[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Sunbury 8-27-2007.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 130, Property Maintenance, adopted 9-9-1991 by Ord. No. 1157, as amended.
[Amended 12-22-2014; 7-10-2017; 12-11-2017; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A certain document, a copy of which is on file in Code Administration office of the City of Sunbury, being marked and designated as the International Property Maintenance Code, current edition, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., is hereby adopted as the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Sunbury in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for regulating and governing the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures, by providing the standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use; and the condemnation of buildings and structures unfit for human occupancy and use, and the demolition of such existing structures as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said International Property Maintenance Code, current edition, on file in the Code Administration office, are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this chapter, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in § 130-2 of this chapter.
[Amended 12-11-2017]
A. 
The following sections of the International Property Maintenance Code are hereby revised:
(1) 
In Section 101.1, insert "City of Sunbury."
(2) 
In Section 103.1, insert "Department of Public Safety."
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
(3) 
In Section 202, add "of City of Sunbury" to the definition of Code Official.
(4) 
In Section 202, the definition of "Person" is amended to include the following:
Person: It shall also include an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver or other representative appointed according to law. Whenever the word "person" is used in any section of this code prescribing a penalty or fine, as to partnerships or association, the word shall include the partners or members thereof, and as to corporations, shall include the officers, agents or members thereof who are responsible for any violation of such section.
(5) 
In Section 202, insert the following:
Material storage: All building materials stored on any lot, land or open structure, or part thereof, such as siding, roofing, boards, fencing, bricks, etc., shall be placed on elevated racks with at least 18 inches of clear space beneath. "Open structure," as defined herein, shall include, but not be limited to, carports, tarps, or any other types of temporary coverings used to cover or store building materials.
(6) 
In Section 302.4, insert "10 inches."
(7) 
In Section 304.14, insert "April 15 through October 15."
(8) 
In Section 308.2, add the following to "Disposal of rubbish":
Disposal of rubbish: The owner, operator, or agent of any property within City limits shall be responsible for the removal of such rubbish, including any costs associated with such removal.
(9) 
In Section 308.3, add the following to "Disposal of garbage":
Disposal of garbage: The owner, operator, or agent of any property within City limits shall be responsible for the costs of removal of such garbage, including any costs associated with such removal.
(10) 
In Section 308.3.2, add the following to "Containers":
Containers: The owner, operator, or agent of any property within City limits shall be responsible for the costs of removal of such garbage, including any costs associated with such removal.
(11) 
In Section 602.3, insert "September 15 through April 15."
(12) 
In Section 602.4, insert "September 15 through April 15."
B. 
The following are hereby added as Property Maintenance Code standards:
(1) 
Prohibited furniture. Interior-type furniture that would be adversely affected by the elements and/or susceptible to infestation by insects, rats, or other vermin is prohibited from being placed outside a structure. Such prohibited furniture shall include but is not limited to upholstered couches and chairs or other fabric-covered articles not designed or intended for exterior use.
(2) 
Removal of abandoned or prohibited furniture. When the Code Administration Officer determines that prohibited or abandoned furniture is located in an exterior property area, the Code Administration Officer shall cause the owner or other responsible person to be notified of the violation. If the prohibited or abandoned furniture is not removed within the time set forth in such notice, the owner of the premises or other responsible person, including a tenant, shall be issued a citation based upon the discretion of the Code Administration Officer. Upon the issuing of the citation, the City may cause the abandoned or prohibited furniture to be removed, and the owner shall be responsible for all costs associated with such removal.
(3) 
Egress, escape, and rescue openings.
A. 
Every existing sleeping room shall have at least one operable emergency escape, egress, and/or rescue window or exterior door or a door leading to a direct secondary exterior escape or egress. Any such emergency escape, egress, and/or rescue window shall meet the conditions set forth in Subsection C below.
B. 
Third-floor access for existing structures. When it is impossible to have an exterior stairway for a second egress and/or escape, a fire ladder may be used so long as the following conditions are met:
i. 
Any emergency escape, egress, and/or rescue window shall meet the conditions set forth in Subsection C below.
ii. 
A UL- or OSHA- or NFPA-approved ladder must be installed, with the proper length to match the egress height of the structure.
iii. 
The fire ladder must be kept no less than 12 inches from the egress window.
C. 
Size of egress window. The size of any window used for egress and/or escape shall be as follows: The minimum opening height shall be 24 inches, and the minimum opening width shall be 20 inches. The window shall be no more than 44 inches from the floor.
(4) 
Landscaping. All premises shall be landscaped, and the lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept trimmed.
Nothing in this chapter or in the Property Maintenance Code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing under any act or ordinance hereby repealed by this chapter; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this chapter.
[Added 12-11-2017[1]]
A. 
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, together with the costs of prosecution, or imprisonment for a term of not to exceed 90 days, or both, at the discretion of the court. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served, in accordance with the terms and provisions hereof, shall be deemed a separate offense. For the purposes of this chapter, "due notice" shall consist of a single written notice or citation relative to a specific type of violation to be served on a property owner. Additional future notices of said violation, or additional notice of future violations of the same specific type, shall not be necessary for the period of one year after the most recent previous notice.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
B. 
All violations, both interior and exterior of any property and/or structure, shall show proof of a signed contract with a licensed contractor or a plan of action for the work to be completed within 30 days of the receipt of a notice for the violations.
(1) 
Failure to comply with either the signed contract or having the work begin may result in a citation of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, together with the costs of prosecution.
(2) 
Further failure to comply with the violations and correction of either interior or exterior nature will result in the issuance of citations of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000, together with the costs of prosecution.
[1]
Editor's Note: Pursuant to this ordinance, former § 130-4, Publication requirements, was removed.