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Township of Plainfield, PA
Northampton County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
[Ord. 191, 6/1/1988, § 1]
This Part is enacted to provide for the uniform and equitable distribution of the tax levies in the Township of Plainfield and upon the inhabitants thereof and to promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants of the Township of Plainfield.
[Ord. 191, 6/1/1988, § 2]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
BUSINESS UNIT
A parcel of real estate, with or without improvements located thereon, utilized by any person or persons for any commercial activity or purpose.
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms used for living and sleeping purposes arranged for occupancy by one family or by one or more persons.
LANDLORD
A lessor, or person who acts as agent for the lessor, of any parcel of real estate located in the Township of Plainfield, or a lessor, or person who acts as agent for the lessor, of any improvements on real estate or any building located in the Township of Plainfield. The terms shall not apply to any condominium unit owners association subject to the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act, Act of July 2, 1980, P.L. 286 No. 82, 68 Pa.C.S.A. § 3101 et seq.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, association, firm or corporation.
TENANT
A person who has the use, for a period exceeding 30 days, either by himself or with others, of a dwelling unit or a business unit which is either owned by a person other than himself or which occupies a parcel of real estate owned by a person other than himself, for a period exceeding 30 days.
[Ord. 191, 6/1/1988, § 3]
1. 
Within 30 days from the effective date of this Part, each landlord shall submit to the Township Secretary a report, on a form supplied by the Township Secretary, which includes the following information:
A. 
List of all parcels of real estate owned by the landlord upon which are located dwelling units and/or business units located within the Township of Plainfield limits, whether occupied or not occupied.
B. 
Address of each dwelling unit and business unit.
C. 
Brief description of each dwelling unit or business unit.
D. 
Whether or not said dwelling unit or business unit is inhabited or utilized by tenants.
E. 
Names of the tenant or tenants utilizing the aforementioned dwelling unit or business unit, if any.
[Ord. 191, 6/1/1988, § 4]
After the effective date of this Part, any person who becomes a landlord of any parcel of real estate or any improvement on real estate or building located in the Township of Plainfield by agreement of sale, by deed, or by any other means shall, within 30 days thereafter, report to the Township Secretary the information and data set forth in § 11-103 above, and on forms to be provided by the Township Secretary.
[Ord. 191, 6/1/1988, § 5]
After the effective date of this Part, each and every landlord of property within the Township of Plainfield shall report to the Township Secretary, on a report form to be supplied by the Township Secretary, any change in the use or occupancy of any dwelling unit or business unit owned by such landlord, or which occupies a parcel of real estate owned by such landlord. The reported change shall include the name or names of new tenants of such dwelling unit or business unit, the date when such change was effected, and the forwarding address of the old tenant or tenants, if known. A landlord of a hotel, inn, boarding house, or campground shall not be required to report a person as a "tenant" until that person has resided in such landlord's establishment for a period exceeding 30 days. In the event that a dwelling unit or business unit was used or utilized by a tenant and then becomes vacant, this change shall also be reported to the Township Secretary. All reports required by this Section shall be made within 10 days after a landlord has knowledge that such a unit has had a change in occupancy or has become vacant.
[Ord. 191, 6/1/1988, § 6]
1. 
The Township Secretary, under the authority of this Part, shall:
A. 
Maintain on file at the municipal building in the Secretary's office the names of the landlords owning dwelling units and business units in the Township of Plainfield, said list to include the names of the current tenants of said dwelling units and business units.
B. 
Maintain a supply of forms for landlords to use in making reports to the Township Secretary as required in §§ 11-103, 11-104, and 11-105 of this Part.
C. 
Notify the Chief of Police of the Township of Plainfield, and the Fire Chief of the Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Company of the address and description of any dwelling unit or business unit that is vacant, unoccupied and not in use.
[Ord. 191, 6/1/1988, § 7]
The Township Secretary shall annually mail to each landlord of property in the Township a copy of that landlords most recently filed report form, together with a blank report form on which the landlord is to list any changes which may have occurred with respect to the use or occupancy of his property. Each landlord, which is not reflected on the most recently filed report is to file this updated form, listing any changes within 30 days of receipt of the report.
[Ord. 191, 6/1/1988, § 8; as amended by A.O.]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. 203, 4/3/1989, § 1]
This Part is enacted to provide for the safety of occupants of buildings containing more than one dwelling unit by requiring submission of floor plans to the Township showing sufficient detail to aid firefighters and/or ambulance attendants in the event of an emergency.
[Ord. 203, 4/3/1989, § 2]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms used for living or sleeping purposes arranged for occupancy by one family or one or more persons.
OWNER
The person who is listed as record owner of any parcel of real estate (or the person who acts as agent for said person) located in the Township of Plainfield, upon which a building containing more than one dwelling unit is located. In case of any building subject to the Pennsylvania Uniform Condominium Act, Act of July 2, 1980, P.L. 286 No. 82, 68 Pa.C.S.A. § 3101 et seq., the term shall include both the "declarant" and the "unit owners association" as those terms are defined under said Act, so that either shall be subject separately to the duties imposed on "owners" under this Part.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, association, firm or corporation.
[Ord. 203, 4/3/1989, § 3]
1. 
Within 60 days from the date of this Part, the owner of any building containing more than one dwelling unit shall submit to the Township Secretary two copies of a floor plan of that building.
2. 
The floor plan may be, but need not be, an architect's or engineer's blue print of the building. The floor plan need not be drawn to scale, but must, at a minimum, show the location of all rooms, doorways, entrance ways and stairways of the building, which doorways are doorways connecting dwelling units, if any, and which doorways are merely doorways connecting rooms within a dwelling unit. Each floor should be clearly labeled to show its elevation (e.g., basement, first floor, etc.).
3. 
All floors of a dwelling unit must be shown on the floor plan including attic and basement. Areas not used as living space but merely used for storage may be marked "storage only."
4. 
The floor plan must show the approximate location, and general type of heating unit within each dwelling unit (e.g., gas furnace, boiler, electric heat pump, etc.).
5. 
In the event of any additions or alterations to buildings which add, demolish or relocate rooms, walls, doorways, entrance ways and stairways of the building or change or alter the location or general type of heating unit, the owner must, within 30 days of completion of said addition, submit a revised floor plan to the Township secretary.
[Ord. 203, 4/3/1989, § 4]
1. 
The Township Secretary, upon receiving said floor plans, shall:
A. 
Maintain on file a copy of the floor plan.
B. 
Transmit one copy to the Fire Chief of the Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Company.
[Ord. 203, 4/3/1989, § 5; as amended by A.O.]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.