Township of Wrightstown, PA PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE

[Ord. 285, 8/16/2010, § 2]

The following sections are hereby revised:

Section 101.1 is amended to insert "Wrightstown Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania."

Section 103.5 is amended to read as follows:

103.5 Fees. The fees for activities and services performed by the Department in carrying out its responsibilities under this Code shall be as set forth in the Wrightstown Township Fee Schedule as adopted by the Board of Supervisors, and which may be amended from time to time by resolution of same.

Section 104.7 is added as follows:

104.7 Coordination of Inspection. Whenever in the enforcement of this Code or another code or ordinance, the responsibility of more than one code official of the jurisdiction is involved, it shall be the duty of the code officials involved to coordinate their inspections and administrative orders as much as practical so that the owners and occupants of the structure shall not be subjected to visits by numerous inspectors or multiple or conflicting orders. Whenever an inspector from any agency or department observes an apparent or actual violation of some provision of law, ordinance or code not within the inspector's authority to enforce, the inspector shall report the findings to the code official having jurisdiction.

Section 106.3 is amended to read as follows:

106.3 Prosecution of Violation. Any person failing to comply with a notice of violation or order served in accordance with § 107 shall be deemed guilty of a summary offense or civil infraction as determined by Wrightstown Township, and the violation shall be deemed a strict liability offense. If the notice of violation is not complied with, the code official shall institute the appropriate proceeding at law or in equity to restrain, correct or abate such violation, or to require the removal or termination of the unlawful occupancy of the structure in violation of the provisions of this code or of the order or direction made pursuant thereto. Any action taken by the authority having jurisdiction on such premises shall be charged against the real estate upon which the structure is located and shall be a lien upon such real estate.

Section 106.4 is amended to read as follows:

106.4 Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this Code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect install, alter repair or do any work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this Code, shall be guilty of a summary offense, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense. In addition, to the above penalties, any person who shall violate a provision of this Code, or fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof, shall be subject, in addition to the penalties imposed above, to monetary penalties for all court costs, legal costs, attorneys' fees and other miscellaneous costs incurred by Wrightstown Township during successful prosecution of the that person by Wrightstown Township.

Section 108.1.3.1 is added as follows:

108.1.3.1 Service, Facility, Equipment or Utility. No owner, operator, or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment, or utility which is required by this Code to be removed, shut off or discontinued, except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by the appropriate authority.

Section 110.1.1 is added as follows:

110.1.1 Extermination. All demolition shall be preceded by an inspection of the premises by a certified exterminator to determine whether or not extermination procedures are necessary. If the premises are found to be infested, appropriate extermination shall take place in accordance with § 309 of this Code before, during and after demolition. Certification of extermination must be submitted by a certified exterminator to the code official. Demolition shall commence within 10 days of certification.

Section 111.2 is amended to read as follows:

111.2 Membership of the Board. The board of appeals shall be comprised of the comprised of the same three members who are appointed to the building code board of appeals.

Section 111.4.1 is amended to read as follows:

111.4.1 Procedure. The board of appeals shall be governed by the same rules of procedure applicable to the building code board of appeals. While compliance with strict rules of evidence shall not be required, only relevant information shall be received.

Section 112.4 is amended to read as follows:

112.4 Failure to Comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000.

Section 201.3 is amended to replace the terms "International Zoning Code" with "Wrightstown Township Zoning Ordinance."

Section 302.4 is amended to insert "eight inches."

Section 304.14 is amended to read as follows:

304.14 Insect Screens. Every door, window, and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable spaces, food preparation, food service, or other area where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged, or stored shall be equipped with approved tightly fitting screens of not less than 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm) and every screen door used for insect control shall open in the director of egress and shall be equipped with a self closing device in good working condition.

Exception. Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect-repellant fans are utilized.

Section 307.2 is added as follows:

307.2 Ramps. Handrails shall be provided on at least one side of all ramps exceeding a slope of one unit vertical to 12 units horizontal (8.33% slope).

Section 602.3 is amended to read as follows:

602.3 Heat Supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases, or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from October 15th to April 15th to maintain a temperature of not less than 68° F. in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms.

Exceptions: Remain unchanged

Section 602.4 is amended to read as follows:

602.4 Occupiable Work Spaces. Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat during the period from October 15th to April 15th to maintain a temperature of not less than 65° F. during the period the spaces are occupied.

Exceptions: Remain unchanged