[Adopted 10-7-2019 by Ord. No. 19-09-02[1]; amended 6-2-2025 by Ord. No. 25-05-02]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. I, Adoption of Property Maintenance Code, adopted 9-8-2014 by Ord. No. 14-08-01.
A certain document, a copy of which is on file in the office of the Town Clerk of the Town of Middletown, being marked and designated as the International Property Maintenance Code, 2024 edition, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., be and is hereby adopted as the Property Maintenance code of the Town of Middletown in the State of Delaware for the control of buildings, structures, and property as herein provided; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said International Property Maintenance Code are hereby 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 subsection 119-2 of this chapter.
The following additions, insertions and changes are adopted:
A. 
Chapter 1 through and including Chapter 8 are amended where "Code Official" is noted to insert "Department Supervisor".
B. 
Section 101.1, Title, is amended by deleting "(Name of Jurisdiction)" in the second line and inserting "Town of Middletown".
C. 
Section 102.3, Application of other codes, is amended by adding after "International Residential Code" in the seventh line, "Chapter 2 through and including 10, International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulation".
D. 
Section 104.1, Fees: This subsection is added in its entirety.
E. 
Section 107.4, Violations penalties, is amended by adding to the end of the subsection: "Violations of this chapter shall be deemed to be a misdemeanor offense. The violation for any person convicted of such a misdemeanor offense shall include the following fines and may include restitution.
(1) 
For the first conviction, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than $50 nor more than $500.
(2) 
For the second conviction for the same offense, the penalty shall be a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000.
F. 
Section 106, Means of Appeal, is amended by deleting this section in its entirety; means of appeal shall be in accordance with the Code of the Town of Middletown, Chapter 40, Administration of Licensing and Inspection Department.
G. 
Section 108.4, Failure to comply, is amended in the first sentence by deleting" not less than (amount) dollars or more than (amount) dollars" and inserting "not less than $50 or more than $500."
H. 
Chapter 2, Definitions, is amended by adding the following:
CODE OFFICIAL
The Licensing and Inspection Department employee designated by the Town Manager who has the authority to administer this chapter, and all adopted codes of the Town of Middletown, or his or her duly authorized representative.
DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR
The Town of Middletown License and Inspection Foreman.
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL
A state of Delaware Fire Marshal with authority to conduct fire inspections or related requirements within the Town of Middletown.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL
Elected officials overseeing the incorporated Town of Middletown.
PARCEL
A lot, piece of land separately identified by tax assessment parcel number issued by the county.
TOWN MANAGER
One who oversees the daily operation of the Town of Middletown.
TOWN SOLICITOR
The Town of Middletown Attorney and all designated employees appointed by the Town Solicitor.
I. 
Section 302.1, Sanitation, is amended by adding to the end of the subsection: "Items not made for exterior use shall be stored properly or disposed in accordance with section 308."
J. 
Section 302.4, Weeds, is amended by deleting "(Jurisdiction to insert height in inches)" and inserting "10 inches" at the end of the first sentence.
K. 
Section 302.4, Weeds, is amended by adding to the end of this subsection; "and shall be in accordance with Chapter 119, Article II, Grass cutting and cleanup of Residential Property, or Article III, Commercial and Industrial Grass Cutting."
L. 
Section 302.8, Vehicles, abandoned, is added to the end of this subsection and shall be in accordance with Chapter 163 of the Code of the Town of Middletown.
M. 
Section 302.11, Parking, is added to the end of this section and shall be in accordance with Chapter 108 of the Code of the Town of Middletown and in accordance with section 5, subsection (7) of the Town of Middletown Zoning Code.
N. 
Section 302.12, Animals, is added to the end of this section and shall be in accordance with Chapter 39 of the Code of the Town of Middletown.
O. 
Section 302.13, Sanitary standards, is added to the end of this section and shall be in accordance with Chapter 132 of the Code of the Town of Middletown.
P. 
Section 304.14, Insect screens, is amended by deleting "(date) to (date)" and inserting "April 15 to October 15".
Q. 
Section 308.2.2, Refrigerators, is deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted:
Section 308.2.2 Appliances. All household residential appliances designed for interior use shall not be used or stored outdoors, outside of the building envelope.
R. 
Section 505.3, Supply, Is amended by adding to the end of this subsection, "All building and dwelling units supplied with the required water supply system shall be used specifically for the building or dwelling unit it serves."
S. 
Section 602.3, Heat supply, is amended by deleting "(date) to (date)" and inserting "October 15 to April 15."
T. 
Section 602.4, Occupiable work spaces, is amended by deleting "(date) to (date)" and inserting "October 15 to April 15."
U. 
Section 604.1, Facilities required, is amended by adding to the end of this subsection: "All building and dwelling units supplied with the required electrical system shall be used specifically for the building or dwelling unit it serves."
V. 
Chapter 7, Fire Safety Requirements, section 701 through and including section 705 is amended as noted by adding "or current state of Delaware fire prevention regulations" after each notation of "International Fire Code".