[Adopted 3-20-1989 by Ord. No. 253 (Ch. 109, Art. I, of the 1982 Code)]
This article shall be known as the "Business Premises Maintenance Code of the Township of Muhlenberg."
This article provides basic and uniform standards governing the condition, occupancy and maintenance of business premises for the purpose of establishing reasonable safeguards for the safety, health and welfare of the occupants and the general public.
A. 
This article shall apply only to business premises, including mixed occupancies and accessory structures, as hereinafter defined.
B. 
The provisions of this article shall supersede local laws, ordinances, codes or regulations to the extent that such laws, ordinances, codes or regulations are inconsistent with the provisions of this article, provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the adoption and enforcement of a local law, ordinance, code or regulation which is more restrictive or establishes a higher standard than provided in this article, and such more restrictive requirement or higher standard shall govern during the period in which it is in effect.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A structure, the use of which is incidental to that of a business premises and which is located on the same premises.
BUSINESS PREMISES
A building or combination of buildings and the lot on which the same is located, used wholly or in part for commercial purposes, including but not limited to offices, places of public assembly, shopping centers, supermarkets, retail stores, warehouses, manufacturing or fabrication plants, gasoline stations and mixed occupancies and accessory structures.
MIXED OCCUPANCY
Occupancy of a premises in part for residential use and in part for business use.
All business premises shall be maintained in conformity with the provisions of this article.
A. 
All yards and courts of business premises shall be kept clean and free from physical hazards, fire hazards, garbage, refuse, debris, infestation of rodents or insects and junk vehicles.
B. 
Heavy undergrowth and accumulation of plants and plant growth which are noxious and detrimental to the health shall be eliminated; grass and grass plots shall be cut and trimmed on all business premises.
A. 
Exterior surfaces of business premises, equipment and appurtenances that are not inherently resistant to deterioration shall be periodically treated with a protective coat of paint or other suitable preservatives.
B. 
Exterior walls, roofs and porches or appurtenances of business premises shall be maintained in a manner so as to prevent the collapse of the same or injury to the occupants of the aforesaid or to the public.
C. 
All exterior surfaces of business premises, including but not limited to signs, billboards, window treatment, facades and canopies, shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.
D. 
The foundation walls of every business premises shall be maintained in good repair and shall be structurally sound.
E. 
Exterior walls, roofs and other parts of business premises shall be free from loose and unsecured objects or materials. If such objects or materials exist, they shall be removed, repaired or replaced.
F. 
Owners of a vacated business premises shall take such steps and perform such acts as may be required from time to time to ensure that the building and its adjoining yards remain safe and secure and do not present a hazard to adjoining property or to the public.
G. 
All graffiti or defacing of business premises shall be removed and the surface finish restored within a ten-day period.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The Director of Engineering and Codes of the Township of Muhlenberg is designated as the administrator and shall secure compliance with the applicable standards of this article in conjunction with the Township of Muhlenberg Police Department.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
A. 
The Director of Engineering and Codes shall be charged with the duty of administrating the applicable standards of this article and promulgating rules and regulations for this purpose. Said Director shall be empowered to adopt rules and regulations necessary for securing compliance with the standards of this article and its rules and regulations and for its own organization and internal management, provided that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with the applicable standards of this article. Said rules, regulations and standards shall be filed with the Board of Commissioners of Muhlenberg Township.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the Director of Engineering and Codes to:
(1) 
Inspect and to cause inspection to be made of the premises within the scope of the applicable standards as necessary.
(a) 
Inspectors shall be authorized and have the right, in performance of their duties, to enter any business premises for purposes of inspection or any other reason necessary to administer or secure compliance with this article.
(b) 
Owners, agents, operators and occupants shall be responsible for providing access to all parts of the business premises within their control to inspectors acting in performance of their duties.
(2) 
Investigate and to cause an investigation of all complaints of alleged violations or other unsafe or unsanitary conditions. The Director shall keep records of all complaints received, inspections made and violations found regarding business premises regulated by this article. Records shall be kept and shall be available for public inspection.
(3) 
Issue notices of violation and order, in writing, for the remedy of all conditions found to exist in or on any business premises and accessory structure in violation of the provisions of this article or the rule or regulation adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Muhlenberg Township and to state in the notice of violation a ten-day limit for compliance therewith and, where necessary, to order the vacating of the premises found unfit for human habitation.
A notice of violation may be served on the person named therein, personally or by delivering to and leaving a copy thereof with a person on the business premises of reasonable age and mailing a copy thereof to the person named in the notice of violation at his last known place of residence, or by posting a copy in a conspicuous place on the premises and mailing a copy thereof, addressed to the person named in the order, at his last known place of residence.
A. 
Every person who shall fail to comply with any provision of this article shall be guilty of a violation of this article and shall be subject to the penalties herein provided for.
B. 
Every person who shall fail to comply with a notice of violation within 30 days from the date of said notice shall be guilty of a violation of this article and shall be subject to the penalties herein provided for.
C. 
Each day that a violation of this article is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate violation of this article.
D. 
The penalty for each and every violation of this article shall be a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment.
A. 
Owners of the business premises shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of this article.
B. 
Whenever any person or persons shall be in actual possession of or have charge, care, custody or control of any property within the Township of Muhlenberg as executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, lessee, licensee, assignee, operator, owner or agent, such person shall be deemed and taken to be the owner or owners of said property, shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this article to the same extent as the record owner, and notice to any such person of any order or decision shall be taken to be a good and sufficient notice, as if such person or persons were actually the record owner or owners of such property.
C. 
An owner of the business premises and accessory structures shall be responsible for compliance with this article, including but not limited to the following:
(1) 
Maintenance of the business premises and accessory structures in a clean, sanitary and safe condition.
(2) 
Maintenance of yards, lawns and courts of business premises in a clean, sanitary and safe condition.
(3) 
Elimination of all prohibited uses of the business premises and accessory structures.