[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Yeadon as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Code enforcement — See Ch. 110.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 122.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 156.
Property maintenance and housing standards — See Ch. 220.
Zoning — See Ch. 300.
[Adopted 6-16-2016 by Ord. No. 1373]
The following words and phrases when used in this article shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
CONSTRUCTIVE KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of a violation listed on the seller's property disclosure statement made pursuant to the act of July 2, 1996 (P.L. 500, No. 84), known as the "Real Estate Seller Disclosure Act,"[1] a violation appearing on a buyer's notification certificate provided by a municipality or a violation that is a matter of public record.
DATE OF PURCHASE
The closing date or, in cases where the property is sold pursuant to the act of May 16, 1923 (P.L. 207, No. 153), referred to as the "Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Law,"[2] the first day following the right of redemption period authorized under the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Law.
KNOWN TO HAVE
Knowledge of a violation based on actual or constructive knowledge.
MUNICIPALITY
Any city, Borough, incorporated town, township, home rule municipality, optional plan municipality, optional charter municipality or any similar general purpose unit of government which may be created or authorized by statute.
SUBSTANTIAL VIOLATION
A violation of a building, housing, property maintenance or fire code, which violation posed a threat to health, safety or property but not a violation of such a code deemed by a court to be de minimis.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 68 Pa.C.S.A. § 7301 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 7101 et seq.
A. 
General rule. Within 18 months of the date of purchase or longer subject to an agreement between the purchaser and the Borough of Yeadon, authorized by the Borough Manager, any purchaser of any building, structure or part of a building or structure known to have one or more substantial violations of municipal codes relating to building, housing, property maintenance or fire shall:
(1) 
Bring the building, structure or that part of a building or structure into compliance with those codes; or
(2) 
Demolish the building or structure in accordance with law.
B. 
Violations and penalties. Failure to comply with the requirements of Subsection A shall result in the purchaser being personally liable for the costs of repairs or demolition and a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000. Fines shall be remitted to the Borough of Yeadon.
C. 
Nuisance ordinances.
(1) 
Any purchaser of any lot or parcel of land known to have one or more substantial violations of Yeadon Borough's nuisance ordinances relating to maintenance, health or safety is required to make a reasonable attempt to abate the nuisance within one year of the date of purchase.
(2) 
Failure to comply with the requirements of this subsection shall result in the purchaser being personally liable for the cost of maintenance and a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000. Fines shall be remitted to the Borough of Yeadon in which the lot or parcel of land is located.
The Borough Manager and Borough Solicitor are hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of this article.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be and are hereby repealed, except any ordinance or parts of ordinances that authorize greater remedies than this article are preserved.
The provisions of this article shall be severable and if any of its provisions are found to be unconstitutional or illegal the validity of any of the remaining provisions of this article shall not be affected thereby.
[Adopted 2-16-2017 by Ord. No. 1376]
This article may be cited as the "Borough of Yeadon Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Ordinance."
A. 
This article is to implement in the Borough of Yeadon the provisions of the act of November 3, 2016 (P.L. 1047, No. 133), 68 P.S. Ch. 25, known as the "Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act";[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 68 P.S. § 1081 et seq.
B. 
The Council of the Borough of Yeadon finds that there exists deteriorated properties within the Borough as a result of neglect by their owners in violation of applicable state and municipal codes and municipal ordinances;
C. 
The Council of the Borough of Yeadon finds that the deteriorated properties create public nuisances which have an impact on crime and the quality of life of the Borough's residents and require significant expenditures of public funds in order to abate and correct the nuisances;
D. 
The Council of the Borough of Yeadon finds that the deteriorated properties are being sold and purchased with knowledge of the existing deteriorated conditions and no action is being taken by the sellers and/or purchasers to remedy the existing condition;
E. 
The Council of the Borough of Yeadon finds that the sale and purchase of the deteriorated properties interferes with enforcement actions initiated by the Borough of Yeadon, causes the Borough of Yeadon to take unnecessary duplicative action and expend public funds unnecessarily in initiating enforcement actions against both sellers and purchasers, and allows the aforesaid buildings to remain in a deteriorated condition for a longer period of time; and
F. 
In order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Borough of Yeadon, the Council of the Borough has determined it is appropriate to require purchasers of any such deteriorated properties and/or public nuisances to remedy the existing conditions within a reasonable amount of time of purchase or face penalties for failing to do so.
The following words and phrases when used in this article shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
ACT
November 3, 2016 (P.L. 1047, No. 133), 68 P.S. Ch. 25, known as the "Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act."[1]
BOROUGH
The Borough of Yeadon.
COUNCIL
The Council of the Borough of Yeadon.
DATE OF PURCHASE
The closing date on which title and right to possess the property transfers to the purchaser and in cases where the property is sold pursuant to the act of May 16, 1923 (P.L. 207, No. 153), referred to as the "Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Law,"[2] the first day following the right of redemption period authorized under the Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Law.
SUBSTANTIAL VIOLATION
A violation of an adopted building, housing, property maintenance or fire code or maintenance, health or safety nuisance ordinance that makes a building, structure or any part thereof unfit for human habitation and is discovered during the course of a municipal inspection of a property and disclosed to the record owner or prospective purchaser of the property through issuance of a municipal report.
TEMPORARY ACCESS CERTIFICATE
A certificate issued by the Borough as a result of the municipal inspection of a property incident to the resale of the property that identifies at least one substantial violation, and the purpose of the certificate is to authorize the purchaser to access the property for the purpose of correcting substantial violations pursuant to the maintenance and repair provisions of this article.
TEMPORARY USE AND OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE
A certificate issued by the Borough as a result of the municipal inspection of a property incident to the resale of the property that reveals a violation but no substantial violation, and the purpose of the certificate is to authorize the purchaser to fully utilize or reside in the property while correcting violations pursuant to the maintenance and repair provisions of this article.
UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION
A condition which renders a building or structure, or any part thereof, dangerous or injurious to the health, safety or physical welfare of an occupant or the occupants of neighboring dwellings. The condition may include substantial violations of a property that show evidence of: a significant increase to the hazards of fire or accident; inadequate sanitary facilities; vermin infestation; or a condition of disrepair, dilapidation or structural defects such that the cost of rehabilitation and repair would exceed 1/2 of the agreed-upon purchase price of the property.
USE AND OCCUPANCY CERTIFICATE
A certificate issued by the Borough stipulating that the property meets all ordinances and codes and may be used or occupied as intended.
VIOLATION
A violation of a properly adopted building, housing, property maintenance or fire code or maintenance, health or safety nuisance ordinance that does not rise to the level of a substantial violation and is discovered during the course of a municipal inspection of a property and disclosed to the record owner or prospective purchaser of the property through issuance of a municipal report.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 68 P.S. § 1081 et seq.
[2]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 7101 et seq.
Within 12 months of the date of purchase, or longer subject to an agreement between the purchaser and the Borough, any purchaser of any building, structure or part of a building or structure known to have one or more violations or one or more substantial violations of the Borough municipal codes relating to building, housing, property maintenance or fire shall: bring the building, structure or that part of a building or structure into compliance with those codes; or demolish the building or structure in accordance with the law.
Any purchaser of any lot or parcel of land having one or more substantial violations of Borough municipal nuisance ordinances relating to maintenance, health or safety is required to make a reasonable attempt to abate the nuisance within one year of the date of purchase.
If the Borough determines through an inspection that a property has at least one substantial violation, the Borough may issue a temporary access certificate solely for the purpose of correcting substantial violations pursuant to the maintenance and repair provisions of the Act.
A. 
No occupancy. No person shall occupy a property during the term of the temporary access certificate.
B. 
Reinspection. The Borough shall reinspect the premises for the purposes of determining compliance with the Borough Code. Provided, however, the property owner may request an early inspection and the Borough may conduct said reinspection consistent with the business of the Borough. In the event that the substantial violations are not corrected within 12 months, the Borough shall revoke the temporary access certificate and avail itself of any remedies available at law. In the event that the violations are corrected within 12 months, the Borough shall issue an use and occupancy permit.
If the Borough determines through an inspection that a property has at least one violation, the Borough may issue a temporary use of occupancy and occupancy permit.
A. 
Reinspection. The Borough shall reinspect the premises for the purposes of determining compliance with the Borough Code. Provided, however, the property owner may request an early inspection and the Borough may conduct said reinspection consistent with the business of the Borough. In the event that the violations are corrected within 12 months, the Borough shall issue an use and occupancy permit. In the event that the violations are not corrected within 12 months, the Borough shall revoke the temporary use and occupancy permit and avail itself of any remedies available at law.
A. 
Enforcement of this article shall be made by the filing of a criminal complaint, pursuant to Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, in the appropriate Magisterial District Court. The Borough's solicitor may assume charge of the prosecution without the consent of the district attorney, as required under Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
B. 
Violations of the property maintenance code or ordinance may also be enforced by the institution of appropriate actions or proceedings at law or in equity to prevent or restrain property maintenance provisions.
The violation of this article shall constitute a summary offense. Any purchaser failing to comply with the requirements of this article shall be held personally liable for the costs of repairs or demolition and a criminal fine of $1,000 per violation or imprisonment, as allowed by law for the punishment of a summary offense, plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings. A separate violation shall arise for each day of the violation and for violation of each applicable section of this article.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to abridge or alter the remedies now existing at common law, by statute or by ordinance, but the provisions of this article are in addition to such remedies.
The provisions of this article shall be severable and if any of its provisions are found to be unconstitutional or illegal the validity of any of the remaining provisions of this article shall not be affected thereby.