[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Concord 3-1-2005 by Ord. No. 290; amended
in its entirety 6-5-2007 by Ord. No. 314.
Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
Every property and every part thereof, including but
not limited to the exterior walls, siding, roofs, windows, exterior doors,
porches, shutters, gutters and downspouts, awnings, exterior stairs and chimneys,
and all accessory structures, including fences, walkways, driveways, storage
sheds, pools and any accessory structure built upon or above the ground, and
every part thereof, shall be kept structurally sound and in a state of good
repair.
B.
All exposed surfaces of the aforesaid buildings and structures
which are susceptible to decay shall be kept at all times painted or otherwise
provided with a finished protective coating sufficient to prevent deterioration.
Damaged materials must be repaired or replaced. Places showing signs of rot,
leakage, deterioration or erosion, weathering or seepage are to be restored
and protected.
C.
The aforesaid buildings and structures shall also be
maintained so that the appearance of the premises and structures shall not
constitute a blight factor for adjoining property owners nor an element leading
to the progressive deterioration of the neighborhood.
B.
Refuse.
(1)
The grounds and exterior of the premises and all structures
thereon shall be kept free of all nuisances, unsanitary conditions and any
hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians or other persons on or near
the premises. Brush, weeds, broken glass, obnoxious growths, garbage, trash,
rubbish, abandoned appliances, household furnishings, cars, boats and trailers,
which cars, boats and trailers or parts thereof are or have been junked, abandoned,
dismantled or are in a state of visible disrepair, and debris of any description
or nature shall be promptly removed from any premises, lot, field or parcel
of land. Holes, excavations, breaks, projections and obstructions on the grounds
shall be promptly removed or repaired.
(2)
Snow removal, landscaping and farming equipment must
be stored at designated areas located along the rear yard's building
envelope and must be adequately covered and/or screened.
C.
Parking and maintenance of motor vehicles.
(1)
Except as provided for in other regulations, no inoperative
or unlicensed motor vehicle, tractor or motorized boat/trailer shall be parked,
kept or stored on any premises residential property and no such vehicle shall
be kept in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being
stripped or dismantled. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted
inside an approved spray booth. In addition all vehicles must be parked on
designated impervious surfaces. Exception: A vehicle of any type is permitted
to undergo major overhaul, including bodywork, provided that such work is
performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved
for such purposes.
(2)
Display for sale of any operated equipment such as, but
not limited to, motor vehicle, tractors or motorized boat/trailers, is prohibited
along areas of front or side yard.
D.
Rodent harborage.
(1)
All structures and exterior property shall be kept free
from harborage and infestation. Where rodents are found, they shall be promptly
exterminated by approved processes, which will not be injurious to human health.
After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to eliminate rodent
harborage and prevent reinfestation.
(2)
When firewood is stored adjacent to any building's
exterior the volume of firewood must be kept to a maximum of 1/3 cord or 42
cubic feet. The wood pile must also be elevated a minimum of six inches above
grade when not stored adjacent to a building or wood piles must be located
to the rear of the principal building and must be covered and elevated six
inches above ground.
A.
The Township Manager, the Building Code Official or a
representative of either may enforce the provisions of this chapter, and,
with the approval of the Board of Supervisors, shall cause legal proceedings
to be instituted without prior notice to the landowner where the condition
of the premises poses a threat of imminent harm to the general public or occupants.
B.
If the nature of the condition found to exist on the
property is such that the general public or occupants are in danger, the Code
Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to order immediate repairs to
be made by the Township or an independent contractor under the direction of
the Township to render the condition safe. The property owner shall promptly
reimburse the Township for all such costs incurred by the Township.
Prior to institution of proceedings before a court of proper jurisdiction
except in exigent circumstances, the Township Building Inspector or Code Enforcement
Officer shall cause a written notice containing the nature of the violation
to be served upon the owner and/or occupant of the property. Service of the
notice shall be made in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested.
In the event that service cannot be effectuated by certified mail, service
may be made by first-class mail with postage prepaid, mailed to the last known
address of the person to be served. Service shall be deemed effective upon
mailing, and the date of such mailing or personal service shall be the beginning
date for computation of the time limits hereinafter established. Upon service
of any notice of violation of this chapter, the owner and/or occupant must
correct the defective condition within 30 days, or such further time as the
Township official enforcing the section shall agree, in writing.
A.
In the event an owner receives notice of a violation under § 127-4 of this chapter and is unable to correct the defective condition within the thirty-day period, the owner shall request a hardship hearing. A hardship hearing shall be held by the Building Code Board of Appeals within 30 days of receipt of the application, unless otherwise agreed upon by the owner and the Township.
B.
The applicant must demonstrate that a hardship exists
which makes compliance with the notice of violation impossible. The Board
of Appeals, in its discretion, shall either deny the hardship request or otherwise
resolve the situation as is appropriate given the hardship.
Any person who violates any provisions of this chapter shall be subject
to a fine not exceeding $1,000, plus attorney's fees and costs, for each
day that the violation continues after notice.
