may delegate to one or more subordinates ("Designee"), such as a Zoning Clerk or Special Duties Clerk, all or a portion of their duties under this chapter so long as the Designee works at the direction of the ZEO, is responsible to the ZEO and is qualified to perform such delegated duties as to the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter. It shall be the responsibility of the ZEO to ensure that their Designee is qualified, trained and supervised by them.