[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Buffalo as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-3-2010 by Ord. No. 57]
This article shall be known and cited as the "Dye Test Ordinance."
Unless the context specifically and clearly indicates otherwise, the meaning of terms used in this article shall be as follows:
CODE
Buffalo Township, as the same may be from time to time amended.
DOCUMENT OF CERTIFICATION
An official statement from the Township stating that there are no illegal storm or surface water connections into the sanitary sewer connections on the property to be sold which violate any section of the code.
ILLEGAL STORM OR SURFACE WATER CONNECTIONS
The discharge of basement seepage or ground water or the connection of downspouts, roof drainage or surface or areaway drainage into the sanitary sewer system.
MUNICIPAL LIEN AND PROPERTY TAX VERIFICATION
A written letter from the Township concerning municipal liens and property taxes.
PERSON
Any person, syndicate, association, partnership, firm, corporation, institution, agency, authority or other entity recognized by law as the subject of rights and duties.
TEMPORARY DOCUMENT OF CERTIFICATION
A temporary statement of certification from the Township issued pursuant to the terms of this article.
TOWNSHIP
Buffalo Township.
After the effective date of this article, it shall be unlawful for any person to sell or purchase real estate within the Township on which a building or improvement exists without first delivering to the purchaser a document of certification or a temporary document or certification from the Township.
A. 
Any person selling real estate located as defined in this article that is located within the Township (hereinafter referred to as "applicant") shall make application on a form furnished by the Township at least 21 days before the date of closing the sale. The applicant shall then cause to have performed a dye test on the property to be sold. All dye tests shall be performed by an inspector appointed by the Buffalo Township (hereinafter referred to as "inspector")
B. 
The inspection fee shall be in an amount set by resolution of the Township Board of Supervisors. The inspection fee shall be paid to the Township at the time of making the application referred to in this section.
C. 
Such inspector shall complete the appropriate portions on the form and certify that the property has been dye tested and certify the results of such test. On the event there are no illegal storm or surface water connections, the inspector shall issue a document of certification upon payment of such fee as set by resolution of the Township Board of Supervisors. When an illegal storm or surface water connection is discovered by means of the above-mentioned dye test, no document of certification will be issued until the illegal connections are removed and certification of such removal by an inspector is received. An additional inspection fee shall be paid by the applicant for each inspection subsequent to the first inspection referred to in the section.
D. 
Such inspection shall include a visual review of the existing service line for conformance with the current service line detail. When the existing service line is found to be in nonconformance, the owner shall consider a new trap and fresh-air vent on the existing service line, to ensure the safety of the existing house, unless this service line is of sound quality.
A document of certification shall be valid for a period of one year from the date of issuance. Real estate may be sold during the one year effective life of such document without further dye testing or certification.
A document of certification shall not be required in the following instances:
A. 
When property is refinanced but no conveyance takes place.
B. 
When an improvement to real estate has been recently constructed in accordance with a valid building permit and has been inspected by the Inspector and has not been formerly occupied. If such property is sold after one year of the date of the certificate of occupancy, or the inspections referred to in this subsection, compliance with this article is mandatory.
C. 
Individual apartment-type units within a single condominium building may be sold without individual certification provided that the building in which the units are located has been certified no longer than one year previous to the date of the sale of the individual condominium unit.
D. 
When the real estate is such that tap-in to the sanitary sewer system is not required by law or ordinance.
A temporary document of certification may be issued at the Township's sole discretion when, either:
A. 
The applicant proves that dye testing cannot be performed because of weather conditions. When such is the case, the applicant shall provide the Township with security in such amount as the Board of Supervisors by resolution shall establish to guarantee that the dye test will be performed. The applicant will cause to have the dye test performed within 14 days of written notification from the Township which will be given at such time as weather conditions make the dye test possible. In addition, the applicant shall provide a signed, written acknowledgement from the purchaser agreeing to correct, at purchaser's sole cost and expense, any violations that may be discovered as a result of subsequent dye tests. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit any purchaser from requiring the applicant to reimburse purchaser for any costs incurred; provided, however, that primary liability shall run with the land and no such agreement shall affect Township's enforcement powers or excuse the current owner from compliance with this Code; or
B. 
When an illegal storm or surface water connection is discovered and the necessary remedial activities to correct such connection would require a length of time such as to create a practical hardship for the applicant, applicant may apply to the Township for a temporary document of certification which may only be issued when the applicant provides the Township with all of the following: (i) a bona fide, executed contract between the applicant and an inspector to complete the necessary remedial work with the Township listed therein as a-third party beneficiary; and (ii) cash security in the amount of said contract is posted with the Township; and (iii) a written agreement by the purchaser to be responsible for all cost over-runs and extras related to the remedial work together with a written license to enter upon the property to complete work in case of default of the contractor referred to above. The Township shall determine when such temporary document of certification shall expire. Upon expiration, the security shall be forfeited and the Township may use the security to have the necessary remedial work completed.
A. 
A request for a municipal lien or tax certification letter must be accompanied by a valid document of certification and payment of the required fees which shall be delivered to the Township at least seven days before such letters are to be provided. The amount of the fee for each item shall be established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
B. 
Where requested by a property owner or his agent and subject to time availability as determined solely by the inspector, the Township may issue Municipal Lien and Tax Certification Letters on two days' notice upon the payment of an expedition fee I addition to the fees set forth above. The amount of the expedition fee shall be established by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
The Inspector is hereby empowered to undertake the duties imposed by this article, including but not limited to:
A. 
Establishing acceptable forms of security or guarantees.
B. 
Establishing the form of:
(1) 
Applications;
(2) 
Purchaser acknowledgements; and
(3) 
Inspector certifications.
C. 
Limiting the times of year in which the temporary document of certification is available for reasons of weather.
The Board of Supervisors may, by resolution, change from time to time the fees authorized in this article.
Nothing in this article shall limit in any fashion whatsoever the Township's right to enforce its ordinances or the laws of the Commonwealth. Nothing in this article shall be a defense to any citation issued by any municipal corporation or the Commonwealth pursuant to any other law or ordinance.
A. 
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Whenever any person violating any of the provisions of this article is notified of such violation in writing by the Inspector, each day that a violation of this article continues or each section of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
In addition to and not in lieu of the foregoing, the Township may seek equitable and legal relief to compel compliance with this article.
This article shall become effective 60 days after its enactment and adoption.