[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Catawissa 5-10-1973 by Ord. No.
215 (Ch. 4, Part 1, of the 1983 Code of Ordinances).
Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Unsafe buildings — See Ch.
141.
Sidewalk construction — See Ch.
287, Art.
V.
[Amended 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. 232]
A. It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, firm or corporation
to undertake, or cause to be undertaken, the construction, reconstruction,
enlargement, alteration, repair or relocation of any building or structure
or to remove or demolish or change the occupancy of a building so
as to require greater strength on stairways or exitways, or change
to a permitted use, unless an approved building permit has been obtained
from the appointed Code Enforcement Officer, except to paint the interior
or exterior, to put on a new or repair an old roof, lay new sidewalks
or repair old sidewalks, install rain spouting and replace old or
install new furnaces. A permit shall be required whenever a sidewalk
is blocked. All such permits shall expire at the expiration of six
months from date of issue unless work thereunder has commenced.
B. A building permit shall not be required for repairs to existing buildings
or structures, provided that no structural changes or modifications
are involved; and providing further that the costs of such alterations
and repairs shall not exceed the sum of $300.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall
apply:
BUILDING
A combination of materials to form a permanent structure
having walls and a roof. Included shall be all mobile homes and trailers
to be used for human habitation.
PERSON
Any person, persons, partnership, business or corporation.
STRUCTURE
A combination of materials to form anything permanently affixed
to or in the ground or to any other building or structure permanently
affixed to or in the ground. Included shall be such things as driveways,
carports, porches, swimming pools, etc.
Application for such a building permit shall be made, in writing,
to the appointed Code Enforcement Officer on forms supplied by the
Borough. Such application shall contain at least the following:
A. The name and address of the applicant.
B. The name and address of the owner of the land on which proposed construction
is to occur.
C. The name and address of the contractor.
E. A brief description of the proposed work and estimated cost.
F. A plan of the site showing the exact size and location of the proposed
construction as well as any existing buildings or structures.
[Amended 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. 232]
The application for a permit shall be submitted to the appointed
Code Enforcement Officer accompanied by a description or plan of work
intended to be done, who shall issue the permit applied for upon ascertaining
that the proposed work to be done thereunder shall be in conformity
with all applicable requirements and regulations. No permit shall
be issued without payment of the required fees.
After the issuance of a building permit by the appointed Code
Enforcement Officer, no changes of any kind shall be made to the application,
permit, or any of the plans, specifications or other documents submitted
with the application without the written consent or approval of the
appointed Code Enforcement Officer.
In addition to the building permit, the appointed Code Enforcement
Officer shall issue a placard which shall be displayed on the premises
during the time construction is in progress. This placard shall show
the number of the building permit and the date of its issuance and
be signed by the appointed Code Enforcement Officer.
Work on the proposed construction shall begin within six months
after the date of issuance of the building permit, or the permit shall
expire unless a time extension is granted, in writing, by the appointed
Code Enforcement Officer. Construction shall be considered to have
started with the first placement of permanent construction of the
site, such as the pouring of slabs or footings or any work beyond
the stage of excavation. For a structure without a basement or poured
footings, the start of construction includes the first permanent framing
or assembly of the structure or any part thereof on its pilings or
foundation, or the affixing of any permanent framing or assembly of
the structure or any part thereof on its pilings or foundation, or
the affixing of any prefabricated structure or mobile home to its
permanent site. Permanent construction does not include land preparation,
land clearing, grading, filling; excavation for basement, footings,
piers, or foundations; the erection of temporary forms; the installation
of piling under proposed subsurface footings; or the installation
of sewer, gas, and water pipes, or electric or other service lines
from the street.
During the construction period, the appointed Code Enforcement
Officer or other authorized official may inspect the premises to determine
that the work is progressing in compliance with the information provided
on the permit application and with all applicable municipal laws and
ordinances. In the event the appointed Code Enforcement Officer discovers
that the work does not comply with the permit application or any applicable
laws and ordinances, or that there has been a false statement or misrepresentation
by any applicant, the appointed Code Enforcement Officer shall revoke
the building permit and report such fact to the Borough Council for
whatever action it considers necessary.
[Amended 6-10-1975 by Ord. No. 232; 6-9-1983 by Ord. No. 268; 6-5-1989 by Ord. No. 299]
Applications for a building permit shall be accompanied by a
fee, payable to the municipality, based upon the estimated cost of
the proposed construction as determined by the appointed Code Enforcement
Officer at the following rates:
A. Estimated costs of $0 to $500: fee of $10.
B. Estimated costs of $501 to $1,000: fee of $20.
C. Estimated costs of $1,001 to $10,000: fee of $20 plus $8 per $1,000,
or part thereof.
D. Estimated costs of $10,001 to $100,000: fee of $92 plus $4 per $1,000
over $10,000.
E. Estimated costs of $100,001 and over: fee of $552 plus $2 per $1,000
over $100,000.
Any person aggrieved by the appointed Code Enforcement Officer's
estimate of the cost of the proposed construction may appeal to the
Borough Council. Such appeal must be filed, in writing, within 30
days after the determination by the appointed Code Enforcement Officer.
Upon receipt of such appeal, the Borough Council shall set a time
and place not less than 10 nor more than 30 days later for the purpose
of hearing the appeal. Notice of the time and place of the hearing
of the appeal shall be given to all parties, at which time they may
appear and be heard. The determination of the estimated cost by the
Borough Council shall be final in all cases.
[Amended 6-9-1983 by Ord.
No. 268]
Any person who fails to comply with any or all of the requirements
or provisions of this chapter or who fails or refuses to comply with
any notice, order or direction of the appointed Code Enforcement Officer,
or any other authorized employee of the municipality, shall be guilty
of an offense and, upon conviction, shall pay a fine to the Borough
of Catawissa of not more than $300 plus costs of prosecution, and/or
shall be imprisoned in county prison for a period not to exceed 90
days. Each day during which any violation of this chapter continues
shall constitute a separate offense. In addition to the above penalties,
all other remedies are hereby reserved, including an action in equity
for the proper enforcement of this chapter. The imposition of a fine
or penalty for any violation of, or noncompliance with, this chapter
shall not excuse the violation or noncompliance or permit it to continue,
and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations
and noncompliances within a reasonable time. Any structure or building
constructed, reconstructed, enlarged, altered or relocated in noncompliance
with this chapter may be declared by the Borough Council to be a public
nuisance and abatable as such.