Township of North Newton, PA Mobile Homes

The Board of Supervisors may grant a mobile home park permit for a period not to exceed 12 months from the date of approval of such permit. The permit shall be renewable every 12 months at a fee payable to the Township in an amount as set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors or its duly authorized representative shall inspect each mobile home park prior to granting or renewing an annual permit for conformance with the provisions of this chapter and any other applicable regulations.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

Each application for an original permit or renewal permit shall be accompanied by an inspection fee in an amount set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. Such fee amount may be changed by subsequent resolutions of the Board. In the event the actual cost of inspection services exceeds the fee amount, the additional cost shall be borne by the applicant. Such charges shall be levied whether or not the permit is approved.

Any person holding a permit shall give notice in writing to the Township within 10 days after having sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of interest in or control of any mobile home park. Such notice shall include the name and address of the person succeeding to the interest in or control of such mobile home park, and shall be accompanied by a permit transfer fee payable to the Township in an amount as set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.[2]

[2]

Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

It shall be incumbent upon the proprietor of a mobile home park to keep a register and to report therein the name of the person or head of family occupying each mobile home, showing date of entry on said land, make and size of the mobile home, and the names of all persons living in said mobile home. Said register shall be submitted to the Township annually with the application for renewal of a mobile home park permit. Said register shall also be available for inspection by the Board of Supervisors upon request.

§ 260-48 Inspection of mobile home parks.

The Township or its authorized agent is hereby authorized to make such inspections as are necessary to determine satisfactory compliance with regulations contained herein and regulations issued hereunder, in order that the duty of safeguarding the health and safety of the occupants of such mobile home park and of the general public may be performed.

Whenever, upon inspection of any mobile home park, the Township or its authorized agents find that conditions or practices exist which are in violation of any provision contained herein or regulations issued hereunder, the Township shall give notice in writing in accordance with Subsection C, below, to the person to whom the permit was issued, that unless such conditions or practices are corrected within a reasonable period of time, the permit shall be suspended. At the end of such period, the Township shall reinspect the mobile home park and, if such conditions or practices have not been corrected, the permit shall be suspended and notice given in writing of such suspension to the person to whom the permit is issued. Upon receipt of notice of such suspension, such person shall cease operation of such mobile home park.

Whenever the Township determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision contained herein or regulations issued hereunder, notice shall be given of such alleged violations to the person to whom the permit was issued as hereafter provided. Such notice shall be as follows:

Be in writing;

Include a statement or the reasons for the issuance;

Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires;

Be served upon the owner or his agent as the case may require, provided that such notice or orders shall be deemed to have been properly served upon such owner or agent when a copy thereof has been sent by certified mail to his last known address, or when he has been served by such notice by any method authorized or required by the laws of this state;

Contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions contained herein and regulations issued hereunder.

Any person affected by any notice which has been issued in connection with the enforcement of the provisions contained herein, or regulation issued hereunder, may request a hearing on the matter before the Board of Supervisors; provided that such person files in the office of the Township Secretary a written petition requesting such hearing and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds therefor within 10 days after the notice was served. The filing of the request for a hearing shall operate as a stay of the notice and of the suspension except in the case of an order issued upon finding that an emergency exists which requires immediate action to protect the public.

§ 260-49 Lot requirements and mobile home standards.

Individual mobile home lots located in a mobile home park shall contain at least 10,000 square feet of lot area and shall not be less than 60 feet wide at the building setback line, exclusive of easements or rights-of-way.

All mobile home lots shall be given street numbers and all park streets shall be given names.

Every mobile home shall be provided with a mobile home stand, which provides an adequate foundation for the placement of such mobile home, securing the structure from settling, vibration, uplift and sliding.

The mobile home stand shall have a minimum area equal in length and width to the mobile home to be placed on it. Such stand shall be cement concrete with a minimum thickness of four inches, shall have a frost wall around its perimeter, and shall have an adequate subbase.

All mobile homes shall be securely fastened to the concrete stand (tied down) in a manner recommended by the manufacturer of the mobile home, or the mobile home owner's insurance company, for the purpose of protecting and securing the mobile home from the forces of wind.

Alternatively, the Township may approve a mobile home stand design in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations or the recommendations of the mobile home owner's insurance company. Either alternative should be presented in written form to the Township for approval at the time of subdivision, land development and/or building permit application.

§ 260-50 Yard and setback requirements.

All mobile homes shall be located at least 30 feet from any public street right-of-way which abuts a mobile home park boundary and at least 50 feet from any other boundary of the park.

There shall be a minimum distance of 25 feet between an individual mobile home and adjoining pavement of a park street or common parking area or other common areas.

All mobile homes and patios on a mobile home lot shall not be located closer than 10 feet to a side lot line, and shall not be located closer than 25 feet to a rear lot line that is not a park boundary.

§ 260-51 Mobile home park street system.

Park access. Each mobile home park shall be provided with at least two suitable points of ingress and egress, and a distance of at least 150 feet shall be maintained between center lines of access streets.

Lot access. All mobile home parks shall be provided with safe and convenient paved access streets to and from each and every mobile home lot. Alignment and gradient shall be properly adapted to topography.

Streets. All streets within any mobile home park shall be designed and improved as local streets in accordance with Township specifications.

Intersections. Not more than two streets shall intersect at any point and a distance of at least 150 feet shall be maintained between center lines of offset intersection streets.

§ 260-52 Required off-street parking.

Off-street parking areas shall be provided in all mobile home parks for the use of park occupants and guests. Such areas shall be furnished at the rate of at least two vehicular parking spaces for each mobile home lot.

Each off-street parking space shall contain at least 200 square feet being a minimum of 10 feet by 20 feet.

Auxiliary parking lots.

There shall be a minimum of one auxiliary parking space for every two mobile home stands, located within 500 feet of the mobile homes it is intended to serve.

Construction and paving of auxiliary parking lots shall be in accordance with the standards set forth herein for park streets.

All parking spaces within the auxiliary parking lot shall be clearly defined.

Separate parking lots for the storage of small trailers, boats, RVs, campers, etc., may be provided. However, storage of such vehicles shall not occur in auxiliary parking lots.

§ 260-53 Utility improvements.

Water supply.

All mobile home parks shall be served by a public water supply; however, where a public supply of water is not available, a private water system may be developed and used as approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The water supply shall supply a minimum of 150 gallons per day per mobile home.

Water supply treatment, where applicable, shall be in accordance with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

All water storage reservoirs shall be covered, so as to prevent the entrance of contaminated material, watertight, and constructed of impervious material. Overflows and vents of such reservoirs shall be effectively screened.

The water system of the mobile home park shall be connected by pipes to all mobile homes, buildings and other facilities requiring water, and shall be so designed and maintained as to provide a pressure of not less than 40 pounds per square inch, under normal operating conditions.

(6)

All water piping, fixtures and other equipment shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with state and local regulations and requirements, and shall be of a type and in a location approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

(7)

Individual water-riser pipes and connections shall be provided, and shall be located within the confined area of each mobile home stand at a point where the water connection will approximate a vertical position, and shall extend at least four inches above ground elevation. The pipe shall be at least 3/4 inch in diameter, and the water outlet shall be capped when a mobile home does not occupy the stand; surface drainage shall be diverted from the location of the riser pipe.

Sanitary sewage facilities.

An adequate and safe sanitary sewage system shall be provided in all parks for conveying and disposing of sanitary sewage from mobile homes, service buildings and other accessory facilities.

All proposed treatment and disposal facilities shall be approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection prior to construction.

Sanitary sewer collection lines shall be completely separate from the water supply system and from any storm drainage system.

Each mobile home shall be provided with a sanitary sewer riser pipe located within the confined area of the mobile home stand, so that the sewer connection to the mobile home drain outlet will approximate a vertical position.

The sanitary sewer riser pipe shall be capped when a mobile home does not occupy a stand. The rims of the riser pipe shall extend a minimum of four inches above ground elevation, and surface drainage shall be diverted away from the riser pipe.

Electrical distribution. All mobile home parks shall have underground electrical distribution systems which shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the local electric power company's specifications regulating such systems.

Natural gas systems. Any natural gas system shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the regulations and specifications of the company supplying said natural gas.

Liquefied petroleum gas system. Liquefied petroleum gas systems provided for mobile homes, service buildings or other structures shall include the following:

Systems shall be provided with safety devices to relieve excessive pressures and shall be arranged so that the discharge terminates at a safe location.

Systems shall have at least one accessible means for shutting off gas. Such means shall be located outside the mobile home and shall be maintained in effective operating condition.

All LPG piping outside of the mobile homes shall be well supported and protected against mechanical injury. Undiluted liquefied petroleum gas, liquid form, shall not be conveyed through piping equipment and systems in mobile homes.

Any vessel containing liquefied petroleum gas shall be securely but not permanently fastened to prevent accidental overturning. Vessels with a capacity greater than 100 gallons must be placed 10 feet or more from any building. Vessels with a capacity greater than 500 gallons are prohibited, and no mobile home shall have a total capacity greater than 500 gallons.

No LPG vessel shall be stored or located inside or beneath any storage cabinet, carport, mobile home or any other structure unless such installations are specifically approved by the Township.

Fuel oil supply system.

All fuel oil supply systems provided for mobile homes, service buildings and other structures shall be installed and maintained in conformity with accepted engineering practices and standards of the supplying or installing company.

Fuel storage tanks may be located below the ground surface, as long as they are installed in accordance with Department of Environmental Protection and other applicable regulations.

Fuel storage tanks may be located above the ground surface, provided they are placed on a concrete pad and affixed in such a way as to prevent tipping.

All piping from outside fuel storage tanks shall be located below the surface of the ground and a riser pipe shall be provided, located within the confined area of the mobile home stand.