The Department of Land Use, managed by the general manager of the department, who shall be qualified by education, experience and training, shall perform the following functions unless otherwise provided:
(1) The Department shall administer and enforce all statutes, ordinances and regulations for the protection of persons and property from hazards in the use, occupancy, condition, erection, alteration, maintenance, repair, removal and demolition of buildings and structures or any parts thereof, and of outdoor signs. The Department shall enforce compliance with the county subdivision and zoning code and regulations thereunder, subject to determinations made by the Board of Adjustment on appeals taken thereto.
(2) The Department shall:
a. Issue all forms for applications and receive all applications for licenses.
b. Determine whether an applicant is properly entitled to the license which that applicant seeks.
c. If the application is granted and the proper fee has been paid to the Office of Finance, issue the license to the applicant, either for itself or as agent for the officer, department or board under whose jurisdiction the subject matter thereof falls.
d. If the application is refused, notify the applicant in writing of the refusal and the reasons therefor.
e. The requirements and standards to be met by applicants for licenses shall include those established by the Department in cases in which the Department is responsible for the function involved.
(3) The Department shall make all inspections except as may otherwise be specifically provided in this title.
(4) The Department shall determine, as a result of its inspection, whether any person or the owner of any property is violating the conditions of any license, or whether any property owner is violating any statute, ordinance or regulation which it is the duty of the Department to enforce. If the Department shall find a violation to exist, it shall forthwith make such order or take such other lawful action as may be necessary to correct the dangerous or unlawful condition, and if necessary it shall invoke the assistance of the County Attorney or the County Police Department, or both.
(5) The Department, whenever it finds that a holder of any license is violating the conditions thereof, shall revoke, suspend or cancel the license. The Department shall also revoke, suspend or cancel a license whenever the office, department or board that granted the license so directs. Any revocation, suspension or cancellation shall be in writing and shall state in detail the reasons therefor.
(6) The Department, on request of any officer, department or board, shall make a special inspection of any property upon which unlawful conditions are believed to exist or to investigate the manner in which the holder of any license is operating under it. The Department shall also receive and consider complaints from citizens.
(7) The Department shall:
a. Verify compliance with the New Castle County Code related to lines and grades;
b. Not issue any permits or certificates of occupancy unless the lines and grades requirements of the New Castle County Code have been satisfied.
(8) The Department shall undertake studies of the pattern and of the potential for economic development within the County, and recommend to the County Executive programs designed to improve basic conditions conducive to better economic development of the County.
(9) The Department shall prepare and recommend to the Planning Board a comprehensive development plan for the County for the purpose of promoting health, safety, prosperity and general welfare. For those portions of the County which do not lie within the corporate limits of a municipality, the plan shall be definitive; for the remainder it shall reflect such portions of municipal planning as may be appropriate for inclusion in the county comprehensive development plan. Upon adoption of the comprehensive development plan, the Department shall be responsible for maintaining it on a current basis. To this end, it shall from time to time make recommendations to the Planning Board for modification in the plan. Such comprehensive development plan shall show, as to present and as to proposed ultimate development, the following:
land use, general location, extent and character of streets, bridges, waterways and other public ways; parks and open spaces; public buildings; public utilities and terminals, whether publicly or privately owned; public housing, slum clearance and rehabilitation areas; and any other physical facility, with due regard to the aesthetic characteristics of all public structures. The comprehensive development plan may, when requested by incorporated municipalities, set forth within such municipalities any or all of the elements mentioned in this paragraph.(10) The Department may develop and maintain the official map of those portions of the County which do not lie within the limits of incorporated municipalities. The official map and amendments thereto shall show all existing and established streets, planned streets, recommended street lines located on the final or recorded plats of subdivisions and the location of existing or planned parks and open spaces. Street locations on final or recorded plats of subdivisions shall constitute amendments to the official map and shall be placed thereon.
(11) The Department shall maintain and keep current the subdivision and zoning code for the County for the portions of the County which do not lie within the limits of incorporated municipalities. To this end, it shall make recommendations, through the County Executive to the County Council, for such revisions in the subdivision and zoning code as it shall deem appropriate and necessary for the purpose of promoting the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of the County, which Code may contain regulations with respect to the location, height, bulk and size of buildings and other structures, the size of yards, courts and other open spaces, the density of population, and the use of buildings, structures and land for trade, industry, business, residence or other purposes.
(12) The Department shall prepare and recommend, through the County Executive to the County Council, such measures as it shall deem appropriate for the clearance of slum areas, public housing developments, and the rehabilitation or redevelopment of blighted areas.
(13) The Department shall assist the County Executive and Chief Administrative Officer in the preparation of the capital improvement program for the 6-year period provided for in this title.
(14) The Department shall prepare and recommend, through the County Executive to the County Council, measures for the replanning, improvement and reconstruction of neighborhoods and community centers and of areas or districts which may be wholly or partially destroyed or seriously damaged by fire, earthquake, flood or other disaster.
(15) The Department shall assess all property subject to taxation by the County and maintain appropriate records.
(16) The Department shall prepare tax rolls, including those required by any municipality, school district or special district lying within or partially within the County if authorized by law or such districts.
(17) The Department shall prepare the necessary assessment rolls of assessable public improvements.