[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Scott Township 10-10-1995 by Ord. No. 1-1995. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and cited as the "Scott Township
Property Maintenance Ordinance."
Recognizing the need within the Township to establish certain
minimum health and safety requirements for those buildings, structures
or properties which are used or associated with human occupancy, this
chapter hereby establishes standards which the Board of Supervisors
considers to be fair and essential in meeting those minimum requirements.
This chapter and the objectives leading to its enactment are
authorized by the Second Class Township Code (53 P.S. § 65101
et seq.).
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A roofed structure, enclosed by one or more walls, for the
shelter, housing, storage or enclosure of persons, goods, materials,
equipment or animals.
An open and unoccupied space on a lot enclosed on at least
three sides by the walls of a building.
Putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the
handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
The presence of insects, rodents, vermin and/or other pests.
A plot, tracts, premises or parcel of land, with or without
improvements thereto.
Any person or persons, jointly or severally, firm, corporation
or other entity which, either by conveyance or inheritance or otherwise,
is vested with the title to a lot and/or improvements thereto or who
retains the exclusive control of such a lot and/or improvements thereto
in his capacity as a legal representative, such as an administrator,
trustee, executor, etc.
All putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes, including
garbage, rubbish, ashes, dead animals and market and industrial wastes.
Any building or part thereof or man-made structure which
remains unoccupied for a period of more than six months, with either
doors, windows or other openings broken, removed, boarded or sealed
up, or any building under construction upon which little or no construction
work has been performed for a period of more than six months.
Any open space on the same lot with a building and for the
most part unobstructed from the ground up.
The provisions of this chapter shall supplement local laws,
ordinances or regulations existing in the Township or those of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Where a provision of this chapter is
found to be in conflict with any provision of a local law, ordinance,
code or regulation or those of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the
provisions which are more restrictive or which establish the higher
standard shall prevail.
A.
No owner of any building or structure shall fail to take steps and
perform such maintenance thereto as may be required from time to time
to ensure the property is safe, sound, sanitary and secure and does
not present a health and/or safety hazard to surrounding properties
and to the general populace.
B.
No owner of any unoccupied building or structure shall fail to take
such steps as may be required to ensure that these are securely closed
so as to prohibit and deter entry thereto and to ensure that no health
and/or safety hazard or threat thereof is precipitated due to a lack
of maintenance or due to neglect.
C.
Owners of any and all unoccupied buildings and/or structures which,
through neglect, have deteriorated to the point of being classified
as "unoccupied hazards," and therefore constitute a severe health
and/or safety hazard, shall upon direction of the Board of Supervisors
remove or cause the removal of the building and/or structure.
No persons shall permit:
A.
Fences and/or minor structures to be constructed and maintained so
as to present a safety or health hazard to persons and/or property.
B.
The development or accumulation of hazards, rodent harborage and/or
infestation upon yards, courts or lots.
C.
Objectionable materials to accumulate and to be blown about the surrounding
neighborhood.
D.
Wells, cesspools, cisterns, sedimentation ponds, stormwater management
impoundment ponds and/or ponds of a similar nature to remain open
without adequate fencing or barricades to prevent access thereto by
the general public.
E.
The accumulation of heavy undergrowth and/or vegetation which would
impair the health and/or safety of the neighborhood; nor shall they
permit any trees, plants or shrubbery or any portion thereof to grow
on their property which constitute a safety hazard to pedestrian and/or
vehicular traffic.
A.
Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect,
vermin and rodent harborage and infestation.
B.
Adequate sanitary facilities and methods shall be used for the collection,
storage, handling and disposal of garbage and refuse.
C.
Where there exists rodent and vermin infestation, corrective measures
shall be undertaken by the property owner and/or occupant to alleviate the existing problem(s), to
include screening, extermination and/or garbage and refuse control.
Methods employed for extermination shall conform to generally accepted
practices.
No person shall permit:
A.
Roof, surface and/or sanitary drainage to create a safety and/or
health hazard to persons and/or property by reason of inadequate and/or
improper construction or maintenance or manner of discharge.
B.
Roof gutters, drains or any other system designed and constructed
to transport stormwater to be discharged into any sanitary sewage
system and/or any part thereof.
C.
Any refrigerator, freezer and/or other similar storage chest to be
discarded, abandoned or stored in any place or location which is accessible
to the general public without first completely removing any and all
locking devices and/or doors.
Any occupant of a premises shall be responsible for compliance
with the provisions of this chapter with respect to the maintenance
of that part of the premises which he occupies and/or controls in
a safe, sound and/or sanitary condition pursuant to the terms of the
contract/agreement under which he exercises occupancy and/or control
thereof.
A.
Owners of premises shall comply with the provisions of this chapter
as well as operators and occupants, regardless of any agreements between
owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such
responsibility.
B.
In instances where an occupant is responsible or shares responsibility
with an owner for the existence of one or more violations of this
chapter, said occupant shall be deemed responsible and treated as
if an owner within the true intent and meaning of this chapter.
The Board of Supervisors may or may cause, through an authorized
representative of the Township, entry onto premises for the purpose
of inspection of any and all premises, properties, buildings and/or
structures located within the Township for ascertaining the existence
of violations. In those matters where the nature of an alleged violation
is such that an inspection of the interior of a building or structure
is necessitated, prior arrangements must be made with the owner or
his agent to secure access thereof.
A.
If noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter constitutes
a nuisance or if any condition, structure or improvement poses a threat
to the health, safety or welfare of the public, the enforcement officer
shall issue a written notice to be served by registered or certified
mail upon the owner of said premises or, if the owner's whereabouts
or identity is unknown, by posting the notice conspicuously upon the
offending premises.
B.
Said notice shall specify the condition or structure or improvement
complained of and shall require the owner to commence to remove or
otherwise rectify the condition or structure or improvement as set
forth therein within 10 days of mailing or posting of said notice
and thereafter to fully comply with the requirements of the notice
within a reasonable time.
If the owner does not comply with the notice to abate the conditions
within the time limit prescribed, the Township shall have the authority
to take measures to correct the conditions and collect the cost of
such corrections plus 10% of all costs. The Township, in such event
and pursuant to its statutory or otherwise authorized police powers,
shall have the right and power to enter upon the offending premises
to accomplish the foregoing.
A.
Any person aggrieved by the decision of the enforcement officer may
request and shall then be granted a hearing before the Board of Supervisors,
provided that he files with the Board of Supervisors within 10 days
after notice of the enforcement officer's decision a written
petition requesting such hearing and setting forth a brief statement
of the grounds therefor. The hearing shall commence not later than
30 days after the date on which the petition was filed unless postponed
for sufficient cause.
B.
After such hearing, the Board of Supervisors shall sustain, modify
or overrule the action of the enforcement officer.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than
$1,000 and, in default of payment, to undergo imprisonment for a term
not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues
shall constitute a separate offense.
If the premises are owned by more than one owner, each owner
shall severally be subject to prosecution for the violation of this
chapter.
The remedies provided herein for the enforcement of this chapter
or any remedy provided by law shall not be deemed mutually exclusive;
rather they may be employed simultaneously or consecutively, at the
option of the Board of Supervisors.
