Borough of Steelton, PA Property Maintenance

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 82, Property Maintenance, adopted 10-18-1982 by Ord. No. 82-9, as amended.

Deletions. The following sections and subsections of the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code herein adopted are hereby deleted in their entirety:

(1)

Section 103, Department of Property Maintenance Inspection.

(2)

Section 104, Duties and powers of the Code Official.

(3)

Section 105.1, Modifications.

(4)

Section 106, Violations.

(5)

Section 107, Notices and Orders.

(6)

Section 108, Unsafe Structures and Equipment.

(7)

Section 109, Emergency Measures.

(8)

Section 110, Demolition.

(9)

Section 111, Means of Appeal.

(10)

Section 302.7.1, Gates.

(11)

Section 302.8, Motor vehicles.

(12)

Section 302.9, Defacement of property.

(13)

Section 303.3, Premises identification.

(14)

Section 303.14, Insect screens.

(15)

Section 305.2.1, Rubbish storage facilities.

(16)

Section 305.3.1, Garbage facilities.

(17)

Section 502.4, Employees' facilities.

(18)

Section 502.4.1, Drinking facilities.

(19)

Section 503.3, Location of employee toilet facilities.

(20)

Section 602.3, Heat supply.

(21)

Section 602.4, Occupiable work spaces.

(22)

Section 602.5, Room temperature measurement.

Amendments. The following sections and subsections of the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code are hereby amended to read as follows:

(1)

Section 101.1 Title, is amended to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Property Maintenance Code of the Borough of Steelton," hereinafter referred to as the "Property Maintenance Code" or "this code."

(2)

Section 102.3, Application of other codes, is amended to read as follows:

102.3 Other regulations. Where provisions of this code are found to be in conflict with a provision in any building or zoning ordinance, or in any other ordinance of the Borough of Steelton existing on the effective date of this code, or in any regulation issued under the authority of such ordinances, the provision which establishes the higher standard for the protection of health, safety and welfare shall prevail.

(3)

The following definition, contained in Section 202, General Definitions, is amended to read as follows, and Section 103.1, Officer, is amended to read as follows:

CODE OFFICIAL — The Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough, who is charged with the administration and enforcement of this code, or any duly authorized representative.

(4)

Section 302.4, Weeds, is amended to read as follows:

302.4 Noxious weeds, grass or other vegetation. No person, firm or corporation owning or occupying any property within the Borough of Steelton shall permit any grass or weeds or any vegetation whatsoever, not grown for human consumption or planted for some useful or ornamental purpose, to grow or remain upon such premises so as to exceed a height of eight inches or to throw off any unpleasant or noxious odor or to conceal any filthy deposit or to create or produce pollen. Any grass, weeds or other vegetation growing upon any premises in the Borough in violation of any of the provisions of this section is hereby declared to be a nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, cleanliness and comfort of the inhabitants of the Borough. The Council of the Borough of Steelton, or any officer or any employee of the Borough designated thereby for the purpose, including the Borough Code Enforcement Officer, is hereby authorized to give notice by personal service or by registered mail to the owner or occupant, as the case may be, of any premises whereon grass, weeds or other vegetation is growing and remaining in violation of the provisions of this section and directing and requiring such occupant to remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation so as to conform to the requirements of this section within five days after issuance of said notice. In case such premises are occupied and the owner thereof cannot be found, then such notice may be served by posting a copy thereof in at least two conspicuous places on said premises for a period of three days, requiring cutting within these three days. In case any person, firm or corporation shall neglect, fail or refuse to comply with such notice, the Borough or its agents may remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation, and the costs thereof, together with any additional penalty authorized by law, may be collected by the Borough from such person, firm or corporation in the manner provided by law.

(5)

Section 303.4, Structural members, is amended to read as follows:

303.4 Structural members. The supporting structural members of every building shall be maintained structurally sound, not showing any evidence of deterioration which would render them incapable of carrying the imposed loads.

(6)

Section 402.2, Common halls and stairways, is amended to read as follows:

402.2 Common halls and stairways. Every common hall and stairway in every building other than one- and two-family dwellings shall be adequately lighted at all times with an illumination of at least a sixty-watt light bulb every 25 feet maximum. Such illumination shall be provided throughout the normally traveled stairs and passageways and at entrances and exits of the building.

(7)

Section 404.3, Minimum ceiling heights, is amended to read as follows:

404.3 Minimum ceiling heights. Habitable rooms shall have a clear ceiling height over the minimum area required by this code at not less than seven feet (2.13 meters). In attics or top half-stories, the ceiling height shall be not less than seven feet (2.13 meters) over not less than 1/3 of the minimum area required by this code when used for sleeping, study or similar activity. In calculating the floor area of such rooms, only those portions of the floor area of the room having a clear ceiling height of five feet (1.52 meters) or more may be included.

(8)

Section 404.4.3, Water closet accessibility, is amended by the deletion therefrom of the second sentence requiring every bedroom in a dwelling unit to have access to at least one water closet and lavatory located on the same story as the bedroom or an adjacent story.

(9)

Section 506.1, General, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

506.1 Connection to sewer line. Every structure used for residential and/or nonresidential purpose within 300 feet of a public sewer line shall be connected to such line in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the ordinances of the Borough.

(10)

Section 602.2, Residential occupancies, is amended to read as follows:

602.2 Residential buildings. Every dwelling unit and guest room shall be provided with heating facilities capable of maintaining a room temperature of 68° F. (20° C.) at a point three feet (0.91 meters) above the floor and three feet (0.91 meters) from an exterior wall in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms. The furnace shall be placed in operation at the beginning of the heating season.

(11)

Section 605.2, Receptacles, is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

605.2 Outlets required. Where there is electric service available to a structure, every habitable room of a dwelling unit and every guest room shall contain at least two separate and remote baseboard or wall-type electric convenience outlets. A ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture may be installed in addition to the two required outlets. In a kitchen, three separate and remote wall-type electric convenience outlets or two such convenience outlets and one ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture shall be provided. Every public hall, water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room or furnace room shall contain at least one electric light fixture. In addition to the electric light fixture in every bathroom and laundry room, there shall be provided at least one electric outlet. The outlet in the bathroom must be installed on a ground-fault circuit.

Additions. The following new sections and subsections shall be added to the 2000 International Property Maintenance Code:

(1)

A new definition is added to Section 202, General Definitions, to read as follows:

CELLAR — That portion of a building which is partly or completely below grade, and having at least 1/2 its height below grade.

(2)

A new definition is added to Section 202, General Definitions, to read as follows:

PUBLIC NUISANCE — Includes the following:
1.	The physical condition, or use of any premises regarded as a public nuisance at common law; or
2.	Any physical condition, use or occupancy of any premises or its appurtenances considered an attractive nuisance to children, including, but not limited to, abandoned wells, shafts, basements, excavations and unsafe fences or structures; or
3.	Any premises which have unsanitary sewerage or plumbing facilities; or
4.	Any premises designated as unsafe for human habitation or use; or
5.	Any premises which are manifestly capable of being a fire hazard, or are manifestly unsafe or unsecure as to endanger life, limb or property; or
6.	Any premises from which the plumbing, heating and/or facilities required by this code have been removed, or from which utilities have been disconnected, destroyed, removed or rendered ineffective, or the required precautions against trespassers have not been provided; or
7.	Any premises which are unsanitary, or which are littered with rubbish or garbage, or which have an uncontrolled growth of weeds; or
8.	Any structure or building that is in a state of dilapidation, deterioration or decay; faulty construction; overcrowded; open, vacant or abandoned; damaged by fire to the extent as not to provide shelter, in danger of collapse or failure and is dangerous to anyone on or near the premises.

(3)

A new section, Section 404.8, is added to read as follows:

404.8 Occupancy of cellars. No cellar shall be occupied as a dwelling unit or habitable room. This section shall not be construed to prohibit workrooms, playrooms or other recreation rooms in cellars. In the event that a cellar is used as a workroom, playroom or other recreation room, it must comply with the following requirements:
	1.	The floors and walls shall be impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and protected against dampness. The floors shall be constructed of materials which are easy to keep in a clean and sanitary condition.
	2.	There shall be adequate lighting and ventilation and a safe and unobstructed means of egress.

(4)

A new section, Section 404.9, is added to read as follows:

404.9 Posted occupant load. Every room constituting a place of assembly shall have the occupant load of the room posted in a conspicuous place near the main exit from the room. Approved signs shall be maintained in a legible manner by the owner or an authorized agent. Signs shall be durable and shall indicate the number of occupants permitted for each room use. All posting signs shall be furnished by the owner and shall be of permanent design. They shall not be removed or defaced and, if lost, removed or defaced, shall be immediately replaced.

(5)

A new section, Section 601.3, is added to read as follows:

601.3 Discontinuance of required services and removal of required appurtenances. No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service which is required under this code to be removed, shut off or discontinued in any occupied dwelling let or occupied by him except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs are in process or during temporary emergencies.

(6)

Section 604.1, Facilities required, is amended by the addition thereto of the following: "Every structure used for a residential and/or nonresidential purpose which is located within 300 feet of power lines shall be supplied with electric service. All electrical equipment, wiring and appliances shall be installed and maintained in a safe manner in accordance with the requirements of the Borough Electrical Code."[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 54, Electrical Standards.

(7)

Section 704.1, Smoke detectors, shall be amended by the addition thereto of the following:

704.1 Early detection devices. Early detection devices shall be installed by the owner in the sleeping area of every existing apartment, boarding or rooming unit in accordance with NFPA Standard No. 72. Early detection devices shall be installed in one- and two-family dwellings upon sale or transfer of the property in accordance with NFPA Standard No. 72.

(8)

A new section, Section 704.4, is added, to read as follows:

704.4 Fire-extinguishing equipment. All hand-operated auxiliary fire-extinguishing equipment shall be of an approved size and type suitable to the occupational use of the building and shall be installed in corridors or other locations, visible and readily accessible to the occupants of the building in accordance with NFPA No. 10, listed in Appendix B. In hotels, dormitories and apartment houses, at least one fire extinguisher shall be provided on each floor at the stairway landing and in the corridor at each elevator or bank of elevators.

[1]

Editor's Note: Now Magisterial District Judge.