[Adopted 11-7-1996 by Ord. No. 1529 (Ch. 21, Part 3, of the 1986 Code of Ordinances)]
A. 
The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed in this section, except in those instances where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
OWNER
Of or belonging to oneself. To have/to possess something tangible.
SIDEWALK
A concrete walkway along the side of any street.
B. 
Concerning other word definitions in conjunction with this article of Chapter 310, please refer to § 310-24 of Article VII of this chapter.
On any street, alley or driveway in the City of Washington where a sidewalk exists on any portion thereof at the time of enactment of this article, the sidewalk width and line shall conform to the average width and line of the existing sidewalks within that particular block.
On any street, alley or driveway in the City of Washington where no sidewalk exists at the time of enactment of this article and on every new street, alley or driveway:
A. 
Where the street, alley or driveway is less than 50 feet side, the sidewalk shall be not less than five feet wide, with a grass plot of 18 inches.
B. 
Where the street is 50 feet or more in width, the sidewalk shall be not less than six feet wide, with a grass plot of two feet in width.
The specifications for all sidewalks hereafter laid or relaid in the City of Washington, except those for the handicapped, shall be as follows:
A. 
The forms shall be placed firmly, set line and grade on a subgrade that is firmly compacted and evenly graded.
B. 
The sidewalk shall be four inches in thickness and shall be reinforced with 6-6-5-6 wire mesh and be placed 1 1/2 inches from the bottom slab and/or utilize one-half-inch rebar rods to extend around the entire perimeter of each section. The concrete mix shall be 1:2:3 properly graded cement concrete, and said surface shall be broom-finished.
C. 
The sidewalk shall have a fall of 1/4 inch for every five feet in width. The sidewalk shall fall towards the street surface.
D. 
One-half-inch approved expansion shall be placed where needed within said sidewalk.
E. 
The sidewalk shall be cut or marked to make even, uniform slabs.
A. 
In compliance with the American With Disabilities Act, along with the handicapped ordinance and the Building Code regulations for and of the City of Washington, and after the effective date of this article, there shall be constructed upon any new street, alley or driveway or sidewalk throughout the City a minimum of one ramp for the handicapped at each curb radius between the intersection of a street, alley or driveway and existing sidewalk.
B. 
If additional ramps are necessary, they shall be installed only upon the recommendation of the City Engineer. Where ramps with gradients are necessary, they shall conform to the following specifications:
(1) 
The ramp shall not have a slope greater than one-foot rise in 12 feet or 8.33% or 4° 50 feet.
(2) 
The ramp shall be at least 32 inches wide, inside clear measurement, and have a surface that is nonslip.
(3) 
The ramp shall meet the grade of the existing or proposed street; but in no case shall water drainage be such as to allow the ponding of water at the foot of the ramp.
(4) 
The ramp shall have either a textured surface or rumble strips not exceeding a height as to provide adequate warning for the blind.
(5) 
Where handicapped ramps are to be placed, at least 10 feet shall be reserved on each side of the ramp for sight distance. No parking shall be permitted for sight distance.
(6) 
All handicapped ramps shall be clearly marked with signs.
(7) 
For any ramp beyond eight feet in length, standard ANSI A117.1 shall apply.
Curb reveal for any driveway shall be no less than one inch and no greater than two inches. That portion of all concrete driveways within the property lines of the street shall be six inches in thickness.
[Amended 1-10-2013 by Ord. No. 1854]
No person, utility company or corporation shall cause any excavation to be made in a sidewalk area without first obtaining a permit as covered by this article. All applications involving excavations of sidewalks that total less than 150 square feet shall pay a permit fee to the City of $50. All applications involving excavations of sidewalks that total more than 150 square feet shall pay a permit fee of $150. The application for permit will be needed to instruct the contractor or property owner of the specifications needed to comply with the implementation of constructing the sidewalks within this City.
No sidewalk shall be laid when the temperature of the atmosphere is less than 35° F. In the laying of sidewalks, proper and approved measures shall be taken to keep the concrete from freezing. A solution of 1% to 2% of calcium chloride shall be used in the aggregate when there is danger of freezing, During hot weather, the concrete shall be kept moistened for a period of 48 hours.
Whenever the City of Washington shall have given notice, in the manner prescribed by § 38002 of the Third Class City Code,[1] to any property owner to construct, pave, curb, repave, recurb or maintain any sidewalk abutting such property, such property owner shall have 20 days in which to comply with such notice, and if any property owner shall not have complied with such notice before the end of such period of 20 days, such property owner shall be deemed to have failed to comply with such notice, and the City may proceed as authorized by § 38002 of the Third Class City Code to cause the required work to be done, and may collect the cost of thereof, with the penalty allowed by law, from the owner of such property, as authorized by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 11 Pa.C.S.A. § 13002.
The City of Washington or its authorized representatives reserve the right to accept or reject any work performed under this article and to enforce any violations associated therewith.
A. 
Any individual, person, firm, corporation or other entity who shall violate any provision of this article shall, upon being held liable in any civil proceeding or upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a penalty, fine or charge of no less than $100 nor more than the maximum amount permitted by law, but not to exceed $1,000, and in default of payment or any failure to pay any fine or penalty, upon a summary or other criminal conviction, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a period not to exceed 30 days, or both.
[Amended 12-7-2006 by Ord. No. 1766]
B. 
Each day that a violation of this article shall continue shall constitute a separate offense, subject to the fines, costs, penalties and charges set forth above for each offense.
[Added 12-7-2006 by Ord. No. 1766]
C. 
Nothing herein shall limit, prevent or preclude the City of Washington from taking any and all legal action or exercising any other remedy available to the City by law, including but not limited to the initiation of civil or criminal proceedings or injunctive relief in order to enforce or ensure compliance with this article. As an additional remedy, the City of Washington may abate any nuisance, dangerous or hazardous condition by any means permitted by law, which shall include, but not be limited to, an action in the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, Pennsylvania for injunctive relief; the use of any City of Washington personnel, equipment and materials or that of an authorized agent or contractor hired by the City to remove or abate any nuisance, dangerous or hazardous condition and with all costs thereof or related thereto to be charged against the property owner(s) and/or person or entity who has violated the article or portion thereof; said costs shall include all actual costs and expenses, including all costs of collection and reasonable administrative costs of the City, incurred in enforcing the provisions of the article.
[Added 12-7-2006 by Ord. No. 1766]
D. 
The City of Washington Administrator reserves the right to deny the issuance of future sidewalk openings or other requirements of this article to any person who violates the provisions of this article. This provision in no way shall prohibit or limit the right of the City to bring legal action against the permittee or property owner.