This chapter may be known and cited as the "Occupancy Ordinance."
No dwelling house, apartment or other living quarters, commercial establishment,
building, premise or structure may be occupied when there is a change in status
or change in occupancy after the date of this chapter until such time as the
owner or his agent has secured an occupancy permit to be issued by the Code
Enforcement Officer.
The Code Enforcement Officer is hereby appointed as the designated officer
who is authorized to carry out all responsibilities and duties stated herein.
The application for the occupancy permit shall disclose the following
information: address of the premises; name and address of owner; name and
address of buyer (if applicable); name of tenant, if rented; number of rooms;
bathroom facilities and general condition of the premises. The application
shall also disclose the proposed occupancy (example, single family, multifamily,
commercial, industrial).
The legal occupancy of any structure existing on the date of adoption
of this code, or for which it has been heretofore approved, shall be permitted
to continue without change, except as is specifically covered in this code,
the property maintenance or fire prevention codes or as is deemed necessary by the code official for the general
safety and welfare of the occupants and the public. No permit shall be issued
until such time as the premises are deemed to be in a livable and habitable
condition as provided by the Trafford Borough ordinances, rules, and regulations,
statutes and laws of Allegheny County, Westmoreland County and/or the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or any agency thereof, after an inspection by the Code Enforcement
Officer and/or any such person as Council may require from time to time.
The application for the permit shall be accompanied a fee as set forth
by resolution of the Borough of Trafford.
[Amended 5-10-2005 by Ord. No. 702]
Any person, firm, partnership, association or corporation, etc., violating
the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine
of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, together with costs of prosecution,
for each and every day that the said person or entity is in violation of this
chapter, provided that each day's failure to comply shall constitute a separate
violation.
An occupancy permit must be obtained for any change in occupancy, ownership
or use of any building or part thereof situated in the Borough of Trafford.
Prior to any change of occupancy or use, the applicant must apply to the Code
Enforcement Officer for an occupancy permit and pay the appropriate fee. All
data set forth in the immediate preceding section must be divulged to the
Code Enforcement Officer and the proper fee must be paid prior to issuance
of an occupancy permit. No entity(s) or person(s) shall be permitted to occupy
any premises(s) until the issuance of an occupancy permit following submission
of all data reasonably requested by the Code Enforcement Officer. The duty
to obtain said occupancy permit is hereby imposed upon the occupant, tenant,
owner, landlord or agent of any owner or management of real estate.