Township of Dickinson, PA: Residency Reporting

Title. This chapter shall be titled and may be cited as the "Dickinson Township Residency Reporting Ordinance."

Purpose.

Whereas the Township of Dickinson, by and through its Board, has the power under the Second Class Township Code (P.L. 103 of 1933 and as amended) to take all actions necessary to secure the safety, health and general welfare of persons and property within the Township; and

(2)

Whereas the Board of Supervisors finds that it may be necessary, in order to protect the safety and welfare of persons and property, to know the name and address of all persons living in Dickinson Township; and

(3)

Whereas the Board of Supervisors desires to insure the fair and impartial collection of the earned income and per capita tax imposed by the Township; and

(4)

Whereas, the fair and impartial imposition of taxes requires that the Township have available to it a list of all residents in the Township;

(5)

The Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors enacts this chapter requiring reports to Dickinson Township containing the names and addresses of all persons living in the Township, including all tenants occupying premises rented to them by a landlord.

§ 146-2 Definitions.

The following words when used in this chapter shall have the meaning described below, except where the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:

FULL-TIME RESIDENT

Any person who occupies a residence located within the boundaries of Dickinson Township, unless as a temporary and transient accommodation. For the purposes of this chapter, a full-time resident of Dickinson Township shall be so considered in accord with the usual and customary definitions set forth by the Commonwealth Department of Revenue, defining residency for tax purposes. Typical indicators of full-time residence used by the Department of Revenue include, but are not limited to, the address used for voting, receipt of mail, driver's license, and registration for personal property such as bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and automobile ownership.

LANDLORD

Any person who leases or rents a residence within the boundaries of Dickinson Township to a tenant.

PERSON

Any natural person, partnership, association, firm or corporation.

RESIDENCE

Any house, room, mobile home, manufactured home, trailer, apartment or other dwelling unit or place of dwelling intended for the use of one or more persons as a place of abode.

§ 146-3 Reporting requirement by landlords.

Within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter, each landlord shall submit to the Township Secretary a complete list specifying the names and addresses of all tenants who occupy a residence leased, rented or by permission otherwise occupied by a tenant. The Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, provide a standard form to assist landlords in submitting this information.

Within 30 days of when a tenant begins or ends occupation of a residence, as defined by a lease or rental agreement or by permission otherwise granted, each landlord shall submit to the Township Secretary a list specifying the names and addresses of all tenants who occupy the residence.

For the purpose of this chapter, the fact that an owner of real estate rents or leases any property for minimal or no rent to another person shall not exclude said owner from filing a list as described above.

From time to time, in order to verify and update information on record, the Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, require that each landlord submit to the Township Secretary a new complete list specifying the names and addresses of all tenants who occupy a residence leased, rented or by permission otherwise occupied by a tenant.

§ 146-4 Reporting requirement of full-time residents by property owners.

Within 30 days of the effective date of this chapter, each property owner shall submit to the Township Secretary a list specifying the names and addresses of all persons who occupy as full-time residents any property located in Dickinson Township. The Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, provide a standard form to assist property owners in submitting this information.

Within 30 days of when a person begins or ends full-time occupation of a residence, each property owner shall submit to the Township Secretary an updated list specifying the names and addresses of all persons who occupy the residence.

From time to time, in order to verify and update information on record, the Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, require that each property owner submit to the Township Secretary a new complete list specifying the names and addresses of all persons who occupy as full-time residents any property located in Dickinson Township.

§ 146-5 Enforcement.

The Dickinson Township Supervisors, Township Codes Enforcement Officer, or other designated person shall be responsible for enforcing the provisions of this chapter.

§ 146-6 Penalties.

Any person who shall violate or permit the violation of this chapter shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil proceeding commenced by this Township, pay a civil penalty of not less than $50 and not more than $1,000 plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred by this Township.