[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of North Codorus 8-21-2012 by Ord. No. 244-08-2012. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "North Codorus
Township Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Ordinance."
Consistent and consonant with the findings and purpose of Act
90 of 2010, the North Codorus Township Board of Supervisors finds:
A.
There are deteriorated properties located in the Township as a result
of neglect by their owners in violation of applicable state laws and/or
municipal codes.
B.
These deteriorated properties create public nuisances which have
an impact on crime and the quality of life of Township residents and
require significant expenditures of public funds in order to abate
and correct the nuisances.
C.
In order to address these situations, it is appropriate to deny certain
governmental permits and approvals in order to:
(1)
Prohibit property owners from further extending their financial commitments
so as to render themselves unable to abate or correct the code, statutory
and regulatory violations or tax delinquencies.
(2)
Reduce the likelihood that other municipalities will have to address
the owners' neglect and resulting deteriorated properties.
(3)
Sanction the owners for not adhering to their legal obligations to
the commonwealth and its municipalities, tenants, adjoining property
owners and neighborhoods.
The following words and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context
clearly indicates otherwise:
The Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act,
53 Pa.C.S.A. § 6101 et seq. Also known and referred to as
"Act 90" and "Act 90 of 2010".
A residential, commercial or industrial building or structure,
and the land appurtenant to it.
A building, housing, property maintenance, fire, health or
other public safety ordinance enacted by a municipality. The term
does not include a subdivision and land development ordinance or a
zoning ordinance enacted by a municipality.
The appropriate court of common pleas.
Any property in the Township which, as a result of neglect
by its owners, is in violation of applicable state and Township statutes,
codes, regulations, or ordinances, and which creates a public nuisance.
A business association defined as a "banking institution"
or "mortgage lender" under 7 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 61 (relating to mortgage
loan industry licensing and consumer protection) that is in possession
of or holds title to real property pursuant to, in enforcement of
or to protect rights arising under a mortgage, mortgage note, deed
of trust or other transaction that created a security interest in
the real property.
Any municipality in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Privileges relating to real property granted by a municipality,
including, but not limited to, building permits, exceptions to zoning
ordinances and occupancy permits. The term includes approvals pursuant
to land use ordinances other than decisions on the substantive validity
of a zoning ordinance or map or the acceptance of a curative amendment.
A holder of the title to residential, commercial or industrial
real estate, other than a mortgage lender, who possesses and controls
the real estate. The term includes, but is not limited to, heirs,
assigns, beneficiaries and lessees, provided this ownership interest
is a matter of public record.
Property which, because of its physical condition or use,
is regarded as a public nuisance at common law or has been declared
by the appropriate official a public nuisance in accordance with a
municipal ordinance or code.
A violation of a state law or municipal code that poses an
imminent threat to the health and safety of a dwelling occupant, occupants
in surrounding structures, or passersby.
A statute of the commonwealth or a regulation of an agency
charged with the administration and enforcement of commonwealth law.
An affirmative action as determined by a property code or
code enforcement official or officer of the court on the part of a
property owner or managing agent to remedy a serious violation of
a state law or municipal ordinance or code, including, but not limited
to, physical improvements or repairs to the property, which affirmative
action is subject to appeal in accordance with applicable law.
Tax delinquent real property as defined under:
The act of July 7, 1947 (P.L. 1368, No. 542), known as the "Real
Estate Tax Sale Law";
The act of May 16, 1923 (P.L. 207, No. 153), referred to as
the "Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law"; or
The act of October 11, 1984 (P.L. 876, No. 171) known as the
"Second Class City Treasurer's Sale and Collection Act," located
in any municipality in this commonwealth.
North Codorus Township, York County, Pennsylvania.
The Township's Board of Supervisors, Codes Enforcement
Officer, or other representative of the Township duly appointed or
designated by the Township's Board of Supervisors.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any real property
in the Township to be, become, or remain a deteriorated property,
a public nuisance, or in serious violation of any code of the Township,
as those terms are defined in this chapter. Such determination or
declaration shall be made by an appropriate Township Official as defined
in this chapter.
In addition to any other remedy available at law or in equity,
the Township may institute the following actions against the owner
of any real property that is in serious violation of a Township code,
or for failure to correct a condition which causes the property to
be regarded as deteriorated or a public nuisance:
A.
An in personam action.
(1)
An in personam action may be initiated for a continuing violation
for which the owner takes no substantial step to correct within six
months following receipt of an order to correct the violation, unless
the order is subject to a pending appeal before the administrative
agency or court.
(2)
Notwithstanding any law limiting the form of action for the recovery
of penalties by the Township for the violation of a code, the Township
may recover, in a single action under this section, an amount equal
to any penalties imposed against the owner and any costs of remediation
lawfully incurred by or on behalf of the Township to remedy any code
violation.
B.
A proceeding in equity.
A.
General rule. A lien may be placed against the assets of an owner of real property that is in serious violation of a code or is regarded as a public nuisance after a judgment, decree or order is entered by a court of competent jurisdiction against the owner of the property for an adjudication under § 69-5, relating to actions.
B.
Construction. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize,
in the case of an owner that is an association or trust, a lien on
the individual assets of the general partner or trustee (except as
otherwise allowed by law), limited partner, shareholder, member or
beneficiary of the association or trust.
The provisions of § 6113 of Act 90 of 2010, 53 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 6113, regarding extradition of any person who lives or
has a principal place of residence outside this commonwealth, who
owns property in this commonwealth against which code violations have
been cited, shall apply to violators of this chapter.
Where, after reasonable efforts, service of process for a notice
or citation for any code violation for any real property owned by
an association or trust cannot be accomplished by handing a copy of
the notice or citation to an executive officer, partner or trustee
of the association or trust or to the manager, trustee or clerk in
charge of the property, the delivery of the notice or citation may
occur by registered, certified or United States express mail, accompanied
by a delivery confirmation:
A.
To the registered office of the association or trust.
B.
Where the association or trust does not have a registered office,
to the mailing address used for real estate tax collection purposes,
if accompanied by the posting of a conspicuous notice to the property
and by handing a copy of the notice or citation to the person in charge
of the property at that time.
A.
Denial.
(1)
Subject to the requirements of Subsection C of this section, the Township may deny issuing to an applicant a municipal permit if the applicant owns real property in any municipality in the commonwealth, including the Township, for which there exists on the real property:
(a)
A final and unappealable tax, water, sewer or refuse collection
delinquency on account of the actions of the owner; or
(b)
A serious violation of state law or a code, and the owner has
taken no substantial steps to correct the violation within six months
following notification of the violation, and for which fines or other
penalties or a judgment to abate or correct were imposed by a Magisterial
District Judge (previously a District Justice) or municipal court,
or a judgment at law or in equity was imposed by a court of common
pleas. However, no denial shall be permitted on the basis of a property
for which the judgment, order or decree is subject to a stay or supersedeas
by an order of a court of competent jurisdiction or automatically
allowed by statute or rule of court until the stay or supersedeas
is lifted by the court or a higher court, or the stay or supersedeas
expires as otherwise provided by law. Where a stay or supersedeas
is in effect, the property owner shall so advise the Township.
(2)
The Township shall not deny a municipal permit to an applicant if
the municipal permit is necessary to correct a violation of state
law or a code.
(3)
The municipal permit denial shall not apply to an applicant's
delinquency on taxes, water, sewer or refuse collection charges that
are under appeal or otherwise contested through a court or administrative
process.
(4)
In issuing a denial of a permit based on an applicant's delinquency
in real property taxes or municipal charges or for failure to abate
a serious violation of state law or a code on real property that the
applicant owns in this commonwealth, the Township or board shall indicate
the street address, municipal corporation and county in which the
property is located, and the court and docket number for each parcel
cited as a basis for the denial. The denial shall also state that
the applicant may request a letter of compliance from the appropriate
state agency, municipality or school district, in a form specified
by such entity as provided in this section.
B.
Proof of compliance.
(1)
All Township permits denied in accordance with this subsection may
be withheld until an applicant obtains a letter from the appropriate
state agency, municipality or school district indicating the following:
(a)
The property in question has no final and unappealable tax,
water, sewer or refuse delinquencies;
(b)
The property in question is now in state law and code compliance;
or
(c)
The owner of the property has presented, and the appropriate
state agency or municipality has accepted, a plan to begin remediation
of a serious violation of state law or a code. Acceptance of the plan
may be contingent on:
[1]
Beginning the remediation plan within no fewer than 30 days
following acceptance of the plan or sooner, if mutually agreeable
to both the property owner and the municipality.
[2]
Completing the remediation plan within no fewer than 90 days
following commencement of the plan or sooner, if mutually agreeable
to both the property owner and the municipality.
(2)
In the event that the appropriate state agency, municipality or school
district fails to issue a letter indicating tax, water, sewer, refuse,
state law or code compliance or noncompliance, as the case may be,
within 45 days of the request, the property in question shall be deemed
to be in compliance for the purpose of this section. The Township
shall specify the form in which the request for a compliance letter
shall be made.
(3)
Letters required under this section shall be verified by the appropriate
Township officials before issuing the permit to the applicant.
(4)
Powers of Zoning Hearing Board and other boards.
(a)
Township permits or approvals may be denied by a board in accordance
with the requirements of this section to the extent that approval
of the municipal permit or approval is within the jurisdiction of
the board. For purposes of this section, "board" shall mean the Township's
Zoning Hearing Board.
(b)
In any proceeding before a board other than the Township's
Board of Supervisors, the Township may appear to present evidence
that the applicant is subject to a denial by the board in accordance
with this section.
C.
Applicability of other laws. A denial of a permit shall be subject
to the provisions of 2 Pa.C.S.A. Chapter 5, Subchapter B (relating
to practice and procedure of local agencies), and Chapter 7, Subchapter
B (relating to judicial review of local agency action), or the Pennsylvania
Municipalities Planning Code, for denials subject to Act 90 of 2010
or this chapter.
In the event of a conflict between the requirements of Act 90
of 2010 or this chapter and federal requirements applicable to demolition,
disposition or redevelopment of buildings, structures or land owned
by or held in trust for the government of the United States and regulated
pursuant to the United States Housing Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 888, 42
U.S.C. § 1437 et seq.) and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
the federal requirements shall prevail.
Where property located in the Township is inherited by will
or intestacy, the devisee or heir shall be given the opportunity to
make payments on reasonable terms to correct code violations or to
enter into a remediation agreement under § 6131(b)(1)(iii)
of Act 90 of 2010 (relating to municipal permit denial) and § 169-9B(1)(c)
of this chapter with the Township to avoid subjecting the devisee's
or heir's other properties to asset attachment or denial of permits
and approvals on other properties owned by the devisee or heir.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to abridge or alter
the remedies now existing at common law or by statute, but the provisions
of this chapter are in addition to such remedies.
In addition to any penalties, permit denials, or legal actions
otherwise authorized in this chapter, any owner as defined in this
chapter who has violated or permitted the violation of any of the
provisions of this chapter for any property within the Township shall,
upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding before a Magisterial
District Judge (formerly District Justice), be sentenced to pay a
fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs, and may be imprisoned for
a period not to exceed 90 days. Each day that this chapter is violated
shall constitute a separate and distinct offense, and shall be subject
to separate and distinct penalties as set forth in this section.
