Borough of Watsontown, PA TERMINOLOGY

[Ord. 1988-1, 8/1/1988]

As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

"Approved," as applied to a material, device, or method of construction, shall mean approved by the Code Official under the provisions of this code, or approved by other authority designated by law to give approval in the matter in question.

BASEMENT

That portion of a building which is partly or completely below grade.

BUILDING CODE

The Building Code officially adopted by the legislative body of this jurisdiction, or such other code as may be officially designated by the legislative body of the jurisdiction for the regulation of construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy and maintenance of buildings and structures.

BUILDING OFFICIAL

The official designated by the jurisdiction to enforce building, zoning or similar laws, or a duly authorized representative.

CENTRAL HEATING

The heating system permanently installed and adjusted so as to provide the distribution of heat to all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments from a source outside of these rooms.

CODE OFFICIAL

The official who is charged with the administration and enforcement of this code, or any duly authorized representative.

CONDEMN

To adjudge unfit for use or occupancy.

CONDEMNATION

The act of judicially condemning.

DWELLING

A building containing one or more dwelling units.

SINGLE-FAMILY DETACHED DWELLINGA dwelling having only one dwelling unit from ground to roof, independent outside access and open space on all sides.

SINGLE-FAMILY ATTACHED DWELLINGA dwelling containing only one dwelling unit from ground to roof, independent outside access and a portion of one or two walls in common with adjoining dwellings.

MULTIPLE-FAMILY DWELLINGA dwelling containing two or more dwelling units not having independent outside access and not having party walls forming a complete separation between individual dwelling units. Single-family attached dwellings are specifically excluded from this definition.

DWELLING UNITAny room or group of rooms located within a residential building and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating by one family.

ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The official designated herein or otherwise charged with the responsibilities of administering this code, or the official's authorized representative.

EXTERIOR PROPERTY AREAS

The open space on the premises and on adjoining property under the control of owners or operators of such premises.

EXTERMINATION

The control and elimination of insects, rats or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poison spraying, fumigating, trapping, or by any other approved pest elimination methods.

FAMILY

One or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption and any domestic servants or gratuitous guests thereof or a group of not more than five persons who need not be so related and any domestic servants or gratuitous guests thereof who are living together in a single nonprofit dwelling unit and maintaining a common household with single cooking facilities. A roomer, boarder or lodger shall not be considered a member of a family.

GARBAGE

The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.

HABITABLE SPACE

Space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet compartments, closets, halls, storage or utility space, and similar areas are not considered habitable space.

HOTEL

See "dwelling."

INFESTATION

The presence, within or contiguous to, a structure or premises of insects, rats, vermin or other pests.

JUNK VEHICLE

Any vehicle which is without a currently valid license plate and/or inspection and is in either a rusted, wrecked, discharged, dismantled, partly dismantled, inoperative, or abandoned condition. A junk vehicle shall be classified as to its condition in one of the two following categories:

(1)

RESTORABLEA junk vehicle that is in a condition whereby repairs to same could be made to place it in operating condition without exceeding the estimated value when repaired.

(2)

WRECKA junk vehicle in such condition that it is economically unsound to restore same to operating condition considering the repairs to be made, age of the vehicle, market value of the vehicle if it were restored, or in such condition that the public officer determines that it warrants such classification.

The Code Official shall make the final determination as to the classification to be assigned to any one particular vehicle.

JUNK MATERIAL

Any and all unused or abandoned machinery, equipment or appliances, and all forms of waste and refuse of any type of materials, including, but not limited to, scrap, metal, glass, industrial waste and other salvageable materials, unless for resale, that can be seen from any public highway, road, street, avenue, lane or alley which is maintained by the Borough or Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

[Added by Ord. No. 2021-02, 9/13/2021]

LET FOR OCCUPANCY or LET

To permit possession or occupancy of a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, building or structure by a person who shall be legal owner or not be the legal owner of record thereof, pursuant to a written or unwritten lease, agreement or license, or pursuant to a recorded or unrecorded agreement of contract for the sale of land.

MAINTENANCE

Acts of repair and other acts to prevent a decline in the condition of grounds, structures, and equipment; such that the condition does not fall below the standards established by this code and other applicable statutes, codes and ordinances.

MOTEL

A hotel as defined in this code.

MULTIFAMILY (MULTIPLE) DWELLING

See "dwelling."

OCCUPANT

Any person (including domestic service employees) living and/or sleeping in a dwelling unit or having possession of a space within a building.

OPENABLE AREA

That part of a window or door which is available for unobstructed ventilation and which opens directly to the outdoors.

OPERATOR

Any person who has charge, care or control of a structure or premises which is let or offered for occupancy.

OWNER

Any person, agent, operator, firm, or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property; or recorded in the official records of the state, county or municipality as holding title to the property; or otherwise having control of the property, including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court.

PERSON

Includes a corporation or copartnership as well as an individual.

PLUMBING

The practice, materials, and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension and alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances within the scope of the Plumbing Code.

PLUMBING FIXTURE

A receptacle or device which is either permanently or temporarily connected to the water distribution system of the premises, and demands a supply of water therefrom; or discharges used water, liquid-borne waste materials, or sewage either directly or indirectly to the drainage system of the premises; or which requires both a water supply connection and a discharge to the drainage system of the premises.

PREMISES

A lot, plot or parcel of land including the buildings or structures thereon.

PUBLIC NUISANCE

Includes the following:

The physical condition, or use of any premises regarded as a public nuisance at common law; or

Any physical condition, use or occupancy of any premises or its appurtenances considered an attractive nuisance to children, including, but not limited to, abandoned wells, shafts, basements, excavations and unsafe fences or structures; or

Any premises which has unsanitary sewerage or plumbing facilities; or

Any premises designated as unsafe for human habitation or use; or

Any premises which is manifestly capable of being a fire hazard, or are manifestly unsafe or unsecure as to endanger life, limb or property; or

Any premises from which the plumbing, heating and/or facilities required by this code have been removed, or from which utilities have been disconnected, destroyed, removed or rendered ineffective, or the required precautions against trespassers have not been provided; or

Any premises which is unsanitary, or which is littered with rubbish or garbage, or which has an uncontrolled growth of weeds; or

Any structure or building that is in a state of dilapidation, deterioration or decay; faulty construction; overcrowded; open, vacant or abandoned, damaged by fire to the extent as not to provide shelter, in danger of collapse or failure and dangerous to anyone on or near the premises.

RENOVATION

A building and its facilities made to conform to present-day minimum standards of sanitation, fire and life safety.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

A building in which sleeping accommodations or sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities as a unit are provided; except when classified as an institution under the Building Code.

ROOMING HOUSE

Any residential building, or any part thereof, containing one or more rooming units, in which space is let by the owner or operator to more than five persons who are not members of the family. (See "dwelling.")

ROOMING UNIT

Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes.

RUBBISH

Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage, and the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke, and other combustible materials, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery and dust and other similar materials.

STRUCTURE

That which is built or constructed, including without limitation because of enumeration, buildings for any occupancy or use whatsoever, fences, signs, billboards, fire escapes, chute escapes, railings, water tanks, towers, open grade steps, sidewalks or stairways, tents or anything erected and framed of component parts which is fastened, anchored or rests on a permanent foundation or on the ground.

SUPPLIED

Installed, furnished or provided by the owner or operator.

VENTILATION

The process of supplying and removing air by natural or mechanical means to or from any space.

MECHANICALVentilation by power-driven devices.

NATURALVentilation by opening to outer air through windows, skylights, doors, louvers, or stacks without wind-driven devices.

WORKMANLIKE

Whenever the words "workmanlike state of maintenance and repair" are used in this code, they shall mean that such maintenance and repair shall be made in a reasonably skillful manner.

YARD

An open space unobstructed from the ground up, on the same lot with a structure, extending along a lot line or street line and inward to the structure. The size of a required yard shall be measured as the shortest distance between the structure and a lot line or street line.

FRONT YARDA yard between a structure and a street line and extending the entire length of the street line. In the case of a corner lot, the yards extending along all streets are front yards. In the case of a lot other than a corner lot that fronts on more than one street, the yards extending along all streets are front yards.

REAR YARDSA yard between a structure and a rear lot line and extending the entire length of the rear lot line.

SIDE YARDA yard between a structure and a side lot line, extending from the front yard to the rear yard. In the case of a lot having no street frontage or a lot of odd shape, any yard that is not a front yard or a rear yard shall be considered a side yard.