[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Robinson as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 5-3-1976 by Ord.
No. 1-1976 (Ch. 5, Part 1, of the 1985 Code of Ordinances)]
A.
It is the purpose of this article to prescribe certain common restrictions
which are applicable throughout the Township. Nothing herein shall
be interpreted as providing limitations on specific controls and regulations
delineated in subsequent sections of this article.
C.
This article shall be known as the "Robinson Township Building Code."
D.
The regulations and restrictions set forth in this article are for the purpose of regulating and controlling the plans submitted to the Township for building permits requiring the applicant to show the foundation and floor plans, exterior elevations, number of stories, size of building, alterations, extension, maintenance and repair of all facilities in and about such buildings and structures, the way in which the proposed structures meet the requirements of Chapter 420, Zoning, for buildings constructed for residential and other uses. The regulations and restrictions set forth in this article require the applicant to submit, together with an application for a building permit, plans approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Labor and Industry, for all structures requiring such approval by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The regulations and restrictions are intended to establish foundation requirements for one- and two-family residential dwellings in order to prevent structural deterioration or collapse due to the improper foundation design for such dwellings.
A.
Requirements for habitable structures not requiring commonwealth approval. Habitable structures erected after the effective date of this article in the Township shall be erected in accordance with plans submitted to the Township in accordance with the regulations herein. These regulations shall apply only to those structures not requiring approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, the general requirements of which are set forth in Subsection B, below.
(1)
Foundation plan showing foundation wall thickness, width of footing,
footing depth below perimeter grade, foundation drain, if provided,
basement sump, if provided, overall dimensions of the foundation plan,
including all offsets, and such other reasonable requirements as the
Zoning Officer and/or Building Inspector may require.
(2)
Floor plans showing all floors in the structure to be constructed
together with the location of all interior walls, windows, doors,
together with internal and external dimensions.
(3)
Elevations of the structure's exterior for all sides which are
not similar.
(4)
At least one wall section is required through a structural exterior
wall showing the method of construction, floor and roof framing and
foundation at a scale of at least 3/4 inch equals one foot zero inches.
(5)
In general, plans and elevation drawings shall be at the largest
scale possible, but in no case shall the scale of the drawings for
these elements exceed 1/4 inch equals one foot, or be less than 1/8
inch equals one foot. Drawings shall be prepared on 18 inches by 24
inches, 24 inches by 36 inches or 36 inches by 42 inches paper and
such shall be reproduced on either Ozalid™ or
blueprint paper for submission to the Township. A title block shall
be located in the lower right hand corner of each drawing containing
the owner's name, the name and address of the project, a scale
for the drawing and such other information as may be required to properly
identify the project, its owner and location.
(6)
A small scale plot plan is required on one of the drawings to be
submitted under this article. Such plot plan shall show the location
of the proposed structure on the site, the building's set-back
lines required by the Township Zoning Ordinance, the location of all
roads, parking areas, driveways, etc., a North arrow relating to the
plot plan and an indication of the scale of the plot plan. Two copies
of the required building plans must be submitted to the Township at
the time of application for a building permit.
B.
Plans requiring state approval. One copy of plans approved by the
Department of Labor and Industry, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, shall
be submitted to the Township at the time of the filing for the building
permit. Such plans requiring approval by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
are generally for all structures except single-family dwellings, duplex
dwellings, townhouses, and agricultural buildings. No building permit
will be issued unless such plans are presented to the Township at
the time of application for building permit.
A.
Dwelling. For the purposes of this article, a dwelling is defined
as a one-family residence, two-family detached residence (duplex dwelling),
and individual mobile homes, except mobile homes in mobile home parks.
B.
Design standards. After the effective date of this article, all one-family,
two-family and mobile homes on individual lots in the Township shall
be placed upon a solid masonry perimeter foundation at least eight
inches in width and such foundation shall bear upon the center of
a continuous cast in place concrete footing at least 16 inches in
width and eight inches in depth reinforced with two No. 4 bars located
in the center of the footing four inches from each vertical side.
A foundation of any other type or design, except for foundation of
the same dimensions constructed entirely of cast in place concrete,
shall be approved by the Township Zoning Officer upon recommendation
by the Township Engineer.
A.
If any owner, lessee or contractor fails to comply with the provisions
of this article, such owner, lessee or contractor shall be guilty
of a violation of this article, and upon summary conviction before
a Magisterial District Judge, shall be sentenced to pay a fine or
penalty of not more than $300 and costs and/or to imprisonment for
not more than 90 days. Each day that a violation is continued shall
constitute a separate offense. All fines and penalties under this
article shall be paid over to Robinson Township.
B.
In case any owner, lessee or contractor begins the erection or construction
or remodeling of any building or structure without first complying
with this article, a Township Supervisor, Zoning Officer, or Building
Inspector, in addition to other remedies, may institute in the name
of the municipality any appropriate action or proceeding at law or
in equity to restrain, abate, or correct such building or structure,
or to prevent any act or conduct in the use or business of the premises
constituting a violation.
A.
Any person aggrieved from the decision or order of the Township Zoning
Officer or Building Inspector under this article shall file an appeal
with the Zoning Hearing Board and the same shall proceed to public
hearing in accordance with law.
B.
Unless otherwise provided by law, all appeals to the Board shall
be taken within 10 days of any action complained of or any decision
or order. The Zoning Officer or Building Inspector shall forthwith
transmit all papers to the Board; provided, however, that the notice
of appeal is in the proper form and the fee paid to the Township.
The fee for such appeal is hereby established as appeals in cases
of variances and special exceptions. The appeal shall be filed on
forms provided by the Township.
[Adopted 4-12-2004 by Ord. No. 2-2004]
Robinson Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, hereby elects
to administer and enforce the provisions of the Pennsylvania Construction
Code, Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 through 7210.1103,
as amended from time to time, and its regulations.
The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters
401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and
incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of
this municipality.
Administration and enforcement of the Code within this municipality
shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by
the governing body of this municipality from time to time by resolution:
A.
By the designation of an employee of the municipality to serve as
the Municipal Code Official to act on behalf of the municipality;
B.
By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third-party
agencies to act on behalf of the municipality;
C.
By agreement with one or more other municipalities for the joint
administration and enforcement of this chapter through an intermunicipal
agreement;
D.
By entering into a contract with another municipality for the administration
and enforcement of this chapter on behalf of this municipality;
E.
By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of
Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and enforcement of
structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling units and
utility and miscellaneous use structures.
A Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution of the
governing body of this municipality in conformity with the requirements
of the relevant provisions of the code, as amended from time to time,
and for the purpose set forth therein. If at any time enforcement
and administration is undertaken jointly with one or more other municipalities,
said Board of Appeals shall be established by joint action of the
participating municipalities.
A.
All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were
adopted by this municipality on or before July 1, 1999, and which
equal or exceed the requirements of the code shall continue in full
force and effect until such time as such provisions fail to equal
or exceed the minimum requirements of the code, as amended from time
to time.
B.
All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which are
in effect as of the effective date of this chapter and whose requirements
are less than the minimum requirements of the code are hereby amended
to conform with the comparable provisions of the code.
C.
All relevant ordinances, regulations and policies of this municipality
not governed by the code shall remain in full force and effect.
Fees assessable by the municipality for the administration and
enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the code shall
be established by the governing body by resolution from time to time.
This chapter shall be effective five days after the date of
passage of this chapter.
If any section, subsection, sentence, or clause of this chapter
is held, for any reason, to be invalid, such decision or decisions
shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article
shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial
District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of
not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment
thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term
not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation
continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate
offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also
constitute a separate offense.
