As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE
Any structure which has a use, either partially or fully,
for commercial or business purposes.
DWELLING UNIT
Any single-family house, apartment building, duplex, multifamily
structure or other living quarters of whatsoever kind.
OCCUPANT
Any person or persons occupying a structure, as that term
is herein defined.
OWNER
Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others,
shall have legal title or equitable title to any building, structure
or premises, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof,
and shall include fiduciaries or any other person or persons having
a vested or contingent interest in the property in question.
PERSON
Includes a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization
and any other group acting as a unit as well as individuals. Persons
shall also include an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver or
other representative appointed according to the requirements of the
law. Whenever the word "person" is used in any section of this chapter
prescribing a penalty or fine, as to partnerships or associations,
the word shall include the partners or members thereof; as to corporations,
it shall include the officers, agents or members, who are responsible
for any violations of any section of this chapter.
STRUCTURE
Any building used or intended for supporting or sheltering
any use or occupancy.
No structure or part thereof may hereafter be used or occupied
until such time as the owner or his agent or the occupant has secured
an occupancy permit to be issued by the office of the Borough Secretary
or the designated agent of Vandergrift Borough, as may be amended
from time to time hereafter by resolution. The requirements for inspection
are in addition to those as required by the Residential Rental Property
License Ordinance, known and identified at Ordinance No. 3 of 2004. Structures presently occupied prior to the enactment of
this chapter shall not be subject to the occupancy permit requirements
of this chapter until such time as there is a change in the owner
of the structure. It shall be unlawful to change owners of a structure
unless an occupancy permit has been issued by the Borough Secretary's
office or its designated agent prior to said change, stating that
the structure, land or premises conforms to the Code requirements
of Vandergrift Borough in place at the time of application, which
said requirements may be amended from time and time hereafter, but
shall remain the basis of the requirements of this chapter.
It shall be a violation of the terms of this chapter for any
person to occupy a structure prior to the issuance of an occupancy
permit. It shall be a violation of the terms of this chapter for an
owner to allow the property to be occupied by any person or persons
without first obtaining the necessary occupancy permit or necessary
residential rental property permit for Vandergrift Borough.
Each day is a separate violation of this chapter if a structure
is occupied without an appropriate occupancy permit. Any person violating
any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction in any
court of competent jurisdiction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not
less than $300 per day. Where any such violation is by a firm, partnership,
association or corporation, the fine or penalty may be imposed upon
any of the partners, members or corporate officers.