5:10A-18 Approval required prior to construction, alteration of building or structure; violations, fines, civil action.

18. a. If any person constructs or alters any building or structure within the district, or directly causes the construction or alteration of any building or structure within the district, without first obtaining the approval of the commission or municipality of any application for a subdivision, site plan or building permit as may be required by sections 1 through 68 of P.L.2015, c.19 (C.5:10A-1 through C.5:10A-68), the person shall be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000, and each parcel, lot, plot, building, or rental unit so disposed of or agreed or caused to be disposed of shall be deemed a separate violation.

b. The commission and or municipality may cancel and revoke any permit, approval, or certificate required or permitted to be granted or issued to any person pursuant to P.L.2015, c.19 (C.5:10A-1 et al.), if the commission finds that the person has violated this section. When any violation of this section is of a continuing nature, each day during which the continuing violation remains unabated, after the date fixed by the commission or municipality in any order or notice for the correction or termination of the violation, constitutes an additional, separate, and distinct violation. The commission, in the exercise of its administrative authority pursuant to this act, may levy and collect the fines in the amounts set forth in this section. If an administrative penalty order has not been satisfied, the penalty may be recovered by the commission in a civil action brought in a summary proceeding pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

c. In addition to the foregoing, the commission or municipality may in the case of any violation of subsection a. of this section, institute a civil action:

(1) for injunctive relief;

(2) to prevent such unlawful sale, rental, erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance, or use;

(3) to restrain, correct, or abate such violation;

(4) to prevent the occupancy of said dwelling, structure, or land; and

(5) to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business, or use in, or about, such premises.

L.2015, c.19, s.18.