[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council
of the Borough of Norristown 9-4-1990 by Ord. No. 90-23; amended in its entirety
by the Municipal Council of the Municipality of Norristown 6-3-2008 by Ord. No.
08-11. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The Municipality of Norristown has resolved
that boarded-up and enclosed buildings in the Municipality are not
in the interest of the public health, safety and welfare and that
an ordinance be adopted regulating the boarding and enclosing of buildings
in the Municipality of Norristown.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A condition when the property is vacant or unoccupied and
the owner of the property encloses three or more windows, doorways
or other openings of said building with plywood or similar materials.
A letter of credit, mortgage or similar document from a responsible
lender indicating the lender's commitment to finance the purchase
or rehabilitation of a property.
A.Â
When the owner, tenant or owner's agent decides or
is directed by Municipal officials to board up a building or enclose
an existing building, said person shall make an application to the
Municipal Building Inspector or other code enforcement officials for
a boarding permit.
B.Â
If a building is currently boarded up or has been
ordered boarded up by the Municipal Building Inspector or other code
enforcement officials, the building owner shall make an application
for a boarding permit within 10 days of notice.
Upon application for a permit under this chapter,
the person applying for the permit shall pay an application fee set
by resolution of Municipal Council which may be adjusted from time
to time.
The Municipal Building Inspector or other code
enforcement officials shall make a complete inspection of the premises
to determine that:
A.Â
The building is structurally sound and would present
no hazard to the community and is otherwise safe and secure.
B.Â
The electrical, heating, plumbing, water and sewage
systems are properly working. If any of the above systems are not
functional, they shall be made safe and secure.
C.Â
The building is baited for rodents and exterminated
for insects.
D.Â
The materials to board up shall be painted a similar
color to match surrounding brick, stucco, wood or other surrounding
materials.
E.Â
The work and materials used in boarding up the building
meet the standards of the Uniform Construction Code and/or the International
Property Maintenance Code or its successor legislation and any applicable
Municipal ordinances.
After the inspection has been completed by the
Building Inspector or other code enforcement officials, the Building
Inspector or other code enforcement officials shall advise the property
owner of the repairs, if any, required to make the property secure
for boarding and enclosing. After the property owner has made the
repairs, as directed by the Building Inspector or other code enforcement
officials, a boarding permit shall be issued to the property owner.
A building shall not be boarded up or enclosed
for a period of time exceeding three months from the date of application
of the permit. All extensions of the aforesaid permit time shall be
solely at the discretion of the Municipal Administrator or his/her
designee, based on the following circumstances:
A.Â
The owner has a valid building permit and is actively
rehabilitating the building;
B.Â
The owner has a valid agreement of sale with a perspective
purchaser and said purchaser has a commitment of finance or mortgage
from a responsible lender; or
C.Â
The owner has advertised the property for sale for
the past three months. "Advertising" consists of listing the property
with a real estate agent or placing a sign on the property and publishing
the offer for sale in a newspaper of local general circulation at
least once a week.
Any person who shall violate this chapter, shall
be subject to a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000, plus
all court costs and attorneys fees, or imprisonment set by a court
of competent jurisdiction.
