[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Shippensburg 8-20-2019 by Ord. No. 938, approved 8-20-2019. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as, and may be cited as, the "Borough
of Shippensburg Vacant, Abandoned, and Potentially Dangerous Structures
Ordinance."
Vacant, abandoned, and potentially dangerous structures should
be evaluated in order to identify hazards and potential hazards and
to provide emergency responders with vital information for use in
the event of fire or other emergency in the building or structure.
These buildings and structures represent threats to public safety
and first responders, attract criminal activity, and are unsightly.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all real property
located within the Borough of Shippensburg.
In the event any provision of this chapter is inconsistent with
a provision of any chapter of the Code of the Borough of Shippensburg
or state law, the provision applying the stricter standard shall apply.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms,
phrases, and abbreviations shall have the meanings respectively ascribed
to them by this section.
Structure that has been deserted, surrendered, forsaken,
ceded, or relinquished or given up with intent of the owner to never
resume owner's rights or interest.
The person or persons authorized by the Borough to determine
compliance with the provisions of this chapter and to enforce the
same. The Code Official may include the building code officer, the
zoning officer, the fire chief, or an agent or designee thereof.
A building or structure classified as dangerous pursuant
to § 143-8(B) of this chapter. Dangerous buildings and structures
shall only be entered with extreme caution. A dangerous building can
be classified as such regardless of occupancy.
A condition which could cause serious or life-threatening
injury or death at any time.
Any person, agent, operator, firm, corporation, partnership,
trust, limited-liability company, limited-liability partnership, association,
other entity, property management group, or fiduciary holding having
legal, equitable, or other interest in any real property or otherwise
having control of the property, including the guardian of the estate
of any such person and the executor or administrator of such person's
estate. When used in this chapter in a clause proscribing any activity
or imposing a penalty, the term as applied to corporations, partnerships,
limited liability companies, limited liability partnerships, associations,
other entities, or property management groups shall include each and
every member, shareholder, partner (limited or general), director,
officer, trustee, and other individual having an interest in the entity,
controlling or otherwise. The term "owner" shall also include the
owner's agent.
A building or structure classified as severely dangerous pursuant to § 143-8C of this chapter. Severely dangerous buildings and structures shall only be entered to respond to a known life hazard if conditions allow and no other interior operations are permitted.
Any human-made object having an ascertainable stationary
location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land.
A building or structure, or part thereof, which has been unoccupied for a period of 120 days or longer. Enforcement of this chapter may proceed without regard to a period of vacancy whenever any unoccupied building attracts criminal activity, is a health risk because of unsanitary conditions or other similar condition, is blighted, or otherwise falls under the condition generally described in § 143-2 of this chapter.
Where it is necessary to make an inspection to carry out the
provisions of this chapter, or whenever the Code Official has reasonable
cause to believe that there exists in a structure upon the premises
a condition that renders the structure dangerous to first responders
within the meaning of this chapter, the Code Official is authorized
to enter the structure or premises at reasonable times to inspect
or perform the duties imposed by this chapter, provided that if such
structure or premises is occupied the Code Official shall present
credentials to the occupant and request entry. If such structure or
premises is unoccupied, the Code Official shall first make a reasonable
effort to locate the owner, owner's authorized agent, or other
person having charge or control of the structure or premises and request
entry. If entry is refused or if the Code Official is unsure of the
occupancy status, the Code Official shall have recourse to the remedies
provided by law to secure entry, including but not limited to obtaining
an administrative search warrant.
The Borough of Shippensburg shall assess costs and expenses
of inspection and enforcement as authorized herein against the property
owner if a property is determined to be dangerous or severely dangerous.
The Borough Council will establish a schedule of such fees from time
to time by resolution. Failure of the property owner to timely remit
such payment may result in collections proceedings being initiated
by the Borough against the property owner.
The Code Official shall have the right to inspect any and all
vacant or abandoned buildings and structures located within the Borough
of Shippensburg. In addition, the Code Official shall have the right
to inspect any occupied structure that the Code Official determines
may contain or create imminent danger to the public or first responders.
Upon completion of the inspection, the Code Official shall evaluate
and classify the building as follows:
A.
Not dangerous. If the Code Official determines that an inspected
building or structure poses no unusual structural hazard, the premises
shall be categorized as not dangerous. An abandoned or vacant building
classified as not dangerous shall be reinspected at intervals deemed
appropriate by the Code Official to determine if conditions have changed.
B.
Dangerous.
(1)
If an inspection by the Code Official reveals any of the following hazards, the premises shall be categorized as dangerous and posted as such in accordance with § 143-9 of this chapter:
(a)
Interior stairs in disrepair.
(b)
Minor holes in floor.
(c)
Defects in truss roof or floor assembly.
(d)
Unusual heavy load on roof/roof structure defects.
(e)
Maze-like floor plan.
(f)
Limited exit/egress points that do not meet building code requirements.
(g)
Unusual fire load due to condition or accumulation in structure.
(h)
Exposed electrical wires.
(i)
Open ceilings.
(j)
Open studs/walls.
(k)
Any other hazards as determined by Code Official.
(2)
A building classified as dangerous shall only be entered with extreme
caution.
C.
Severely dangerous.
(1)
If an inspection by the Code Official reveals any of the following hazards, the premises shall be categorized as severely dangerous and posted as such in accordance with § 143-9 of this chapter:
(2)
A building classified as severely dangerous shall only be entered
for the purpose of responding to a known life hazard if conditions
allow. All other interior operations should be avoided.
Upon a determination by the Code Official that a structure is
dangerous or severely dangerous, the Code Official shall post a placard
on the premises in accordance with the following:
A.
Placards. Any structure determined by the Code Official to be dangerous or severely dangerous in accordance with § 143-8 of this chapter shall be posted with a placard.
B.
Placard location. Placards shall be applied on the front of the building
or structure and shall be visible from the street.
C.
Placard size and color. Placards shall be 24 inches by 24 inches
in size with a red background, white reflective stripes, and a white
reflective border. The stripes and border shall have a minimum width
of two inches.
D.
Placard date. Placards shall bear the date of their application and
the date of the most recent inspection.
E.
Placard symbols. The design of the placards shall use the following
symbols:
(1)
The following symbol shall mean that the building or structure has
been classified as dangerous and should only be entered with extreme
caution:
 |
(2)
The following symbol shall mean that the building or structure has
been classified as "Severely Dangerous" and should only be entered
for the purpose of responding to a known life hazard:
 |
F.
The use of these placards shall be informational only and shall not
in any way limit the discretion of on-scene first responders.
If a property owner desires to dispute the determination that
his/her building or structure is dangerous or severely dangerous,
such property owner may appeal the determination to the Uniform Construction
Code (UCC) Board of Appeals within 20 days of the date of placard
posting.
It shall be a violation of this chapter for any individual to
remove, or cause to be removed, a placard posted under this chapter
from the premises without the written authorization of the Code Official.
Any person or persons, partnership, firm, or corporation that
violates any provision of this chapter, or fails to comply with any
provision thereof, shall, upon conviction thereof, for each and every
such violation or failure to comply, be sentenced to pay a fine of
not more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution. Each day's violation
or failure to comply, after notice thereof by the Borough, shall constitute
a separate violation or failure to comply.
