Borough of Clifton Heights, PA Article IV Property Maintenance Code

[Adopted 8-8-2005 by Ord. No. 795; amended in its entirety 5-22-2018 by Ord. No. 859]

§ 250-27 Adoption of standards.

There is hereby adopted by the Borough of Clifton Heights the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code and all codes and standards referenced and incorporated therein, all for the purpose of describing specifications and regulations to ensure the structural safety of buildings, structures and housing existing or constructed for use within the Borough, as therein and herein provided, save and except those provisions as are deleted, modified or amended by this or other ordinances of the Borough of Clifton Heights, together with such provisions as may be hereinafter adopted by the Borough of Clifton Heights, except such provisions which are in conflict with state law. The aforesaid 2018 International Property Maintenance Code and the incorporated standards and codes are hereby adopted and are incorporated by reference as if set out at length. Copies of the above referenced codes and standards are on file in the Office of the Borough Secretary and Borough Code Official where they are available for public examination and use. The provisions set forth in the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code shall be controlling within the limits of the Borough of Clifton Heights. The Borough of Clifton Heights further adopts and incorporates the Uniform Construction Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and any regulations, standards or requirements promulgated thereunder. To the extent that said code or any of its regulations, rules or requirements are inconsistent with the provisions of any of the codes referenced above, said Uniform Construction Code and its rules, regulations and promulgations shall control.

§ 250-28 Modifications and amendments.

The 2018 International Property Maintenance Code as adopted hereby is amended as follows:

A. Section 101.1, Title, be and hereby is revised to read as follows:

101.1 - Title. These regulations shall be known as the International Property Maintenance Code and/or Existing Structures, Property Maintenance and Fire Prevention Code of the Borough of Clifton Heights, herein referred to as "the code."

B. Section 103.5, Fees, of the code be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

103.5 - Fees. The fees for activities and services performed by the department in carryingout its responsibilities under the code, shall be as set forth on the Borough of Clifton Heights Fee Schedule, adopted from time to time by resolution of Borough Council of the Borough of Clifton Heights.

C. Section 112.4, Failure to Comply, of the code be and hereby is amended to 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 of not less than $500 or more than $1,000.

D. Section 302.4, Weeds, of the code be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

302.4 - Weeds. Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or growth in excess of 10 inches. Noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.

Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 106.3 and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the cost of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.

E. Section 304.14, Insect Screens, of the code be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

304.14 - Insect Screens. During the period from January 1 to December 31, every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of minimum 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm), and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.

Exception: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect repellant fans, are employed.

F. Section 602.3, Heat Supply, of the code be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

602.3 - Heat Supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall apply heat during the period from October 1 to May 1 to maintain a minimum temperature of 68° F. (20° C.) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms.

Exceptions:

When the outdoor temperature is below the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required provided that the heating system is operating at its full designed capacity. The winter outdoor design temperature for the locality shall be as indicated in Appendix D of the International Plumbing Code.

In areas where the average monthly temperature is above 30° F. (-1° C.), a minimum temperature of 65° F. (18° C.) shall be maintained.

G. Section 602.4, Occupiable Work Spaces, of the code be and hereby is amended to read as follows:

602.4 - Occupiable Work Spaces. Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat during the period from October 1 to May 1 to maintain a minimum temperature of 65° F. (18° C.) during the period the spaces are occupied.

Exceptions:

1. Processing, storage and operation areas that require cooling or special temperature conditions.

2. Processing, storage and operation areas that require cooling or special temperature conditions.

H. Application of other codes. Any alterations or repairs to a structure or change of use therein which are caused directly or indirectly by the enforcement of this code which are undertaken otherwise after passage of this code shall be done in accordance with the procedures and provisions of the building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical codes listed and set forth in Chapter 8 of the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code and, or where appropriate, with the Uniform Construction Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted by the Borough of Clifton Heights as set forth in Chapter 110 of the Code of the Borough of Clifton Heights. Alterations or repairs shall not cause an existing structure to become unsafe or adversely affect the performance of the structure. Alterations or repairs to any structure shall conform to that required of a new structure without requiring the existing structure to comply with all the requirements of the code for the new construction, provided that such work conforms to that required by this code.

§ 250-29 Repealer.

Any ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are repealed.

§ 250-30 Effect on pending actions.

Nothing in this article or in the 2018 International 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; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this article.