[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Greensburg 1-14-1974 as Ord. No. 960. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Construction codes, uniform — See Ch. 135.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 205.
Zoning — See Ch. 265.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DANGEROUS BUILDING
All buildings or structures which have any or all of the following defects:
A. 
Those whose interior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity falls outside of the middle third of its base.
B. 
Those which, exclusive of the foundation, show thirty-three percent (33%) or more of damage or deterioration of the supporting member or members or fifty percent (50%) of damage or deterioration of the nonsupporting enclosing or outside walls or covering.
C. 
Those which have improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs or in which the same are overloaded or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
D. 
Those which have been damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as to have become dangerous to life, safety or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of the City of Greensburg.
E. 
Those which have become or are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe or unsanitary or which so utterly fail to provide the amenities essential to decent living that they are unfit for human habitation or are likely to cause sickness or disease, so as to work injury to the health, safety or general welfare of those living therein.
F. 
Those which have parts thereof which are so attached that they may fall and injure members of the public or property.
G. 
Those which, because of their condition, are unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous to the health, safety or general welfare of the people of this City.
H. 
Those buildings existing in violation of any provision of Chapter 135, Construction Codes, Uniform, or other ordinances of this City.
[Amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]
The following standards shall be followed in substance by the Planning Director or their designee of the City of Greensburg in ordering repair, vacation or demolition:
A. 
If the dangerous building can reasonably be repaired so that it will no longer exist in violation of the terms of this chapter, it shall be ordered repaired.
B. 
If the dangerous building is in such condition as to make it dangerous to the health, safety or general welfare of its occupants, it shall be ordered to be vacated.
C. 
In any case where a dangerous building is fifty percent (50%) or more damaged or decayed or deteriorated from its original condition, it shall be demolished, and, in all cases where a building cannot be repaired so that it will no longer exist in violation of the terms of this chapter, it shall be demolished. In all cases where a dangerous building is a fire hazard existing or erected in violation of the terms of this chapter or any ordinance of the city or statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it shall be demolished.
All dangerous buildings within the terms of § 122-1 of this chapter are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be repaired, vacated or demolished as herein provided.
[Amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]
The Planning Director or their designee shall:
A. 
Inspect on a regular basis all public buildings, schools, halls, churches, theaters, hotels, tenements or commercial, manufacturing or loft buildings for the purpose of determining whether any conditions exist which render such places dangerous buildings within the terms of § 122-1 of this chapter.
B. 
Notify owners of any dangerous building of the particulars which make the building or structure a dangerous building and shall issue an order requiring the same to be put in such condition as to comply with the terms of this chapter within such length of time, not exceeding thirty (30) days, as is reasonable.
C. 
Appear at all hearings conducted by the City Council and testify as to the condition of dangerous buildings.
D. 
Place a notice on all dangerous buildings reading substantially as follows:
This building has been found to be a dangerous building by the Planning Director or their designee of the City of Greensburg. This notice is to remain on this building until it is repaired, vacated or demolished in accordance with the notice which has been given the owner, occupant, lessee, mortgagee or agent of this building and all other persons having an interest in said building. It is unlawful to remove this notice until such notice is complied with.
[Amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]
If the owner, occupant, mortgagee or lessee fails to comply with the order of the Planning Director or their designee within the time specified in the notice issued by such officer, the City Council shall cause such building or structure to be repaired, vacated or demolished as the facts may warrant, under the standards hereinbefore provided, and shall cause the costs of such repair, vacation or demolition to be charged against the land on which the building existed as a municipal claim or to be recovered in a suit at law against the owner.
[Amended 12-21-1994 by Ord. No. 1646; 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter or who shall fail to comply with any notice given by the Planning Director or their designee to repair, vacate or demolish any building shall, upon condition of such offense, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.) or be imprisoned for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues beyond the date fixed for compliance shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 9-14-2015 by Ord. No. 2057]
In cases where it reasonably appears that there is immediate danger to the life or safety of any person unless a dangerous building, as defined herein, is immediately repaired, vacated or demolished, the Planning Director or their designee shall cause the immediate repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous building. The costs of such emergency repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous building shall be collected in the same manner as provided herein for other cases.
In cases, except emergency cases, where the owner, occupant, lessee or mortgagee is absent from the city, all notices or orders provided for herein shall be sent by registered mail to the owner, occupant, mortgagee, lessee and all other persons having an interest in said building, as shown by the records of the Recorder of Deeds of Westmoreland County, to the last known address of each, and a copy of such notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the dangerous building to which it relates. Such mailing and posting shall be deemed adequate service.