[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Lansford 7-7-1998 by Ord. No. 98-5. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 1-3-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-12]
It shall be unlawful for any person, owner, or agent to use, occupy, rent or lease with or without the option to buy any vacant structure, vacant home, vacant apartment, vacant apartment building, vacant dwelling unit or vacant commercial building or any vacant parts of said units thereof before being inspected by the Code Enforcement Officer or designee of the Borough of Lansford. Inspection of said vacant structure, home, apartment, apartment building, dwelling unit, or commercial building shall be completed within five days, but not more than 30 days, prior to and before occupancy may be permitted.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner of every vacant structure, home, apartment or building to provide the Borough of Lansford in writing that such vacant structure, home, apartment or building is going to be occupied and that the vacant structure, home, apartment, or building is ready for inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough of Lansford. The Code Enforcement Officer shall then schedule a date and time when the inspection is going to take place.
[Amended 1-3-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-12; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any building code violation either in the interior or exterior of said vacant structure, home, apartment or building shall be pointed out to the owner/agent at the time of inspection and then a copy of the violation shall be sent to the owner/agent with a reasonable amount of time given to correct said violation(s). Upon correction of said violation(s), the owner/agent shall schedule another inspection with the Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough of Lansford before using, occupying, renting or leasing said vacant structure, home, apartment, apartment building, dwelling unit or commercial building.
Every owner/agent applying for an inspection of a vacant structure, home, apartment or building shall pay an initial inspection fee upon completion of inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough of Lansford in an amount that the Council for the Borough of Lansford may from time to time set by resolution. (In the event a second inspection is required due to violations present, the inspection will be covered under the initial fee paid.)
Upon completion of an inspection of a vacant structure, home, apartment or building, the Code Enforcement Officer shall give, in writing, a copy of the inspection report to the property owner/agent for his/her records.
Anytime a structure, home, apartment or building shall become vacant, another inspection shall be required of the said vacant structure, home, apartment or building before occupancy.
[Amended 1-3-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-12]
Any owner/agent who does not have the vacant structure, home, apartment or building inspected and allows said structure, home, apartment or building to become occupied or placed in use shall be in violation of the Code of the Borough of Lansford, as amended, and shall be subject to a fine as provided under the penalty section of this chapter.
[Amended 1-3-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-12]
The Code Enforcement Officer shall inspect all interior and exterior aspects of a vacant structure, home, apartment, dwelling unit or building in accordance with the 2006 ICC Property Maintenance Code, as adopted by the Borough of Lansford and as amended. (Walls, electrical, plumbing, heat systems, roofs, siding etc.)
[Amended 1-3-2007 by Ord. No. 2007-12; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding 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 court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough in the enforcement proceedings. Upon judgment against any person by summary conviction, or by proceedings by summons on default of the payment of the fine or penalty imposed and the costs, the defendant may be sentenced and committed to the Borough correctional facility for a period not exceeding 10 days or to the county correctional facility for a period not exceeding 30 days. Each day that such violation exists shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this chapter that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense. In addition to or in lieu of enforcement under this section, the Borough may enforce this chapter in equity in the Court of Common Pleas of Carbon County.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
It shall be unlawful for any owner/agent to allow any person or persons to occupy any vacant structure, home, apartment or building before obtaining a moving permit from the Borough of Lansford, as set forth in Chapter 276, Moving Permits, of this Code.
All taxes and municipal fees for services must be current or satisfied prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit by the Code Enforcement Officer of the Borough of Lansford.