[Ord. No. 879, § 1, 10-11-1982; Ord. No. 1223, § 1, 4-14-1997; Ord. No. 1421, § 1, 5-10-2004]
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, Chapter 5, Section 501(a)(1), the Home Rule Municipality of Plymouth Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, hereby elects to administer and enforce the Uniform Construction Code contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time, and the International Fuel Gas Code for purposes described in Section 302(a) of the said Act as the Plymouth Township Building Code.
[Ord. No. 1421, § 2, 5-10-2004; Ord. No. 1517, § 1, 4-13-2009]
(a) 
The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, as amended from time to time (the "Code"), is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Plymouth Township Building Code, pursuant to the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§ 7210.101-7210.1103, as amended from time to time (the "Act"), and its regulations.
(b) 
This adoption shall include all of the codes and appendixes specifically incorporated by reference in the Code under, inter alia, Section 403.21 of the Code. Upon adoption by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of successor codes and/or appendixes, those codes and the appendixes adopted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are hereby adopted.
(c) 
The following are the insertions for the uniform codes adopted as part of the Code:
(1) 
International Building Code.
Section 1612.3 [insert name of jurisdiction] - [Township of Plymouth]
Section 1612.3 [insert date of issuance] - [December 16, 1996]
Section 3410.2 [date to be inserted by jurisdiction] - [June 11, 2004]
(2) 
ICC Electrical Code.
Section 101.1 [name of jurisdiction] - [Township of Plymouth]
Section 404.2 [jurisdiction to insert appropriate schedule] - [See fee schedule adopted by Plymouth Township Council from time to time by resolution]
(3) 
International Energy Conservation Code.
Section 101.1 [name of jurisdiction] - [Township of Plymouth]
(4) 
International Fire Code. Fire Code Official shall be the municipal code official of Plymouth Township.
(5) 
International Fuel Gas Code.
Section 101.1 [name of jurisdiction] - [Township of Plymouth]
Section 106.5.2 [jurisdiction to insert appropriate schedule] - [see fee schedule adopted by Plymouth Township Council from time to time by resolution]
(6) 
International Mechanical Code.
Section 101.1 [name of jurisdiction] - [Township of Plymouth]
Section 106.5.2 [jurisdiction to insert appropriate schedule] - [see fee schedule adopted by Plymouth Township Council from time to time by resolution]
(7) 
International Plumbing Code.
Section 101.1 [name of jurisdiction] - [Township of Plymouth]
Section 106.6.2 [jurisdiction to insert appropriate schedule) - [see fee schedule adopted by Plymouth Township Council from time to time by resolution]
Section 305.6.1 [number] - [36 inches]
Section 904.1 [number] - [12]
(8) 
International Residential Code.
Section R101.1 [name of jurisdiction] [Township of Plymouth]
Table R301.2(1) - Information available from Building Code Official.
Section P2603.6.1 [number] - [36 inches]
Section P3103.1 [number] - [12 inches]
(9) 
International Existing Building Code.
Section 101.1 [name of jurisdiction] - [Township of Plymouth]
[Ord. No. 1421, § 3, 5-10-2004]
Administration and enforcement of the Code within the Township shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by Township Council from time to time by resolution:
(a) 
By the designation of an employee of the Township to serve as the Municipal Code Official to act on behalf of the township;
(b) 
By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Township;
(c) 
By agreement with one or more other municipalities for the joint administration and enforcement of this Act through an intermunicipal agreement;
(d) 
By entering into a contract with another municipality for the administration and enforcement of this Act on behalf of the Township;
(e) 
By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and enforcement of structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling units and utility and miscellaneous use structures.
[Ord. No. 1421, § 4, 5-10-2004]
A Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution of Township Council in conformity of the requirements of the relevant provisions of the Code, as amended from time to time, and for the purposes set forth therein. If at any time enforcement and administration is undertaken jointly with one or more municipalities, said Board of Appeals shall be established by joint action by the participating municipalities.
[Ord. No. 1421, § 5, 5-10-2004]
(a) 
All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by the Township on or before July 1, 1999, which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code, shall continue in full force and effect until such time as such provisions fail to equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the Code, as amended from time to time.
(b) 
All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which are in effect as of the effective date of this ordinance, and whose requirements are less than the minimum requirements of the Code, are hereby amended to conform with the comparable provisions of the Code.
(c) 
All relevant ordinances, regulations and policies of the Township not governed by the Code shall remain in full force and effect.
[Ord. No. 1421, § 6, 5-10-2004]
Fees assessable by the Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the Code shall be established by Township Council by resolution from time to time.
[Ord. No. 1421, § 7, 5-10-2004]
Section 403.42 Permit requirements and exemptions, as follows:
Section 403.42(c)(1)(i): delete.
Section 403.42(c)(1)(ii): delete.
Section 403.42(c)(1)(iii) amend in its entirety as follows:
"Retaining walls which are not over four feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless it is supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids.
Section 403.42(c)(1)(iv): delete.
Section 403.42(c)(1)(v): delete.
Section 403.42a(c): delete the last sentence.
Section 403.43. Grant, denial and effect of permits, as follows:
Section 403.43(a), amend the last sentence in its entirety as follows:
"A building code official shall grant or deny a permit application in an historic district, in whole or in part, within 90 business days of the filing date."
Section 403.43(c), amend the first sentence in its entirety as follows:
"A building code official shall stamp or place a notation on the cover sheet of the set of reviewed construction documents that the documents were reviewed and approved for Uniform Construction Code compliance before the permit is issued."
Section 403.43(e): delete.
Section 403.43(g), amend the last sentence in its entirety as follows:
"A permit may be valid for no more than two years from its issue date."
Section 403.43(h), amend in its entirety as follows:
"The permit holder shall post a copy of the permit on the work site until the completion of the construction."
Section 403.46 Certificate of occupancy, as follows:
Section 403.46(b), amend the first sentence in its entirety as follows:
"A building code official shall issue a certificate of occupancy within 10 business days after receipt of a final inspection report that indicates compliance with the Uniform Construction Code."
Section 403.62 Permit requirements and exemptions, as follows:
Section 403.62(c)(1)(i): delete.
Section 403.62(c)(1)(ii), amend in its entirety as follows:
"Retaining walls that are not over four feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall unless the wall supports a surcharge."
Section 403.62(c)(1)(iii): delete.
Section 403.62(c)(1)(iv): delete.
Section 403.62(c)(1)(xvii): delete.
Section 403.62(c)(3)(i), amend in its entirety as follows:
"Portable heating, portable cooking or portable clothes-drying appliances."
Section 403.62(c)(5)(vii): delete.
Section 403.62(c)(5)(ix), amend in its entirety as follows:
"Replacement of a water closet, lavatory or kitchen sink in an existing location."
Section 403.62(c)(6)(vi), amend in its entirety as follows:
"Replacement of kitchen range hoods with same capacity."
Section 403.63. Grant, denial and effect of permits, as follows:
Section 403.63(c), amend the first sentence in its entirety as follows:
"A building code official shall stamp or place a notation on the cover sheet of the set of reviewed construction documents that the documents were reviewed and approved for Uniform Construction Code compliance before the permit is issued."
Section 403.63(e): delete.
Section 403.63(g), amend the last sentence in its entirety as follows:
"A permit may be valid for no more than two years from its issue date."
Section 403.63(h), amend in its entirety as follows:
"The permit holder shall post a copy of the permit on the work site until the completion of the construction."
Section 403.65. Certificate of occupancy, as follows:
Section 403.65(b), amend the first sentence in its entirety as follows:
"A building code official shall issue a certificate of occupancy after receipt of a final inspection report that indicates compliance with the Uniform Construction Code within 10 business days."
[Ord. No. 785, §§ 1—6, 9-12-1977; Ord. No. 1324, § 1, 4-10-2000; Ord. No. 1421, § 8, 5-10-2004]
(a) 
All houses and buildings on the streets and highways of Plymouth Township shall be assigned numbers by the township engineer.
(b) 
Owners and occupants of houses and buildings within Plymouth Township shall be advised of the numbers assigned thereto and shall, within 30 days of the effective date of this section, as to houses or buildings clearly visible from the opposite side of the street, place those assigned numbers in a conspicuous place on or over each front door, front transom glass, or front show window, or on either side of the entrance. In the case of houses not clearly visible from the opposite side of the street, the assigned number shall be clearly displayed on the curb or on a sign placed at the entrance driveway or walk thereto.
(c) 
Numbers shall be painted or made of metal, wood or plastic, shall be at least four inches in height, shall be of such color as to contrast with the immediate background on which they are placed and shall be so placed as to be in full view from the opposite side of the street.
(d) 
After said numbers are painted on or affixed to any house or building within Plymouth Township it shall be unlawful to cover or conceal any such number or to permit it to be covered or concealed, whether by the natural growth of foliage or otherwise, and such numbers shall be properly maintained so as to at all times be clearly visible.
(e) 
Subdividers or builders of subdivisions shall be required to submit a house numbering plan to the township engineer for approval and, when approved, house or building numbers so assigned shall be affixed by the subdivider or builder in the same manner as is herein provided for other houses or buildings within the township.
(f) 
Any person or persons, firm or corporation, who shall fail or neglect to number or to maintain that number on any house or building, or shall number such house or building contrary to the provisions of this section and the directions of the Township Engineer, or who shall deface, alter, remove, destroy, or permit to become covered or concealed any number required by this section to be displayed shall, upon conviction thereof in summary proceedings before a Justice of the Peace, pay a fine of not more than $300 in addition to the cost of the proceedings.
[Ord. No. 834, § 1, 7-14-1980; Ord. No. 1421, § 9, 5-10-2004]
Any structure for which a building permit is issued or has heretofore been issued must be completed to the point of the shell, roof, exterior doors and windows, and grading within two years of the date of issuance thereof or within two years of the date of adoption of this section, whichever last occurs. If, at the end of that two-year period, the building shell, including roof, all exterior doors and windows and grading is not completed, an order for demolition of the structure, as a hazard to the safety and welfare of the community, shall be issued.
[Ord. No. 1421, § 10, 5-10-2004]
Whenever the nature of the building involves construction which is determined by the Code Official to require a review by an expert and/or specialized consultant to assist him in conducting reviews of permit applications and inspections, the Code Official may engage such experts and/or consultants. The cost thereof shall be paid to the Township by the applicant prior to the issuance of any permit.
[Ord. No. 1521, § 1, 5-11-2009; Ord. No. 1653, 4-8-2019; Ord. No. 1655, 8-12-2019]
(a) 
Registration and licensing required. Contractors and/or subcontractors engaged in the new construction or in the alteration, maintenance, or repair of structures and land shall be registered and licensed to perform such work within Plymouth Township by the Township Code Enforcement Department.
(b) 
Insurance requirements. Such contractors and/or subcontractors shall provide insurance certificates as evidence of comprehensive general liability coverage in amounts established from time to time by resolution of Township Council, and including worker's compensation coverage or an exemption from such coverage if otherwise allowed by applicable laws.
(c) 
Annual fee. The annual fee for contractors and/or subcontractors referred to herein shall be as established from time to time by resolution of Township Council.
(d) 
If a contractor and/or subcontractor is registered with the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, they are not required to pay the annual fee referenced herein or register with the Plymouth Township Code Enforcement Department. Proof of registration with the Bureau of Consumer Protection shall be provided to the Plymouth Township Code Enforcement Department to qualify for exemption under this section.