[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Clairton 9-23-1986 by Ord. No. 1411. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 163.
Electrical standards — See Ch. 185.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 199.
Flood damage prevention — See Ch. 203.
Housing and health standards — See Ch. 217.
Nonprofit organizations — See Ch. 245.
Plumbing — See Ch. 267.
Sewers — See Ch. 295.
Zoning — See Ch. 337.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
PERSONAL CARE RESIDENCE HOME
Any facility, home, lodging or institution, however named, operated for profit or otherwise, which accommodates or is designed to accommodate two or more ambulatory adults, who are unrelated to the owner or manager, who require on a continuing basis, in addition to room and board, a minimal level of personal care, supervision or assistance in daily routine activities, such as bathing, dressing, diet or the taking of medication prescribed for self-administration, but do not require hospitalization or care in a skilled nursing or intermediate-care facility, and who may also require assistance in the financial management of their personal affairs.
A. 
SMALL PERSONAL CARE RESIDENCEA personal care residence that is limited to no more than 12 persons and no fewer than three persons, including clients (any person who is an ambulatory resident), the operator (any person responsible for the day-to-day operation and supervision of the home) and the family of the operator. An operator may also be the householder. Clients shall be limited to no more than 10 persons. Eighty percent of the clients shall be 62 or more years of age.
B. 
LARGE PERSONAL CARE RESIDENCEA personal care residence that is more than 10 persons, including clients (any person who is an ambulatory resident), operator (any person responsible for the day-to-day operation and supervision of the home) and the family of the operator. An operator may also be the householder. Eighty percent of the clients shall be 62 or more years of age.
A. 
A person wishing to establish a personal care residence home should first be referred (by the state, other agencies, providers, etc.) to the Building Inspector for a certificate of occupancy for a small or large personal care residence home. The Building Inspector will:
(1) 
Review the proposed location with regard to zoning and spacing requirements.
(2) 
Determine if the construction of the building meets the basic requirements (e.g., brick building as opposed to a frame building).
(3) 
Check all zoning regulations.
(4) 
Advise the Department of Public Welfare and request a courtesy inspection.
B. 
Having obtained and courtesy inspection report from the state, the provider will then file with the Board of Adjustment for authorization of the special variance. This involves the following process:
(1) 
A hearing will be advertised and held, and testimony will be reviewed.
(2) 
The Building Inspector will be informed of the request and will supply a preliminary report for the hearing.
(3) 
The decision of the Board will be based on full use. Approval will be subject to issuance of a state license and a certificate of occupancy.
C. 
The Building Inspector follows up with an on-site inspection of the building and determines what will be needed to bring the building up to code. After the provider brings the building into compliance and the Board of Adjustment gives its approval, the Building Inspector will then issue a certificate of occupancy.
D. 
Up to four clients can then move in and occupy the building. The state then inspects and issues the license for full occupancy.
E. 
The provider files a copy of this license with the Building Inspector and may then utilize the building for full occupancy.
Any personal care residence home that has been established prior to the introduction of this chapter and that is located without benefit of a certificate of occupancy shall file an application for a personal care residence home with the Building Inspector within 60 days of enactment of this chapter. The Building Inspector shall analyze all such applications for content and accuracy and refer to the Board of Adjustment for compliance. Failure to file within the sixty-day period extinguishes all rights to said use and is cause for vacating the premises, with reuse of the building limited to only the type of occupancy allowed in the respective zoning district.
A yearly fee is to be paid to the City of Clairton. This fee is to be $100 per bed whether occupied or not occupied. This fee must be paid by January 31 of each year.
The local government shall maintain records indicating the address of the facility, the name and address of its sponsoring agency and the phone number to which questions, comments and/or complaints can be directed. The sponsoring agency shall register such information with the appropriate local government official.
The sponsoring agency shall file annually with the appropriate local government official a statement indicating that the facility continues to meet all conditions of original approval. Any change in sponsorship or in any of the conditions of original approval shall be promptly reported.
The local government will include an annual review. Ten days after the receipt of the annual statement, an advertisement will be placed in the local newspaper for one day listing those agencies that have applied for recertification and requesting comments from residents and community organizations within 30 days from the date of the advertisement. Individuals or organizations wishing to file a complaint would do so, in writing, to the appropriate official.
[Amended 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 1518]
The Fire Code for personal care residence homes in the City of Clairton shall be Chapter 199, Fire Prevention, Article II. In addition:
A. 
Any stove with more than four burners must have a hood with an automatic extinguisher.
B. 
Double drywall material will be put on the ceilings and walls of the furnace room and kitchen.
C. 
No auxiliary cooking or heating utensils shall be permitted.
D. 
No storage of flammable liquids are permitted on the premises.
E. 
No fireplaces shall be operable unless authorized by the City of Clairton Fire Chief upon an inspection.
F. 
All drapery and curtains must be fire retardant.
G. 
Small personal care residence homes shall have heat and smoke detectors, as recommended by City of Clairton Fire Chief upon inspection of the premises.
This chapter also complies with:
A. 
Labor and Industry.
B. 
Department of Welfare.
C. 
Allegheny County Health Department.
D. 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
E. 
BOCA National Building Code.
F. 
All rules and regulations of licensing, regulating or supervising agencies.
G. 
The City of Clairton building and zoning regulations.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 163, Building Construction, Ch. 171, Uniform Construction Codes, and Ch. 337, Zoning.