[Ord. 415, 6/7/2004, § 1]
This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "West Lebanon Construction Code Ordinance," and may be referred to herein as the "code."
[Ord. 415, 6/7/2004, § 2]
The purpose of this Part is to promote the general health, safety, and welfare of the residents of West Lebanon Township, to conform to the requirements of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, 35 P.S. § 7210.101 et seq., and to comply with the regulations issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry within the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
[Ord. 415, 6/7/2004, § 3]
West Lebanon Township (Municipality) hereby adopts and incorporates by reference the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, as contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405, and amendments thereto, and declares this to be the West Lebanon Township Construction Code Ordinance, referred to herein as the "code."
[Ord. 415, 6/7/2004, § 4]
The code shall control all matters concerning the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, location, occupancy and maintenance of all buildings and structures and shall apply to existing or proposed structures, unless exempted by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). It shall be the joint responsibility of the owner, lessee, if any, and the contractor to obtain the required code permit before performing any work.
[Ord. 415, 6/7/2004, § 5; Ord. 454, 9/2/2008; Ord. No. 543, 4/7/2025; Ord. No. 547, 2/2/2026]
1.
In accordance with and in addition to the administrative provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act 45 of 1999, and the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Regulations, the following administrative and enforcement requirements shall be part of the Code:
A.
Administration.
(1)
Administration and enforcement of the code and Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry regulations is hereby delegated to the County of Lebanon by virtue of a separate contract authorizing the Building Code Official of West Lebanon Township to administer and enforce the code on behalf of the Municipality. For purposes of this Part, the term "Building Code Official" shall include all employees and contracted agents of West Lebanon Township who are Building Code Officials, Code Administrators, Construction Code Officials, Current Code Administrators or individuals similarly licensed and/or certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to perform code work.
(2)
The Building Code Official(s) shall have all the powers and duties set forth in the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). Specifically, the Building Code Official(s) shall be authorized to receive code permit applications; issue or deny code permits; collect fees for permits, plan reviews and inspections; make inspections and require such work to be performed as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the code; issue certificates of occupancy; and enter buildings and premises within normal business hours or at other times with permission of the owner or contractor. Additionally, the Building Code Official(s) may perform code enforcement activities including, but not limited to, issuance of notices, violation, stop work orders, vacate orders or other legal action necessary to enforce, restrain, abate, or correct violations of the code.
(3)
Application for a code permit shall be on forms provided by the Building Code Official(s). At the time of code permit application and prior to issuance of a code permit, the applicant shall submit to the Building Code Official(s) two sets of construction documents with plans and specifications, all required fees, and a copy of any required zoning permit. No code permit application shall be deemed complete without the required construction plans, fees, and zoning permit copy. Additionally, the applicant shall pay all outstanding permit and inspection fees required during the course of construction prior to the issuance of a certificate of use and occupancy.
(4)
Application, plan review, permit and inspection fees shall be paid by applicants in accordance with fee schedules established by resolution of the Township and maintained by the Building Code Official(s).
(5)
The Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution of this Township in conformity with the requirements of the Code. Where two or more municipalities decide to establish a joint Board of Appeals, said Board of Appeals shall be established through joint action of the participating municipalities, by intermunicipal agreement in accordance with the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2301 et seq.
B.
Violations and Penalties.
(1)
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, remove, demolish, use or occupy any building, structure or equipment regulated by this code, or to permit or cause same to be done, in conflict with or in violation of this code.
(2)
The Building Code Official(s) may serve a notice of violation, stop work order, vacate order or other lawful enforcement notice on any person responsible for the erection, construction, alteration, extension, repair, removal, demolition, use or occupy a building, structure or equipment in violation of the provisions of this code or any permit issued under the provisions of this code.
(3)
If the Building Code Official(s) has served a notice of violation and the notice of violation is not complied with by the deadline prescribed, summary enforcement proceedings may be initiated by the Building Code Official(s) against the violator. Additionally, appropriate proceedings at law or in equity may be instituted by the Township to restrain, correct, or abate a violation, to prevent unlawful construction or to prevent illegal occupancy of a building, structure, or premises.
(4)
Any person, firm, corporation, organization, equitable interest, or other entity who or which shall be in violation of any provisions of this code or who shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, construct, alter, extend, repair, remove, demolish, use or occupy, or permit the use or occupancy of, any building, structure, or equipment regulated by this code in violation of the provisions of this code or of an approved plan or of a directive of the Building Code Official(s) or of a permit or certificate issued under the provision of this code or who shall permit the use, occupancy, erection, construction, alteration, extension, removal, demolition, or repair of the building, structure, or equipment in violation thereof, upon conviction thereof, will be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $200 and not to exceed $1,000 and/or to undergo imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day that a violation continues beyond the date fixed for compliance shall constitute a separate offense. In any enforcement action brought under this section, the guilty party shall in addition to any fines pay the costs of prosecution, including reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the Township of West Lebanon.