[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Washington 4-29-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-5[1]; amended in its entirety 12-12-2017 by Ord. No. 2017-3. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: The provisions of this chapter,
so far as they are the same of those ordinances and regulations in
force immediately prior to the enactment of this chapter, are intended
as a continuation of such ordinances and regulations and not as new
enactments. The provisions of this chapter shall not affect any act
done or liability incurred, nor shall they affect any suit of prosecution
pending or to be instituted to enforce any of these repealed ordinances
or regulations.
The International Property Maintenance Code, 2015, as published
by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the
property maintenance code of Washington Township.
The following subsections and/or words in the International
Property Maintenance Code, 2015 (hereinafter the "Property Maintenance
Code") are hereby amended to substitute the following words for the
original words contained in this chapter (original language contained
in brackets):
A.
Section 101.1, substitute "Washington Township" for [NAME OF JURISDICTION].
B.
Section 103.1 shall read as follows:
103.1 Creation of the Office of the Building Code Official. The office of the Building Code Official is hereby created and the
executive official(s) in charge thereof shall be known as the "Building
Code Official."
C.
Section 103.2 shall read as follows:
103.2 Appointment. The Building Code Official shall
be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and shall serve at the pleasure
of the Board of Supervisors.
D.
Section 103.5 shall read as follows:
103.5 Fees. The fees for all enforcement activities,
work, permits, charges, and services performed by the Township and
its Building Code Official (BCO) and its designated representatives
shall be paid in accordance with the fee schedule resolution in effect
at the time such action is taken and services are performed.
E.
Section 106.3 shall read as follows:
106.3 Prosecution of violation. Persons who shall
violate a provision of this code, fail to comply with any of the requirements
thereof, or erect, install, alter or repair work in violation of the
approved construction documents or directive of the Building Code
Official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions
of this code, shall be guilty of a summary offense, punishable by
a fine of not more than $1,000 per violation. Each day that a violation
continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate
offense.
F.
The title of Section 111.1 shall read as follows:
Section 111.1 Calls for Formation of Board of Appeals
to Hear Appeals.
G.
Section 112.4 shall read as follows:
112.4 Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue
any work after having been served with a stop-work order, except such
work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or
unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine (a separate offense) of
not less than $500 or more than $1,000.
H.
Section 202 is hereby revised to include the following definitions:
OCCUPIED. To take or enter upon possession of; to hold possession;
to hold or keep for use; to be used by someone; to possess. As applied
to a building or portion thereof, this term shall be construed as
though followed by the words, "or intended, arranged or designed to
be occupied," or "having a certificate of use and occupancy."
DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED/ONE-FAMILY DWELLING. A building
used or intended to be used as one dwelling unit and containing no
other uses, except accessory uses to the dwelling unit.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY/TWO-FAMILY DWELLING. A building which contains
two separate and distinct dwelling units, each with its own exterior
entrance. Such buildings are typically, but not necessarily, configured
as semidetached dwellings (or twin homes) or with one dwelling wholly
above the other (also known as a "duplex").
I.
Section 202 is hereby amended as follows: in the definition of "owner,"
the phrase "if ordered to take possession of real property by a court"
is hereby deleted from the definition.
J.
Section 301 is hereby amended to include the following additional
subsection known as 301.2.1:
301.2.1 Properties abutting public right-of-way. here properties abut a public right-of-way, the abutting property
owner shall be responsible for the maintenance of the area between
their property line and the cartway, including the curb, the sidewalk
and grass areas between the curb and the property line.
K.
Section 302 is hereby amended to include the additional subsection
known as 302.3.1:
302.3.1 Clear path after cessation of snowfall required. here sidewalks exist, those responsible (see Section 301.2.1, as
amended) for the sidewalks shall have at least a two-foot-wide path
cleared of snow and ice within 24 hours after the cessation of the
snowfall.
Exception: When more than 12 inches of snow has
fallen, those responsible for the sidewalk shall have at least a two-foot-wide
path cleared of snow and ice within 48 hours after the cessation of
the snowfall.
L.
Section 302.4, substitute 10 inches for the reference of [JURISDICTION
TO INSERT HEIGHT IN INCHES].
M.
Subsection 302.4.2 is hereby amended to Subsection 302.4.1 and is
amended in its entirety as follows:
302.4.1 Notice of violation. The Building Code
Official, or any officer or employee of the Township designated thereby
for this purpose, is hereby authorized to give notice, by personal
service or United States Mail, to the owner or occupant or any adult
person in charge of said premises, as the case may be, of any property
wherein grass or other vegetation is in violation of Section 302.4,
directing and requiring such occupant or owner to remove, trim or
cut such grass, weeds or vegetation so as to conform to the requirements
of this code, within five days after issuance of such notice.
Whenever, in the judgment of the Building Code Official, it
shall appear to be impracticable to give notice, as above provided,
either because the owner or occupant cannot readily be found or because
a search for the owner or occupant would entail unreasonable delay,
the Township or any officer or employee of the Township designated
thereby for that purpose may give notice by posting conspicuously
on the property where such nuisance exists a notice or order directing
and requiring that such nuisance be abated within five days.
In case any person, firm or corporation shall neglect, fail
or refuse to comply with such notice within the period of time stated
therein, the Township may proceed with the removal, trimming or cutting
of such grass, weeds or vegetation, and the cost thereof, together
with a penalty of 10% of the cost thereof, all be collected from such
person, firm or corporation in the manner provided by law and may
be entered as a municipal lien against the property and owner thereof
for the abatement of nuisance.
N.
Section 302.8 shall read as follows:
302.8 Motor vehicles. Only one intact inoperative
or unlicensed motor vehicle may be parked, stored, or kept on any
premises. No vehicle shall at any time be 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.
Exception: A vehicle of any type is permitted to
undergo major overhaul, including body work, provided that the vehicle
is stored and such work is performed inside a structure or similarly
enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes.
O.
Section 304.14, substitute "May 15th" for the first reference of
[DATE], and "October 15th" for the second reference of [DATE].
P.
Section 602.3, substitute "October 1st" for the first reference of
[DATE], and "May 1st" for the second reference of [DATE].
Q.
Section 602.4, substitute "October 1st" for the first reference of
[DATE], and "May 1st" for the second reference of [DATE].
R.
Substitute in all relevant sections of the code "Building Code Official"
for [Code Official].
S.
Substitute in all relevant sections of the code "Board of Supervisors"
or "Township" for [CHIEF APPOINTING AUTHORITY], as appropriate.
