This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Residential
Rental Unit Registration Program."
The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter,
shall be construed and defined as follows:
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
A form issued by the Codes Bureau stating that a City codes
inspection of the exterior area and interior of the rental unit was
performed in accordance with current City codes and no visible code
violations that pose a threat to health, safety, and welfare were
indicated at the time of inspection.
CITY CODES
Those ordinances codified in Title 8, Part 1, of the City of Harrisburg Codified Ordinances relating to property maintenance (Chapter
8-107), building (Chapter
8-101), electrical (Chapter
8-103), plumbing (Chapter
8-105), mechanical (Chapter
8-109), residential for one- and two-family dwellings (Chapter
8-111), fuel gas (Chapter
8-113), existing building (Chapter
8-115), the regulations incorporated into the City's Codified Ordinances by adoption of the Uniform Construction Code (Chapter
8-117) and the fire prevention ordinances (Title 3, Chapters
3-901,
3-903 and
3-905), any amendments thereto made from time to time, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder meant for the protection and facilitation of the public health, safety and general welfare.
CODES BUREAU
The Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Codes Enforcement
for the City of Harrisburg or any agent, employee, or designee acting
as the same.
DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT
Any form of conduct, action or omission, incident or behavior perpetrated, caused or permitted by any occupant or guest of a residential rental unit, as defined herein, that constitutes a violation of any ordinance of the City of Harrisburg or any other law and may be reasonably anticipated to disturb other persons of reasonable sensibility in their peaceful enjoyment of their premises or cause damage to said premises. Violations of City ordinances or other laws constituting disruptive conduct shall include but not be limited to any violation involving use of a firearm, explosive device or fireworks; prostitution; amplified music or other loud noise; or the use, distribution or manufacture of illegal drugs. "Disruptive conduct" shall also include violations of the Property Maintenance Code, Chapter
8-107 of the Codified Ordinances and any amendments thereto; ownership, care, and possession of animals, Chapter
3-505 and any amendments thereto; and disturbing the peace, Chapter
3-341 and any amendments thereto. In order for a disruptive conduct incident to constitute a violation under this chapter, a citation must be issued by the City or other law enforcement agency and result in a guilty verdict, guilty plea or nolo contendere plea before a magisterial district judge, the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas or another judicial authority. If an appeal is filed from a determination of guilt, the matter shall not be deemed to constitute a disruptive conduct offense unless and until a finding of guilt is affirmed on appeal.
DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT REPORT
The written record enumerating occurrences of disruptive
conduct relating to a single residential rental unit, which shall
be maintained by the Codes Administrator or designee.
EXTERIOR AREA
The outside facade of a building, including but not limited
to any balcony, porch, yard, lawn, landscaping, sidewalks, setbacks,
curbs, and all open area contiguous to a building owned by the same
person or persons or part of the same real estate parcel.
GUEST
Any person present at any residential rental unit with the
actual or implied consent of the occupant thereof.
LIFE-SAFETY VIOLATION
Any violation of the City codes that constitutes a threat
to the health, safety, or well-being of persons or to the structural
integrity of a building or adjoining building or any part thereof.
MULTIFAMILY DWELLING
Any building comprised of two or more residential rental
units where the occupant(s) of each residential rental unit live independently
of the occupants of all other residential rental units located in
the same building. This term shall also mean any building comprised
of at least one residential rental unit and an owner-occupied unit
where the occupant(s) of each residential rental unit lives independently
of the occupant(s) of all other residential rental units and the owner-occupants.
OCCUPANT
Any person who resides in a residential rental unit, regardless
of whether such person has executed a rental agreement for said premises.
OWNER
Any person, legal entity or other party having any ownership
interest, whether legal or equitable, in real property. This term
shall also apply to any person, legal entity or agent responsible
for the construction, maintenance or operation of the property involved.
REGISTRATION APPLICATION
A document submitted to the Codes Bureau used to apply for
the registration of residential rental units and indicating that the
owner paid the annual registration fees.
RENTAL AGREEMENT
A written or otherwise legally enforceable agreement between
an owner and an occupant that embodies the terms and conditions concerning
the use and occupancy of a residential rental unit.
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL UNIT
Any dwelling unit or room that is not occupied by the owner
or is occupied by one or more persons, none of whom is the owner of
such unit or room, pursuant to a rental agreement, lease/purchase
agreement or long-term (greater than six months) sales agreement.
SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING
Any building comprised of one residential rental unit, whether
attached (townhouse), detached (having two side yards) or semidetached
(having one side yard and sharing one party wall in common with another
building).
Any person, firm, corporation, association or other entity who is aggrieved by the ruling, decision or action of any department, bureau or division of the City in regard to the administration or enforcement of any of the provisions of this chapter may appeal such ruling, decision or action in writing to the Building and Housing Code Board of Appeals in the manner and in accordance with the procedures set forth in Chapter
8-501 of these Codified Ordinances.