[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
Scope. The provisions of this Part 3 shall govern the minimum conditions
for maintenance of exterior property, premises and structures. Premises
shall comply with the conditions herein prescribed insofar as they
are applicable.
2.
Responsibility. The owner of the premises shall maintain such structures
and premises in compliance with these requirements. A person shall
not occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy or use
premises which do not comply with the following requirements of this
Part 3.
3.
Vacant Structures and Land. All vacant structures and premises thereof
or vacant land shall be maintained in a clean, safe, secure, and sanitary
condition as provided herein so as not to cause a blighting problem
or adversely affect the public health or safety.
[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
Sanitation. All exterior property areas and premises shall be maintained
in a clean, safe and sanitary condition free from any accumulation
of rubbish or garbage.
A.
Containers. The operator of every establishment producing garbage,
vegetable wastes, or other putrescible materials shall provide, and
at all times cause to be used, leakproof approved containers provided
with close-fitting covers for the storage of such materials until
removed from the premises for disposal. Containers shall meet the
requirements of applicable ordinances of the Borough of Watsontown.
2.
Grading and Drainage.
A.
All premises shall be graded and maintained so as to prevent the
accumulation of stagnant water thereon, or within any structure located
thereon. Stagnant water shall be determined as any accumulation that
has not dispersed within seven days of the last recorded local rainfall.
Drainage shall conform to the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection.
B.
Exception. Water retention areas and/or reservoirs approved by the
Code Official.
3.
Loading Areas. All loading areas, automobile service stations and
drive-in food establishments shall be paved with bituminous, concrete
or equivalent surfacing and shall be free from dirt and other litter
and kept in good repair. When lighted for nighttime use, lights shall
not be permitted to cast directly upon dwellings nearby.
4.
Insect and Rat Control. An owner of a structure or property shall
be responsible for the extermination of insects, rats, vermin, or
other pests in all exterior areas of the premises, except that the
occupant shall be responsible for such extermination in the exterior
areas of the premises of a single-family dwelling. Whenever infestation
exists in the premises of other than a single-family dwelling, extermination
shall be the responsibility of the owner.
5.
Public Areas. All sidewalks, steps, driveways, parking spaces and
similar paved areas for public use shall be kept in a proper state
of repair, free of all snow, ice, mud and other debris and shall be
maintained free of hazardous conditions. If any sidewalk or driveway
or portion thereof by virtue of its state of repair shall constitute
a danger to public health and safety, the sidewalk or driveway or
portion thereof shall be replaced. Steps shall comply with the requirements
for exterior stairs.
6.
Weeds. All areas shall be kept free from weeds or plant growth in
excess of 10 inches (254 mm). "Weeds" shall be defined as all grasses,
annual plants and vegetation other than trees or shrubs; provided,
however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
It shall be the duty of any person owning, leasing, occupying, or
controlling any plot of ground in the jurisdiction to prevent the
growth of weeds thereon.
7.
Storage Areas. All open salvage lands and open storage areas shall
be completely obscured from surrounding property by a solid screen
not less than six feet (1,829 mm) in height.
8.
Exhaust Vents. A person shall not construct, maintain, or operate
pipes, ducts, conductors, fans, or blowers discharging gases, steam,
vapor, hot air, grease, smoke, odors or other gaseous or particulate
wastes so as to discharge directly upon abutting or adjacent public
and private property or that of another tenant.
10.
Motor Vehicles. Motor vehicles shall be subject to the following
requirements:
[Amended by Ord. No. 2021-02, 9/13/2021]
A.
Residential areas. A vehicle of any type shall not at any time undergo
major overhaul, including body work, in a residential district unless
such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area
designed and approved for such purposes.
B.
Nonresidential areas. Any vehicle shall not at any time be in a state
of major disassembly or disrepair, nor shall it be in the process
of being stripped or dismantled.
11.
Open Fires. Open fires shall be prohibited except as specifically
approved by ordinances of the Borough of Watsontown.
[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
General. The exterior of a structure shall be maintained in good
repair, structurally sound and sanitary so as not to pose a threat
to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants and so as to protect
the occupants from the adverse effects of the environment.
A.
Street Numbers. Each structure to which a street number has been
assigned shall have the number so assigned displayed in a position
easily observed and readable from the public right-of-way. All numbers
shall be in figures at least three inches (76 mm) high and 1/2 inch
(13 mm) wide.
2.
Structural Members. All supporting structural members of all structures
shall be kept structurally sound, free of deterioration and maintained
capable of safely bearing the dead and live loads imposed upon them.
3.
Exterior Surfaces (foundations, walls and roof). Every foundation,
exterior wall, roof, and all other exterior surfaces shall be maintained
in a workmanlike state of maintenance and repair and shall be kept
in such condition as to exclude rats.
A.
Foundation walls. All foundation walls shall be maintained so as
to carry the safe design and operating dead and live loads and shall
be maintained plumb and free from open cracks and breaks, so as not
to be detrimental to public safety and welfare.
B.
Exterior walls. Every exterior wall shall be free of holes, breaks,
loose or rotting boards or timbers, and any other conditions which
might admit rain or dampness to the interior portions of the walls
or to the occupied spaces of the building. All exterior surface materials,
including wood, composition, or metal siding, shall be maintained
weatherproof and shall be properly surface coated when required to
prevent deterioration.
C.
Roofs and Drainage. The roof shall be structurally sound, tight,
and not have defects which might admit rain. Roof drainage shall be
adequate to prevent rainwater from causing dampness or deterioration
in the walls or interior portion of the building. Roof water shall
not be discharged in a manner that creates a nuisance to owners or
occupants of adjacent premises, or that creates a public nuisance.
D.
Decorative features. All cornices, entablatures, belt courses, corbels,
terra cotta trim, wall facings and similar decorative features shall
be maintained in good repair with proper anchorage and in a safe condition.
E.
Signs, Marquees, and Awnings. All canopies, marquees, signs, metal
awnings, stairways, fire escapes, standpipes, exhaust ducts and similar
overhang extensions shall be maintained in good repair and be properly
anchored so as to be kept in a safe and sound condition. They shall
be protected from the elements and against decay and rust by the periodic
application of a weather-coating material such as paint or other protective
treatment.
F.
Chimneys. All chimneys, cooling towers, smokestacks, and similar
appurtenances shall be maintained structurally safe, sound, and in
good repair. All exposed surfaces of metal or wood shall be protected
from the elements and against decay or rust by periodic application
of weather-coating materials such as paint or similar surface treatment.
G.
Stairs and Porches.
(1)
Every
stair, porch, fire escape, balcony, and all appurtenances attached
thereto shall be so constructed as to be safe to use and capable of
supporting the anticipated loads and shall be maintained in sound
condition and good repair. Every stair, porch and fire escape shall
be maintained free of hazardous conditions such as snow, ice, mud
and other debris.
(2)
Every
flight of stairs which is more than four risers high shall have a
handrail on at least one side of the stair, and every open portion
of a stair, fire escape, porch, landing or balcony which is more than
30 inches (762 mm) above the grade below shall have guardrails. Handrails
shall be not less than 30 inches (762 mm) nor more than 34 inches
(864 mm) high, measured vertically above the nosing of the treads.
Guardrails shall be not less than 30 inches (762 mm) high above the
floor of the porch, landing or balcony. Every handrail and guardrail
shall be firmly fastened and capable of bearing normally imposed loads
and shall be maintained in good condition.
H.
Lead-Based Paint. Lead-based paint with a lead content of more than
0.5% shall not be applied to any exterior surface of a dwelling, dwelling
unit, or child-care facility, including fences and outbuildings at
these locations. Existing exterior painted surfaces that contain an
excess of 0.5% lead shall be removed or covered with paneling or other
suitable covering approved by the Code Official.
4.
Window and Door Frames. Every window, door and frame shall be constructed
and maintained in such relation to the adjacent wall construction
so as to exclude rain as completely as possible, and to substantially
exclude wind from entering the dwelling or structure.
A.
Weathertight. Every window and exterior door shall be fitted reasonably
in its frame and be weathertight. Weather stripping shall be used
to exclude wind or rain from entering the dwelling or structure and
shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
B.
Glazing. Every required window sash shall be fully supplied with
approved glazing materials which are without open cracks and holes.
C.
Openable Windows. Every window, other than a fixed window, shall
be capable of being easily opened and shall be held in position by
window hardware.
D.
Insect Screens.
(1)
During the period from April 1 to December 1 every door and
window or other outside opening used for ventilation purposes serving
any building containing habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food
service areas, or any areas where products used in food for human
consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored, shall
be supplied with approved tight-fitting screens of not less than 16
mesh per inch and every swinging screen door shall have a self-closing
device in good working condition.
(2)
Exception. Screen doors shall not be required for out-swinging
doors or other types of openings which make screening impractical,
provided other approved means such as air curtains or insect-repellent
fans are employed.
E.
Door Hardware. Every exterior door and its hardware shall be maintained
in good condition. Door locks on all doors entering dwelling units
shall be in good repair and capable of tightly securing the door.
F.
Basement Hatchways. Every basement hatchway shall be so constructed
and maintained as to prevent the entrance of rats, rain and surface
drainage water into the structure.
G.
Guards for Basement Windows. Every basement window which is openable
shall be supplied with ratproof shields, or storm windows or other
material affording protection against the entry of rats.
H.
Facilities for Handicapped or Challenged. Every stair, porch, ramp,
fire escape, balcony and all other appurtenances intended for use
by the handicapped or by challenged individuals shall meet the design
requirements of ANSI A117.1 published by the National Center for a
Barrier Free Environment.
[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]
1.
General. The interior of a structure and its equipment shall be maintained
in good repair, structurally sound and in a sanitary condition so
as not to pose a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the occupants
or visitors, and to protect the occupants from the environment.
2.
Structural Members. The supporting structural members of every building
shall be maintained structurally sound, not showing any evidence of
deterioration which would render them incapable of carrying the imposed
loads.
3.
Interior Surfaces. Floors, walls (including windows and doors) ceilings,
and other interior surfaces shall be maintained in good, clean and
sanitary condition. Peeling paint, cracked or loose plaster, decayed
wood, and other defective surface conditions shall be eliminated.
A.
Lead-based paint. Lead-based paint with a lead content of more than
0.5% shall not be applied to any interior surface of a dwelling, dwelling
unit or child-care facility, including outbuildings at these locations.
Existing interior painted surfaces that contain an excess of 0.5%
lead shall be removed or covered with paneling or other suitable covering
approved by the Code Official.
B.
Bathroom and kitchen floor. Every toilet, bathroom and kitchen floor
surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be substantially
impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept
in a clean and sanitary condition.
4.
Free from Dampness. In every building, basements and crawl spaces
shall be maintained reasonably free from dampness to prevent conditions
conducive to decay or deterioration of the structure.
5.
Sanitation. The interior of every structure shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition free from any accumulation of rubbish, refuse or garbage. Rubbish, garbage, and other refuse shall be properly kept inside temporary storage facilities as required under § 5-802.
A.
Storage. Garbage or refuse shall not be allowed to accumulate or
be stored in public halls or stairways.
6.
Insect and Rat Harborage. All structures shall be kept free from
insect and rat infestation and where insects or rats are found, they
shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes which will not
be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions
shall be taken to prevent reinfestation.
7.
Exit Doors. Every door available as an exit shall be capable of being
opened easily from the inside and without the use of a key.
8.
Exit Facilities. All interior stairs and railings and other exit
facilities of every structure shall be maintained in sound condition
and good repair by replacing treads and risers that evidence excessive
wear or are broken, warped or loose. Every inside stair shall be so
constructed and maintained as to be safe to use and capable of supporting
the anticipated loads.
A.
Handrails and Guardrails. Every flight of stairs which is more than
four risers high shall have a handrail on at least one side of the
stair, and every open portion of a stair, landing or balcony which
is more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below shall
have guardrails. Handrails shall be not less than 30 inches (762 mm)
nor more than 34 inches (864 mm) high, measured vertically above the
nosing of the tread or above the floor of the landing or balcony.
Guardrails shall be not less than 30 inches (762 mm) high above the
floor of the landing or balcony. Every handrail and guardrail shall
be firmly fastened and capable of bearing normally imposed loads and
shall be maintained in good condition.
B.
Insulation Standards. All new construction and all substantial modifications
to structures shall comply with the insulation standards of Act 222
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Building Energy Conservation Act, 35 P.S.
§ 7201.101 et seq. (Act 222, P.L. 1203), was repealed by
Act 45 of 1999, the UCC.
