[Adopted 4-4-1988 by Ord. No. 33-H-4 (Ch. 1, Part 1, of the 1995 Code)]
A. 
Applicable codes and ordinances. The term "applicable codes and ordinances" and the enforcement thereof as referred to in this as well as other sections of this article shall apply to those codes and/or ordinances which are listed as follows:
(1) 
Uniform Construction Code (35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 through 7210.1103).
[Added 4-22-2004 by Ord. No. 33-K-1A]
(2) 
International Code Council (ICC) Building Code, 2006 Edition.
[Amended 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-1.A; 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-1.A of 2009]
(3) 
International Code Council (ICC) Residential Building Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings, 2006 Edition.
[Added 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-2.A; amended 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-2.A of 2009]
(4) 
International Code Council (ICC) Plumbing Code, 2006 Edition.
[Amended 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-4.A; 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-4.A of 2009]
(5) 
International Code Council (ICC) Mechanical Code, 2006 Edition.
[Added 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-5.A; amended 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-5.A of 2009]
(6) 
International Code Council (ICC) Electrical Code, 2006 Edition.
[Amended 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-6.A; repealed 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-6.A of 2009]
(7) 
International Code Council (ICC) Fire Prevention Code, 2006 Edition.
[Amended 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-7.A; 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-7.A of 2009]
(8) 
International Code Council (ICC) Fuel Gas Code, 2006 Edition.
[Added 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-8.A; amended 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-8.A of 2009]
(9) 
International Code Council (ICC) Energy Conservation Code, 2006 Edition.
[Added 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-9.A; amended 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-9.A of 2009]
(10) 
International Code Council (ICC) Property Maintenance Code, 2006 Edition.
[Amended 12-14-2006 by Ord. No. 33-K-10.A; 12-17-2009 by Ord. No. 33-K-10.A of 2009]
A. 
Creation of office of code enforcement. There is hereby created by the Board of Commissioners of the Township an office to be known as the "Office of Code Enforcement." Said office shall have the responsibility for administering and enforcing the provisions of this article and of those other codes and/or ordinances of the Township referred to as "applicable codes and ordinances" in § 100-1A of this article which designate said Office of Code Enforcement as their official administration and enforcement agency.
B. 
Appointment of Code Enforcement Officer. There shall be appointed, by the Board of Commissioners of the Township, a Code Enforcement Officer who shall be in charge of the Office of Code Enforcement of the Township. The Code Enforcement Officer shall supervise such other employees or assistants as shall be necessary for the administration and execution of the responsibilities of said office, as appointed and approved by the Board of Commissioners. Said Code Enforcement Officer, and other personnel, may consist of employees hired and compensated by the Township.
C. 
Fire Marshal. In accordance with the Fire Prevention Code (Article VIII of this chapter) of the Township, the Fire Marshal has been established as the authorized representative of the Office of Code Enforcement of the Township, having all of the duties for enforcement of the Fire Prevention Code of the Township provided for in this article. The Fire Marshal shall continue to serve in this capacity until such time as the Board of Commissioners declares otherwise.
D. 
Relief from personal liability. The Code Enforcement Officer or other official or employees shall not, while acting for the Township, render himself liable personally because of any act or omission as required or permitted in the discharge of his official duties. Any suit instituted against such Code Enforcement Officer, official or employee in the discharge of his duties shall be defended by the Solicitor of the Township, and in no case will said officer, official or employee be liable for costs in any action, suit or proceeding.
E. 
Official record. An official record shall be kept of all business and activities of the Office of Code Enforcement, and all such records shall be open to the public for inspection at all appropriate times, except that no individual, owner, operator, occupant or other person shall be subject to unwarranted invasion of privacy, and except that all evidence or information obtained in the course of any inspection shall be kept confidential. Such evidence or information shall not be disclosed, except as may be necessary in the judgment of the Code Enforcement Officer for the proper and effective administration and enforcement of the provisions of this article, and shall not otherwise be made public without the consent of the owner, occupant, operator or other person in charge of the unit, structure or premises inspected.
A. 
Enforcement by Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Enforcement Officer shall enforce and administer all of the provisions of this article and of those other applicable codes and ordinances which establish the Office of Code Enforcement as their official administration and enforcement agency.
B. 
Duties of Code Enforcement Officer. The duties of the Code Enforcement Officer shall include the receipt of applications; the issuance of permits, notices, certificates and orders; the making of inspections to determine conformance with applicable codes and ordinances; the undertaking of systematic inspection programs; the undertaking of searches and investigations; the recommendation of appropriate administrative rules for review and adoption by the Code Hearing Board; the keeping of records; the issuance of written annual reports and such other activities as may be required.
C. 
Right of entry.
(1) 
In the discharge of his duties, the Code Enforcement Officer or his authorized representative, upon showing proper identification when requested, is hereby authorized to enter and inspect between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. any structure or premises in the Township to enforce the provisions of this article and of those other applicable codes and ordinances. The assistance and cooperation of all other Township officials, including Police and Fire Departments, shall be available to the Code Enforcement Officer to assist in the performance of his duties and in securing right of entry.
(2) 
The Code Enforcement Officer and the owner, operator or occupant or other person in charge of any structure or premises subject to the provisions of this article may agree to an inspection by appointment at a mutually convenient time.
(3) 
The owner, operator or occupant or other person in charge of any structure or premises shall give the Code Enforcement Officer entry and free access thereto and to every part of the structure or to the premises surrounding the structure.
(4) 
If any owner, operator or occupant or other person in charge fails or refuses to permit entry and free access to the structure or premises under his control or to any part thereof with respect to any authorized inspection, the Code Enforcement Officer may, upon a showing that probable cause exists for the inspection, file a complaint and may petition for and obtain an order directing compliance with the inspection requirements of this article from a court of competent jurisdiction. Any person who refuses to comply with such an order issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to such penalties as may be authorized by law for violation of a court order.
[Amended 3-23-1995 by Ord. No. 192]
A. 
Permit required. An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those applicable codes and ordinances which the Office of Code Enforcement has the responsibility to administer. Said application shall be submitted in such form as may be prescribed by the Code Enforcement Officer and shall be accompanied by any required fee.
B. 
Action on application. The Code Enforcement Officer shall examine said application to determine compliance with those other applicable codes and ordinances of the Township and shall, within 90 days after filing, either approve or reject said application. If said application is rejected, the Code Enforcement Officer shall inform the applicant, in writing, stating the reasons for such rejection.
C. 
Required fees. Applicants for permits required by any of the following applicable codes and ordinances shall pay, at the time of application to the Code Enforcement Officer, for use by the Township, certain fees as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
D. 
Time limit on application.
(1) 
An application for a permit for any proposed work shall be deemed to have been abandoned six months after date of filing unless such application has been diligently prosecuted or a permit shall have been issued; except that, for reasonable cause, the Building Official may grant one or more extensions of time for additional periods not exceeding 90 days each.
(2) 
All permits granted under any of the above applicable codes and ordinances shall be good for a period of one year, provided that extensions may be granted by the Code Enforcement Officer for good reason; except that any permit granted for demolition activities shall be valid for three months only and, if such demolition work is not completed within that time any bond posted by the applicant shall be forfeited.
E. 
Certificates. The following certificates shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those other applicable codes or ordinances which the Office of Code Enforcement has the responsibility to administer. Said certificates may be issued separately or combined in the form of a single certificate.
(1) 
Certificate of use and occupancy. In accordance with the provisions of said applicable codes and ordinances, no new building or portion of an existing building which is enlarged or altered shall be used or occupied in whole or in part until a final inspection is made by the Code Enforcement Officer.
(2) 
Certificate of approval. A certificate of approval shall be required for any electrical or plumbing work completed under the provisions of the applicable codes and ordinances. All applicants shall apply to the Office of Code Enforcement for such a certificate of approval within 30 days of the completion of the building structure, work or premises.
(3) 
Other certificates. Any other permits, certificates or licenses, as required by the applicable codes and ordinances, shall be obtained by the applicant in accordance with the provisions of said applicable codes and ordinances. Application for such permits, certificates or licenses shall be made to the Code Enforcement Officer.
[Amended 3-23-1995 by Ord. No. 192]
A. 
Procedure in case of violations. Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this article, or of the other applicable codes and ordinances, or of any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, he shall proceed as follows:
(1) 
Serve notice in writing of the alleged violation, which shall be signed by the Code Enforcement Officer or his authorized representative. Said notice shall be served personally to the responsible owner, occupant, operator or other person in charge or served by registered mail with a return receipt requested or, where such responsible person in charge cannot be found, service may be made by posting a notice in or about the premises or by publishing such notice in a newspaper of general circulation for a period of three consecutive days or served by any other method authorized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(2) 
Said notice shall include a statement of the reasons why the notice is being issued, the sections of the code and/or ordinances which have been violated and the remedial actions required.
(3) 
Said notice shall allow a reasonable time, not to exceed 60 days, for the initiation and correction of the violation alleged or of the remedial actions required except where emergency conditions exist which require immediate corrective action.
(4) 
Said notice shall contain a statement indicating that the notice will become an order if no request and approval of an extension of time is made to the Code Enforcement Officer or if no petition for an appeal or hearing is requested before the Code Hearing Board within 15 days from the receipt of said notice.
(5) 
The Code Enforcement Officer may grant a request for a reasonable extension of time where he has evidence to believe that the responsible person is attempting to remove the alleged violation. However, no such extension of time may exceed a period of 90 days unless authorized by the Code Hearing Board upon appeal of the responsible owner, operator, occupant or other person in charge.
B. 
Violations and penalties.
(1) 
Any person who fails to correct a violation or institute a remedial action as ordered by the Code Enforcement Officer or who violates a provision or fails to comply with any requirements of this article or of any of the other applicable codes or ordinances shall be subject, for each violation, to a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $1,000 and cost of prosecution and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment not exceeding 30 days. Each day's failure to comply with any such provision or requirement or any such order shall constitute a separate offense.
(2) 
The imposition of the penalties herein prescribed shall not preclude the Solicitor representing the Township from initiating, and he is hereby ordered to initiate, appropriate actions or proceedings at law or in equity to effect the purposes of this article.
C. 
Dangerous and unsafe conditions and structures and dwellings unfit for human habitation. Structures which contain dwellings which are unfit for human habitation or structures which are dangerous or unsafe and structures which contain dangerous conditions or materials, as defined by the applicable codes and ordinances of the Township, are hereby declared to be a public nuisance.
(1) 
General procedure. The Code Enforcement Officer shall order the responsible owner, operator, occupant or person in charge of the structure or premises which is dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human habitation to vacate, repair and/or demolish said structure and to remove the public nuisance as provided for in this article and in the applicable codes and ordinances of the Township in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(2) 
Failure to comply. Whenever an order to vacate, repair and/or demolish a structure which is a public nuisance because it is unsafe, dangerous or unfit for human habitation has not been complied with, the Code Enforcement Officer may, in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, proceed to cause the structure to be vacated, repaired and/or demolished or take such other action as is necessary to abate the nuisance. Abatement under this section shall not commence until at least 10 days after the service of the order, except that the Code Enforcement Officer may determine that more immediate action is required because of the special emergency or dangerous condition which exist.
(3) 
Recovery of expenses. The expenses incurred pursuant to Subsection C(2) of this section and of the other applicable codes and ordinances shall be paid by the responsible owner, operator or occupant or by the persons who caused or maintained such a public nuisance.
D. 
The Code Enforcement Officer shall file on his records an affidavit stating with fairness and accuracy the items and date of the expenses incurred. The Board of Commissioners may institute a suit to recover such expenses to be charged against the property as a lien.
A. 
Code Hearing Board. There is hereby established a Code Hearing Board appointed by the Board of Commissioners, consisting of not less than three members nor more than five members, who shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary reasonable expenses. Their term of office shall be for three years, except for those first appointed, so fixed that the term of office of at least one member shall expire each year. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term.
B. 
Powers of the Code Hearing Board. The Code Hearing Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
Interpretation. On appeal from a determination of the Code Enforcement Officer or on request of any Township official, the Code Hearing Board shall decide any questions involving the interpretation of any provision of this article or of those other applicable codes and ordinances.
(2) 
Variances. The Code Hearing Board may grant a variance from the strict application of this article or of other applicable codes. Such variances may be granted only in those cases which would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship and where the public health and safety shall not be jeopardized.
(3) 
Decide appeals. The Code Hearing Board shall hear all appeals made to it and, depending on its findings, shall decide whether such appeals shall be granted.
C. 
Requests for appeals or variances. Any person requesting a variance or aggrieved by a decision of the Code Enforcement Officer or by any other employee or official charged with the administration and enforcement of this article and of those other applicable codes and ordinances may take an appeal to the Code Hearing Board. All appeals shall be made in writing, stating the grounds upon which the appeal is based, and shall be transmitted to the Office of Code Enforcement. An appeal must be taken within 15 days of the action or of the receipt of written notice of any decision or ruling which is being appealed.
D. 
Appeals and variance procedure.
(1) 
Public hearing. The Code Hearing Board shall meet and conduct a hearing within 45 days of the receipt of an appeal or a request for a variance. All hearings shall be public and all persons whose interest may be affected shall be given an opportunity to be heard. A record shall be kept of all evidence and testimony presented at the hearing.
(2) 
Decision of the Board. All decisions of the Board shall be in writing and a copy of each decision shall be sent to the applicant and the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Hearing Board shall also retain in its files a copy of each decision, which files shall be available for inspection by the public. Each decision shall set forth fully the reasons for the decision, and the Code Enforcement Officer shall take immediate action to carry out said order.
E. 
Appeals from the decision of the Code Hearing Board. Any person aggrieved by any final order or decision of the Code Hearing Board may appeal such order or decision within 30 days to the Court of Common Pleas in accordance with, as far as practicable, the Rules of Civil Procedure of the Supreme Court regarding appeals from administrative agencies.
F. 
Reports by the Code Hearing Board. The Code Hearing Board shall report to the Board of Commissioners periodically, at intervals of not less than 12 months. The report shall summarize all applications and appeals made to it since the last report and shall contain a summary of the Board's decision on each case. A copy of the report shall be filed with the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Hearing Board may also submit to the Board of Commissioners advisory reports recommending changes and modifications in this article or in those other applicable codes or ordinances.
This article shall be known and may be cited as the "Code Enforcement Ordinance of the Township."