Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall,
for the purposes of this code, have the meanings shown in this chapter.
Words stated in the present tense include the future; words
stated in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; the
singular number includes the plural and the plural, the singular.
Where terms are not defined in this code and are defined in
the International Building Code, International Existing Building
Code, International Fire Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International
Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Residential
Code, International Zoning Code or NFPA 70, such terms shall
have the meanings ascribed to them as stated in those codes.
Exception: When used within this code, the terms
unsafe and dangerous shall have only the meanings ascribed to them
in this code and shall not have the meanings ascribed to them by the
International Existing Building Code.
Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by
this section, such terms shall have ordinarily accepted meanings such
as the context implies.
Whenever the words "dwelling unit," "dwelling,"
"premises," "building," "rooming house," "rooming unit," "house-keeping unit" or "story" are stated in this code, they shall be construed as
though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof."
Secured in a manner that provides positive connection.
Acceptable to the code official.
That portion of a building that is partly or completely below
grade.
A room containing plumbing fixtures including a bathtub or
shower.
Any room or space used or intended to be used for sleeping
purposes in either a dwelling or sleeping unit.
The Code Enforcement Manager and Building code official for the Municipality of Norristown or their duly authorized representatives.
A building, structure, or facility that is not a residential
building.
To adjudge unfit for occupancy.
The costs shall include the actual costs of the demolition
or repair of the structure less revenues obtained
if salvage was conducted prior to demolition or repair. Costs shall
include, but not be limited to, expenses incurred or necessitated
related to demolition or emergency repairs, such as asbestos survey
and abatement if necessary; costs of inspectors, testing agencies
or experts retained relative to the demolition or emergency repairs;
costs of testing; surveys for other materials that are controlled
or regulated from being dumped in a landfill; title searches; mailing(s);
postings; recording; and attorney fees expended for recovering of
the cost of emergency repairs or to obtain or enforce an order of
demolition made by a code official, the governing
body or board of appeals.
When a structural element is physically disconnected from
another and that connection is necessary to provide a positive connection.
To weaken, disintegrate, corrode, rust or decay and lose
effectiveness.
A single unit providing complete, independent living facilities
for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living,
sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation.
That portion of land or property reserved for present or
future use by a person or agency other than the legal fee owner(s) of the property. The easement shall
be permitted to be for use under, on or above said lot or lots.
An operable exterior window, door or other similar device
that provides for a means of escape and access for rescue in the event
of an emergency.
Those structural members or assemblies of members or manufactured
elements, including braces, frames, lugs, snuggers, hangers or saddles,
that transmit gravity load, lateral load and operating load between
the equipment and the structure.
The open space on the premises and on adjoining
property under the control of owners or operators of such premises.
Any number of individuals living together on a nontransient
basis as a single housekeeping unit and doing their cooking on the
premises. The definition shall not apply to the occupants of a club,
fraternity house, lodge or residential club. Notwithstanding the aforesaid
definition, a family shall include any number of mentally or physically
handicapped persons occupying a dwelling unit as a single, nonprofit
housekeeping unit, if such occupants are handicapped persons as defined
in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair
Housing Amendments Act of 1988. Such unrelated individuals shall have
the right to occupy a dwelling unit in the same manner and to the
same extent as any family unit as defined previously.
A stairway located on the exterior of the structure that
is constructed for the sole purpose of providing a path of egress
travel for building occupants in the event of emergency.
The animal or vegetable waste resulting from the handling,
preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
A building component or a system of building components located
at or near the open sides of elevated walking surfaces that minimizes
the possibility of a fall from the walking surface to a lower level.
Space in a structure for living, sleeping,
eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, closets, halls, storage or utility spaces,
and similar areas are not considered habitable spaces.
Any building or structure that is one or
more of the following:
Listed or certified as eligible for listing, by the State Historic
Preservation Officer or the Keeper of the National Register of Historic
Places, in the National Register of Historic Places.
Designated as historic under an applicable state or local law.
Certified as a contributing resource within a National Register
or state or locally designated historic district.
An air intake system used to capture by entrapment, impingement,
adhesion, or similar means, grease, moisture, heat, and similar contaminants
to transfer them out of the space. The system includes cooking equipment,
filters, hoods, ducts, fans, fire extinguishing systems, and special
effluent or energy control systems.
A room or group of rooms forming a single habitable space equipped and intended to be used for living,
sleeping, cooking and eating that does not contain, within such a
unit, a toilet, lavatory and bathtub or shower.
A condition that could cause serious or life-threatening
injury or death at any time.
The presence, within or contiguous to, a structure or premises of insects, rodents, vermin or other
pests.
A vehicle that cannot be driven upon the public streets for
reason including but not limited to being unlicensed, wrecked, abandoned,
in a state of disrepair, or incapable of being moved under its own
power.
Equipment, materials or products to which have been affixed
a label, seal, symbol or other identifying mark of a nationally recognized
testing laboratory, approved agency or other organization
concerned with product evaluation that maintains periodic inspection
of the production of the above-labeled items and
whose labeling indicates either that the equipment, material or product
meets identified standards or has been tested and found suitable for
a specified purpose.
To permit, provide or offer possession or occupancy of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, building, premise or structure by a person who is or is not the legal owner of record thereof, pursuant to a written or unwritten
lease, agreement or license, or pursuant to a recorded or unrecorded
agreement of contract for the sale of land.
A building containing three or more dwelling units. Units
may be arranged entirely in vertical rows (like townhouses) and are
generally located entirely above or below one another. Units may share
outside access and/or internal hallways, lobbies and similar facilities.
The dwelling units cannot be individually lotted, but instead share
the lot or tract on which the building containing them is located.
The development is usually under one operating unit, as a rental or
condominium development. This dwelling type includes but is not limited
to low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise apartments and multifamily conversions
as defined below.
LOW-RISE APARTMENTAn apartment building not exceeding three stories and 36 feet in height, also known as a "garden apartment."
MID-RISE APARTMENTAn apartment building exceeding three stories and 36 feet in height but not exceeding six stories and 72 feet in height.
HIGH-RISE APARTMENTAn apartment building exceeding six stories and 72 feet in height but not exceeding 10 stories and 120 feet in height.
MULTIFAMILY CONVERSIONA multifamily dwelling, containing not more than four units, that results from the conversion of a single-family or two-family dwelling, also known as a "converted apartment building."
The lack of proper maintenance for a building or structure.
A property, building, or structure that is not occupied by
the person(s) listed on the recorded deed.
The purpose for which a building or portion thereof is utilized
or occupied.
Any individual living or sleeping in a building or having
possession of a space within a building.
That part of a window, skylight or door which is available
for unobstructed ventilation and which opens directly
to the outdoors.
Any person who has charge, care or control of a structure or premises that is let or offered for occupancy.
Any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation
having legal or equitable interest in the property; or recorded in
the official records of the state, county or municipality as holding
title to the property; or otherwise having control of the property,
including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the executor
or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession
of real property by a court.
An individual, corporation, partnership or any other group
acting as a unit.
Any person who has charge, care, control or management of
a non-owner occupied (rental) property and lives and/or has an office
within 50 mile radius from the property.
The control and elimination of insects, rodents or other
pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making
inaccessible materials that serve as their food or water; by other approved pest elimination methods.
A lot, plot or parcel of land, easement or public way, including any structures thereon.
Any street, alley or other parcel of land that: is open to
the outside air; leads to a street; has been deeded, dedicated or
otherwise permanently appropriated to the public for public use; and
has a clear width and height of not less than 10 feet (3048 mm).
A detached one-family and/or two-family dwelling and/or townhouses
which are not more than three stories above grade plane in height
with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures.
A building arranged or occupied for lodging, with or without
meals, for compensation and not occupied as a one- or two-family dwelling.
Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit
occupied or intended to be occupied for sleeping or living, but not
for cooking purposes.
Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage;
the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal,
coke and other combustible materials, paper, rags, cartons, boxes,
wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery and
dust and other similar materials.
A dwelling unit having its own independent outside access,
with no other dwelling units located directly and totally above or
below it, and having party walls in common with at least one but not
more than three adjacent similar dwelling units and located in a building
comprised of at least three dwelling units. Each dwelling unit may
be individually lotted or owned as a condominium. This dwelling type
shall include but not be limited to dwelling units commonly known
as "townhouses," "row houses," "triplexes," "quadruplexes," and "multiplexes."
A dwelling designed for and occupied exclusively as a residence
for only one family and not attached to any other building or dwelling
units.
A two-family building with dwelling units placed side-by-side
and joined to each other by a vertical, common party wall but otherwise
surrounded by yard areas. When lotted, each dwelling unit may be on
a separate lot, with the common boundary between the two lots running
along the common party wall. Separate ingress and egress is provided
to each unit.
A room or space in which people sleep, which can also include
permanent provisions for living, eating and either sanitation or kitchen
facilities, but not both. Such rooms and spaces that are also part
of a dwelling unit are not sleeping units.
An offense in which the prosecution in a legal proceeding
is not required to prove criminal intent as a part of its case. It
is enough to prove that the defendant either did an act which was
prohibited, or failed to do an act which the defendant was legally
required to do.
That which is built or constructed.
A person, corporation, partnership or group, whether or not
the legal owner of record, occupying a building or
portion thereof as a unit.
A room containing a water closet or urinal but not a bathtub
or shower.
A single-family attached dwelling in a row of at least three
units, with one dwelling unit from ground to roof, with individual
outside access. Although these units are in rows, their design should
deemphasize a lined-up appearance.
A residential building containing two dwelling units and
which is not attached to any other building. A two-family building
counts as two dwelling units for density purposes.
A two-family building with one dwelling unit placed above
the other so that they share a common horizontal partition. When lotted,
a duplex shall be entirely on one lot. Separate ingress and egress
is provided to each unit.
The deformation at which failure occurs and that shall be
deemed to occur if the sustainable load reduces to 80 percent or less
of the maximum strength.
The natural or mechanical process of supplying conditioned
or unconditioned air to, or removing such air from, any space.
Executed in a skilled manner; e.g., generally plumb, level,
square, in line, undamaged and without marring adjacent work.
An open space on the same lot with a structure.
