[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Trafford as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-6-2014 by Ord. No. 3-2014]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
RENTAL DWELLING UNIT
A dwelling unit rented to or available for rent by tenants or otherwise occupied by persons other than the owner or the owner's relatives, including, but not limited to, units in single-family houses, two family houses, multiple-family dwellings, multiple-family houses, apartment houses, row houses, townhouses, and other buildings of similar character, and also including group homes, community living arrangements, boarding houses, domiciliary homes, long-term care facilities or personal care homes.
TENANT OR OCCUPANT
A person who has the use, either by himself or with others, of a dwelling unit or a business unit owner by a person other than himself, for a period exceeding 30 days.
Money paid to the Borough for utilities shall be applied first to water bill, then electric bill, then refuse collection, and finally E.P.A. surcharge.
A. 
The Officer shall investigate to determine whether the landowner owns any real property within the Borough of Trafford for which there exists on the real property a final and unappealable tax, water, sewer or refuse collection bill delinquency on account of the actions of the landowner and within the meaning of the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation Revitalization Act.
B. 
If the Officer finds that such a delinquency exists, then the Officer shall deny an occupancy permit for the dwelling unit in question in accordance with all applicable procedures set forth in the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation Revitalization Act.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 6101 et seq.
C. 
The Officer shall investigate to determine whether the rental dwelling unit is in violation of the International Property Maintenance Code. If there is a violation he shall deny the occupancy permit.
D. 
The Officer shall state in writing the reasons for any denial or revocation of an occupancy permit. Any person aggrieved by the Officer's denial of revocation of an occupancy permit may appeal such denial by submitting a written request for a Local Agency Law hearing to the office of the Borough Manager within 20 days from the date of mailing of the denial letter and accompanied by a nonrefundable $700 appeal free, the amount of such fee to be subject to adjustment by resolution of the Council of the Borough of Trafford. Any funds not used for advertising, attorney, or stenographic fees shall be refunded to applicant. Such written request for a Local Agency Law hearing shall state the grounds upon which the request is made. The Council for the Borough of Trafford may act as the Local Agency Law appeal hearing body or may appoint a tribunal or hearing officer to hear the appeal and to make a recommended ruling to the Borough Council.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the Council of the Borough of Trafford that the several provisions of this article are separable. If any Court of competent jurisdiction shall declare any words, sentences, sections or provisions of this article to be invalid, such a ruling shall not affect any other words, sentences, sections or provisions of this article not specifically included in said ruling.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article or who knowingly files a false report requiring by this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a civil fine of not more than $600.