[Ord. 629, 7/10/2002, § 1]
The following shall be and is hereby adopted providing general
requirements relating to the maintenance of the integrity and safety
of buildings and parts of buildings.
[Ord. 629, 7/10/2002, § 2]
This Part is enacted for the following purposes: to promote
the health, safety, and general welfare of the inhabitants of the
Borough of Morton by preventing, correcting and preserving the integrity
of buildings, and as an indirect result, maintaining neighborhood
qualities. It is not the intent hereof to apply these requirements
to the standards, which are a basis for the issuance of certificate
of occupancy required by the Borough of Morton.
[Ord. 629, 7/10/2002, § 3; as amended by Ord. No. 2017-740, 1/11/2017]
There is hereby adopted by the Borough of Morton certain documents
marked and designated as the International Property Maintenance Code,
2015 Edition, and annual supplements thereto, as published by the
International Code Council, Inc., as the Property Maintenance Code
of the Borough of Morton; for the control of buildings and structures
as herein provided; and each and all of the regulations, provisions,
penalties, conditions and terms of said Property Maintenance Code
are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully
set out in this Part.
[Added by Ord. No. 2017-740, 1/11/2017]
1. The designations of the subsections herein provided, of this Part
shall be the section designations of the aforementioned Property Maintenance
Code and are substantially related.
2. Reference to the codes and appendixes in or of the Property Maintenance
Code shall, for the purposes hereof, be considered as part of the
Property Maintenance Code and collectively referred to as a part thereof,
but only as made applicable thereby or by this Part.
3. As between the provisions of this Part and the Property Maintenance
Code, the latter shall be the basic Property Maintenance Code and
be controlling except as to the portions changed or made inapplicable
by this chapter. Wherein this chapter provides for procedures or regulations
differing from those set forth in the International Property Maintenance
Code, the procedures or regulations of the International Property
Maintenance Code are rendered inapplicable; wherein there may be no
ambiguity or conflict between the provisions of this chapter and the
International Property Maintenance Code, the provisions of this chapter
shall apply; and wherein provisions of this chapter and those of the
International Property Maintenance Code create no conflict or ambiguity,
the provisions of both shall apply and they shall be read together
to establish one procedure or regulation.
4. Additions, insertions and changes. The International Property Maintenance
Code, 2015 Edition, is amended and revised in the following respects:
A. The following sections are hereby revised:
(1)
Section 101.1. Insert: "Borough of Morton."
(2)
Section 103.5. Insert: "The fee schedule adopted by resolution
of the Borough Council of the Borough of Morton from time to time."
(3)
Section 112.4. Insert: "Any person, partnership or corporation
who shall violate a provision of this Code or shall fail to comply
with any of the requirements thereof, upon being found liable therefor
in an enforcement proceeding commenced by the municipality, pay a
judgment of not less than $250 nor more than $1,000, plus all court
costs, including reasonable attorney fees incurred by a municipality
as result thereof.
"Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate
violation. All judgments, costs and reasonable attorney fees collected
for the violation of this chapter shall be paid over to the municipality."
(4)
Section 302.3 Sidewalks and driveways. Amend to read: "Sidewalks,
walkways, stairs, curbs, driveways, parking spaces, parking lots and
similar areas shall be kept in the proper state of repair and maintained
free from hazardous conditions."
(5)
Section 302.4. Weeds or plant growth. Insert: "six inches."
Add: "No grass or weed clippings shall be deposited into the street."
(6)
Section 304.2. Protective treatment. Insert the following at
the end of the existing text: "All products such as building wrap,
vapor barrier, weatherization barrier, house wrap or other similar
products (known, for example, by such trade name as Tyvek), shall
not remain uncovered on exterior surfaces for a period in excess of
three months. All building wrap, vapor barrier, weatherization barrier,
house wrap or other similar products shall be covered within the three-month
period with an exterior building cover product such as siding, stucco,
stone, brick."
(7)
Section 304.14. Insect screens. Insert: "April 1 to November
30."
(8)
Section 507.1 Storm drainage, general. Amend to read: "Drainage
of roofs and paved areas, yards and courts, and other open areas on
the premises, and the discharge from sump pumps, shall not be discharged
in a manner that creates a public nuisance."
(9)
Section 602.3. Heat supply. Insert: "November 1 to April 30."
(10)
Section 602.4. Occupiable work spaces. Insert: "November 1 to
April 30."
(11)
Section 603.1 Mechanical appliances. Amend to read: "Mechanical
appliances, fireplaces, solid fuel burning appliances, cooking appliances
and water heating appliances shall be properly installed and maintained
in a safe working condition and shall be capable of performing the
intended function. Gas or oil-fired house heaters shall be cleaned
and maintained annually."
(12)
Section 605.2 Receptacles. Amend to read: "Every habitable space
in a dwelling shall contain not less than two separate and remote
receptacle outlets. Every laundry area shall contain not less than
one grounding-type receptacle or a receptacle with a ground fault
circuit interrupter. Every bathroom shall contain no less than one
receptacle with ground fault circuit interrupter protection. Any new
bathroom receptacle outlet shall have a ground fault circuit interrupter
protection. All kitchen receptacles that serve on countertop surfaces
shall have ground fault circuit interrupter protection. All receptacles
that are located within six feet of the outside edge of a laundry,
utility or wet bar sink shall have ground fault circuit interrupter
protection. All receptacle outlets shall have the appropriate faceplate
cover for the location."
B. The following sections are hereby added:
(1)
Amend to add: Section 704.3. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be
installed and maintained in any dwelling unit within which fuel-fired
appliances are installed and in dwelling units that have attached
garages.
[Ord. 629, 7/10/2002, § 4]
1. Landscaping. Shrubbery, lawns, hedges, trees and other landscaping
shall be maintained and kept from becoming overgrown and unsightly
or in any form of neglect, disrepair, or hazard.
2. Refuse. The grounds and exterior of the premises and all other structures
thereon shall be kept free of all nuisances, unsanitary conditions
and any hazards to the safety of occupants, pedestrians and other
persons utilizing the premises. Brush, weeds, broken glass, obnoxious
growths, garbage, trash, rubbish, abandoned appliances, household
furnishings, boats and trailers, which boats and trailers or parts
thereof are or have been junked, abandoned, dismantled or are in a
state of visible disrepair, and debris of any description or nature
shall be promptly removed from any premise, lot, field or parcel of
land. Holes, excavations, breaks, projections and obstructions shall
be promptly removed or repaired.
[Ord. 629, 7/10/2002, § 5]
1. Every accessory structure, including detached garages, sheds, storage
buildings, walls and fences, shall be maintained structurally sound
and appropriately protected from deterioration by the elements.
2. All canopies, marquees, awnings, stairway, fire escape, standpipe,
exhaust duct, air conditioner, parapets and similar overhead extensions
and building attachments shall be maintained in good order and repair
and be properly anchored so as to be kept in a safe and sound condition.
They shall be appropriately protected from the elements and against
decay and rust by the periodic and timely application of a weather
resistant coating material such as paint.
[Ord. 629, 7/10/2002, § 6]
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer determines that there
is or has been a violation of any provision of this Part, he shall
give notice of such violation to the person, persons, or entities
responsible therefor under this Part. Such notice shall be in writing
and shall include a concise statement of the reasons for its issuance.
Such notice shall be deemed to be properly and sufficiently served
if a copy thereof is sent by registered or certified mail to the last
known address of the person or entity upon which the same is served,
as shown by the most recent tax lists of the Borough, or a copy thereof
handed to such person or persons, or a copy thereof left at the usual
place of abode or office of such persons or entities. Notice shall
be given as aforesaid within or without the Borough. The notice shall
also state that unless the violation is abated, removed, cured, prevented
or desisted from within 10 days of the date of service of such notice
(exclusive of the date of service) a summons shall be issued for such
violation. The Code Enforcement Officer may, at the time he issues
the notice, extend the period for compliance with the violation stated
in the notice for a period in excess of the aforesaid 10 days if,
in his judgment, the abatement, removal, prevention, cessation of
or cure of the condition violated cannot reasonably be effected within
the ten-day period. In such cases the Code Enforcement Officer shall
state such reasonably required extended period in the notice, which
shall then be applicable instead of the aforesaid 10 days. In the
event that the violation is not abated, removed, cured, prevented
or desisted from or otherwise fully remedied within the ten-day period
or within such period as set forth in the notice, pursuant to the
foregoing, a summons shall then issue against the person, persons,
entity or entities so notified.
[Ord. 629, 7/10/2002, § 7]
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer finds that an emergency condition in violation of this Part exists, which condition requires immediate attention in order to protect the public health or safety, he may issue an order by service of notice as set forth in §
5-106 reciting the existence of such an emergency condition and requiring that such action be taken by the violator as soon as is reasonably necessary to meet the emergency. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Part, such order shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom such order is directed shall comply therewith immediately, but, upon objection in writing to the Code Enforcement Officer, any such persons shall be afforded a hearing before Borough Council as soon as is reasonably possible. After such hearing and decision by Borough Council as to the existence or nonexistence of the emergency condition, Borough Council may continue such order in effect, or modify or withdraw it, subject to issuance of a summons for violation thereof, if such order is continued.