[Adopted 10-23-1984 by Ord. No. 1387]
[Added 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 1518]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DANGEROUS STRUCTURE
A structure which is structurally unsound, unsanitary or not provided with adequate ingress or egress or which constitutes a fire hazard or which has become unsafe by reason of damage by fire, the elements, age or general deterioration or which, in relation to an existing use, constitutes a hazard to public health, safety or welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence or abandonment or which is otherwise dangerous to human life.
NUISANCE
Any condition, structure, improvement or material which shall constitute a threat or potential threat to the health, safety or welfare of the citizens of Clairton or which is detrimental to the property of others or which causes or tends to cause substantial diminution in the value of other property in the neighborhood in the neighborhood in which such premises are located.
[Amended 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 1518]
In order to avail itself of the power conferred by 53 P.S. § 37403, the City of Clairton is hereby authorized and empowered to prohibit and remove any nuisance or dangerous structure on public or private property or to require the repair or removal of the same by the owner or occupier of such property, in default of which the City may cause the same to be razed and removed, and collect the cost thereof, together with a penalty of 10% of such cost, in the manner provided by law for the collection of municipal claims or by instituting appropriate proceedings in a court of equity.
The Building Inspector shall, upon a finding that a condition or structure on any premises constitutes a nuisance or dangerous structure, give notice of such finding to the owner or occupier of the premises requiring the owner or occupier to raze and remove such nuisance or structure, within a period of 15 days or to repair the same if, in the Building Inspector's judgment, it can be made safe and sanitary by repairs.
The finding of the Building Inspector that a condition or structure is in fact a nuisance or dangerous structure shall be binding upon the owner or occupier of the property unless an appeal is made to the City Council within said period of 15 days, all proceedings to be stayed pending the action of the City Council on the finding of the Building Inspector. The City Council, at its next regular meeting, shall hear the appeal and make such order as it considers proper and such decision shall be final.
Whenever the owner of a property fails to comply with a demolition order of the City Council within the further period of 15 days after such order was made, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to proceed with the removal thereof for and on behalf of the City.