[Ord. No. 2020-06, 10/13/2020]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
SHORT-TERM TRANSIENT RENTAL
The rental of one or more rooms of a residential property to transient guests for a period of less than 14 consecutive days wherein the guests are allowed access to the cooking facilities. The owner of such a property need not reside at the property contemporaneously with the transient guests.
[Ord. No. 2020-06, 10/13/2020]
1. 
A short-term transient rental permit shall be required of any person operating a short-term transient rental. Short-term transient rentals operated without a permit are prohibited.
2. 
A short-term transient rental permit shall be issued only to the owner of the short-term rental property and not to any other interested party or tenant of the property.
3. 
The short-term transient rental permit shall be made available to property owners at no charge or at a nominal fee.
[Ord. No. 2020-06, 10/13/2020]
An application for a short-term transient rental permit shall be made to the Township on a form provided by the Township and include the following items:
1. 
Contact information for the owner or agent for the owner in case of emergencies or violations.
2. 
Proof of the applicant's ownership of the residence.
3. 
Number of bedrooms on the property.
4. 
Number of parking spaces on the property.
5. 
If the property is not connected to a central sewer system, the owner shall provide the location, approximate age, and capacity of the sewage disposal system to the satisfaction of the Sewage Enforcement Officer.
6. 
If water is supplied to the property by a private well, the owner shall provide evidence that the well has been tested within the last year on the application and that the test results establish that the water is potable and complies with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection water drinking standards. Such testing shall be provided with each application for permit renewal.
7. 
A permit for this use shall only last one year. The owner is responsible for renewing this permit in a timely fashion.
[Ord. No. 2020-06, 10/13/2020]
An owner/applicant whose short-term transient rental permit has been revoked pursuant to this section shall not be eligible to receive a new permit for one year. A permit for a short-term transient rental use may be revoked or not renewed by the Township for any reason, including but not limited to the following:
1. 
In the course of any rolling thirty-six-month period from the dates of incidents, the owner or occupants of the property are found guilty, liable, or otherwise at fault for three or more:
A. 
Violations of Chapter 27, Zoning.
B. 
Plumstead Township Code violations.
C. 
Summary Offenses.
D. 
Pennsylvania Crimes Code violations.
2. 
The owner or occupants of the property are found in violation by the Township of any single violation of any specific regulation of this use as prescribed in Chapter 27, Part 14, relating to additional requirements for specific principal uses.
[Ord. No. 2020-06, 10/13/2020]
Any short-term transient rentals operating in the Township shall be required to, on a form prescribed and supplied by the Township, obtain an annual inspection of the rental property. The fee for such an inspection shall be set from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.[1] Operation of a short-term transient rental without inspection shall be prohibited. The inspection shall include the following safety and sanitary conditions in addition to any others deemed appropriate by the Township:
1. 
Smoke detectors installed and in operating condition on every story.
2. 
Sprinkler certification, if sprinkler systems are otherwise mandated by Township ordinance and/or building code.
3. 
House numbers as mandated by Township ordinance.
4. 
Staircase and handrails are in good, safe condition.
5. 
Electrical system. Receptacle and switch covers are in place; panel box cover in place, and no visible wire defects.
6. 
Plumbing fixtures are secure and in working order without leaks.
7. 
Sump pump shall not be connected to the sewer line.
8. 
Dryer shall be properly vented to the outside.
[1]
Editor's Note: The current Schedule of Fees is on file in the Township offices.
[Ord. No. 2020-06, 10/13/2020]
Nothing in this Part should be read to prohibit or regulate the authority of property owners to lease their properties for the establishment of a nontransient single-family dwelling.
[Ord. No. 2020-06, 10/13/2020; as amended by A.O.]
Any person, individual, partnership, copartnership, association or corporation violating the provisions of this Part 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 Part that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.