Township of Washington, PA Property Maintenance

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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liability incurred, nor shall they affect any suit of prosecution pending or to be instituted to enforce any of these repealed ordinances or regulations.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 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):

Section 101.1, substitute "Washington Township" for [NAME OF JURISDICTION].

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."

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.

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.

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.

The title of Section 111.1 shall read as follows:

Section 111.1 Calls for Formation of Board of Appeals to Hear Appeals.

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.

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").

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.

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.

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.

Section 302.4, substitute 10 inches for the reference of [JURISDICTION TO INSERT HEIGHT IN INCHES].

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.

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.

Section 304.14, substitute "May 15th" for the first reference of [DATE], and "October 15th" for the second reference of [DATE].

Section 602.3, substitute "October 1st" for the first reference of [DATE], and "May 1st" for the second reference of [DATE].

Section 602.4, substitute "October 1st" for the first reference of [DATE], and "May 1st" for the second reference of [DATE].

Substitute in all relevant sections of the code "Building Code Official" for [Code Official].

Substitute in all relevant sections of the code "Board of Supervisors" or "Township" for [CHIEF APPOINTING AUTHORITY], as appropriate.