[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Hilltown as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Numbering of buildings — See Ch. 56.
Open burning — See Ch. 59.
Licensing of contractors — See Ch. 68.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 140.
Zoning — See Ch. 160.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The following provisions were deemed to meet the criteria of more stringent standards pursuant to § 65-5A in Article II of this chapter.
A. 
Plans and specifications. The application for the permit shall be accompanied by one copy of specifications and of plans, drawn to scale, with sufficient clarity and detailed dimension to show the nature and character of the work performed. When quality of materials is essential for conformity to the codes, specific information shall be given to establish such quality; and the code shall not be cited, or the term "legal" or its equivalent be used as a substitute for specific information. The Building Inspector may waive the requirement for filing plans when the work involved is of a minor nature. If, in the course of work, it is found necessary to make any changes from the approved plans and specifications on which a permit has been issued, amended plans and specifications shall be submitted and, if approved, a supplementary permit shall be issued to cover the change after the same conditions required to secure the original permit have been satisfied.
B. 
Site plan. There shall also be a site plan showing, to scale, the size and location of all the new construction and all existing structures and the site distances from lot lines, the established street grades and the proposed finished grades; and it shall be drawn in accordance with an accurate boundary line survey. In the case of demolition, the plot plan shall show all construction to be demolished and the location and size of all existing structures and the plan shall show the location of water service and sewer connections with respect to any building in which a plumbing system is to be installed. Vent stack terminations shall be shown with respect to building ventilation openings which could allow introduction of sewer gases into the building or any adjacent building.
C. 
Engineering details. The Building Inspector may require adequate details of structural, mechanical, plumbing and electrical work to be filed, including computations, stress diagrams and other essential technical data. All engineering plans and computations shall bear the signature of the engineer or architect responsible for the design. Plans for building more than two stories in height shall indicate where penetrations will be made for electrical, mechanical, plumbing and communications conduits, pipes and systems and the materials and methods for maintaining the required structural integrity, fire-resistance rating and fire-stopping.
D. 
Other permits required. At the time of filing an application for a permit, the applicant shall present to the Building Inspector evidence that he has obtained all necessary permits, licenses, approvals and/or variances as may be required by the laws of the Township and the commonwealth. Individuals, agencies, boards and commissions issuing aforesaid permits, licenses, approvals and/or variances shall include, but not be limited to, the Zoning Officer or Zoning Hearing Board, County Planning Commission, Sewage Enforcement Officer, Fire Chief, State Police Fire Marshal, Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and the Pennsylvania Department of Community Affairs.
Amendments to the BOCA Code, adopted by reference herein, are as follows:
A. 
Section 111.6 is amended to add §§ 111.6.2, 111.6.3 and 111.6.4 as follows:
(1) 
Section 111.6.2, Erosion and sedimentation control plan. An erosion and sedimentation control plan shall be submitted with all applications wherein excavation, placement of fill, and/or grading activities are proposed. The plan shall include a construction staging narrative, indicating the sequence of earthmoving activities, and proposed erosion and sedimentation control procedures. Measures used to control erosion and reduce sedimentation during construction activities shall conform to the standards and specifications of the Bucks County Conservation District. At a minimum, the following measures shall be included where applicable:
(a) 
Stripping of vegetation, regrading, or other activities shall be done in a way that will minimize erosion and resulting sedimentation.
(b) 
Cut and fill operations shall be kept to a minimum. Wherever feasible, natural vegetation shall be retained, protected and supplemented.
(c) 
All erosion and sedimentation control measures shall be installed per the approved plan prior to any earthmoving activities.
(d) 
The disturbed earthen area and the duration of exposure shall be kept to a practical minimum, but shall not exceed 20 days. All disturbed soils and topsoil stockpile areas shall be stabilized as quickly as possible and, if necessary, seeded with temporary vegetation and mulched. If stockpile areas are located on sloping ground or near waters of the commonwealth, same shall be enclosed with silt fencing.
(e) 
Permanent vegetation shall be installed as soon as practical on all sites.
(f) 
All runoff from project areas shall be collected and diverted to facilities for removal of sediment.
(g) 
Runoff from a project area shall not be discharged into the waters of the commonwealth without means to prevent sedimentation.
(h) 
Sedimentation in the runoff water shall be trapped and filtered until the disturbed area is stabilized by the use of debris basins, sediment basins, silt traps, or similar measures.
(i) 
Sediment barriers shall be properly installed with silt fencing trenched and hay bales staked.
(j) 
Tire cleaning areas constructed of PennDOT No. 4 stone and at least 50 feet in length shall be provided at each point of access to the lot.
(k) 
During construction activities, necessary measures for dust control must be exercised.
(l) 
It shall be the responsibility of each person, corporation or other entity performing grading and/or building activities to install and maintain erosion and sedimentation controls until the site is stabilized. In the event any mud and/or debris is transported from the site onto a public roadway, the debris shall be removed and the roadway swept and/or washed as deemed necessary by the Township at the owner's expense.
(2) 
Section 111.6.3, Grading plans. Applications for building permits wherein excavation, placement of fill and/or grading activities are proposed on any residential lot less than 50,000 square feet in area; all nonresidential applications; and all applications for any residential lot where, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, lot features such as slope, soils, or other natural features require special consideration of on-lot grading, shall be accompanied by a site plan providing the following information:
(a) 
A plot plan prepared by an engineer or surveyor licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania showing the proposed and existing topography of the site; all existing improvements to the site; dimensions, first floor elevations, and setbacks from property lines for all existing and proposed buildings; and location of all existing and proposed wells, water lines, utility lines, septic systems, sewer lines, storm sewers, sump pump drains, easements, trees to be removed, trees to remain, etc. The plan shall bear the imprint of the responsible licensed engineer or surveyor.
(b) 
Plot plans shall include sufficient off-site topographic information to determine the impact of any off-site runoff draining onto or through the property.
(c) 
A statement signing and sealed by a licensed engineer indicating that, to the best of his/her knowledge and belief, the proposed grading activities shall not significantly increase runoff to, and/or otherwise adversely impact, downstream properties except as may be part of an approved stormwater runoff collection and management plan.
(3) 
Section 111.6.4, Site plan review. The site plan shall Building Inspector and shall conform the approved subdivision and/or land be reviewed by the in every respect to development plan for the site. If, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, the proposed grading activities do not conform to previously approved plans, the application shall be referred to the Township Engineer for review. In the event the Township Engineer determines that the proposed grading activities do not conform to previously approved drawings, issuance of the building permit shall not occur unless and until the revised grading plan is reviewed and approved by the Board of Supervisors.
B. 
Exclusions. Exempted from the provisions of the code shall be accessory prefabricated buildings or structures which do not house people or animals and which are erected on site or delivered erected to the site and installed without masonry or pole type foundation below ground surface and not exceeding 100 square feet.
[Adopted 5-24-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-3]
Hilltown Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§  7210.101 through 7210.1103, as amended from time to time, and its regulations.
The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of Hilltown Township.
Administration and enforcement of the code within Hilltown Township shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by the governing body of Hilltown Township from time to time by resolution:
A. 
By the designation of an employee of Hilltown Township to serve as the municipal code official to act on behalf of Hilltown Township;
B. 
By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of Hilltown Township;
C. 
By agreement with one or more other municipalities for the joint administration and enforcement of this Act through an intermunicipal agreement;
D. 
By entering into a contract with another municipality for the administration and enforcement of this Act on behalf of Hilltown Township; and
E. 
By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and enforcement of structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling units and utility and miscellaneous use structures.
A Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution of the governing body of Hilltown Township in conformity with the requirements of the relevant provisions of the code; as amended from time to time, and for the purposes set forth therein. If at any time enforcement and administration is undertaken jointly with one or more other municipalities, said Board of Appeals shall be established by joint action of the participating municipalities.
A. 
All building code ordinances and portions of ordinances which were adopted by Hilltown Township on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirement of the code shall continue in full force and effect until such time as such provisions fail to equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the code, as amended from time to time.
B. 
All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which are in effect as of the effective date of this chapter and whose requirements are less than the minimum requirements of the code are hereby amended to conform with the comparable provisions of the code.
C. 
All relevant ordinances, regulations and policies of Hilltown Township not governed by the code shall remain in full force and effect.
Fees assessable by Hilltown Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the code shall be established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.