Borough of Jefferson Hills, PA Part 5 PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE

§ 5-501 Adoption of Standards.

[Ord. No. 895, 12/12/2022[1]]

A certain document which is on file in the administrative office of the Borough of Jefferson Hills, being marked and designated as the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition, as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the Property Maintenance Code of the Borough of Jefferson Hills, Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for regulating and governing the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures; by providing the standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use; and the condemnation of buildings and structures unfit for human occupancy and use, and the demolition of such existing structures as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Property Maintenance Code on file in the administrative office of the Borough of Jefferson Hills are hereby referred to adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this legislation, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes prescribed in § 5-502 of this Part.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance repealed former Part 5, Property Maintenance Code, adopted by Ord. No. 842, 4/14/2014, as amended.

§ 5-502 Amendments.

[Ord. No. 895, 12/12/2022]

1. The following sections are hereby revised:

Section 101.1, Title, is hereby amended to read as follows: "These regulations shall be known as the International Property Maintenance Code of the Borough of Jefferson Hills, hereinafter referred to as 'this code.'"

Section 102.3, Application of Other Codes, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Repairs, additions or alterations to a structure, or changes of occupancy, shall be done in accordance with the procedures and provisions of the building, residential, plumbing and fire codes adopted and in effect in the Borough of Jefferson Hills. Nothing in this code shall be construed to cancel, modify, or set aside any provision of the Borough of Jefferson Hills Zoning Ordinance."

Section 103.1, Creation of Agency, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Responsible Agent. The enforcement of this Part shall be the responsibility of the code official as herein defined, including, but not limited to, the Building Inspector, Zoning Officer and/or the Borough Manager or his designee(s)."

Section 104.1, Fees, is hereby amended to read as follows: "The fees for activities and services performed by the department in carrying out its responsibilities under this code shall be in such amounts as established by resolution of Borough Council."

Section 107, Means of Appeal, is hereby struck in its entirety.

Section 108, Board of Appeals, is hereby struck in its entirety.

Section 109.4, Violation Penalties, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Any person who shall violate a provision of this code, or fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not more than $1,000 plus the costs of prosecution and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense."

Section 110.4, Failure to Comply, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not more than $1,000."

Section 111.1.5, Dangerous Structures or Premises, is hereby amended to add: "12. Any hole, cistern, open cesspool, open or unsanitary septic tanks, excavation or open foundation which may endanger neighboring property or the health or safety of the public or occupants of the property."

Section 302.3, Sidewalks and Driveways, is hereby amended to read as follows: "All sidewalks, walkways, stairs, driveways, parking spaces and similar areas open to the public and in regular use shall be kept in a proper state of repair and maintained free from hazardous conditions, including snow, ice, mud and debris. If any sidewalks or driveways, or portion thereof, by virtue of its state of repair, shall constitute a hazard to the public health and safety, the sidewalk or driveway or portion thereof shall be replaced in accord with Borough of Jefferson Hills regulations."

Section 302.4, Weeds, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from overgrowth, uncultivated, unkempt, or potentially hazardous vegetation of any type. The owner of any premises, as to vacant premises or premises occupied by the owner, and the occupant thereof, in case of premises occupied by other than the owner thereof, shall remove, trim or cut grass, weeds or other vegetation remaining upon such premises in violation of the provisions of this code. In case any person shall neglect, fail, or refuse to comply with such notice, barring appeal, the Borough of Jefferson Hills or its agents may, after 20 days, remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation, and the cost thereof, together with a penalty of 10% thereof, may be collected by the Borough of Jefferson Hills from such person in the manner provided by law."

Section 304.14, Insect Screens, is hereby amended to read as follows: "During the period from May 1 to October 31, every door, window, and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas, or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored, shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of minimum 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25mm), and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing device in good working condition. Exception: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect repellant fans, are employed."

Section 602.3, Heat Supply, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from October 1 to May 31 to maintain a minimum temperature of 68° F. (20° C.) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms."

Section 602.4, Occupiable Work Spaces, is hereby amended to read as follows: "Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat during the period from October 1 to May 31 to maintain a minimum temperature of 65° F. (18° C.) during the period the spaces are occupied."