Whenever an imminent hazard to community health, safety, or
welfare exists at a property, the code official is
authorized and empowered to order and require any structure on the
property vacated immediately from the time of the order. A notice
shall be posted at each entrance to the structure(s) stating that
occupancy of the structure is unlawful and any person allowing occupancy
or occupying the structure will be prosecuted. The code official shall schedule a meeting with the property owner within 30 calendar
days from the date of the order. The purpose of the hearing will be
to review the order with the property owner or an authorized representative
and to establish an abatement plan.
The Chief Code Official of the Municipality may revoke a rental
license when a major life/safety violation of any section of this
code has not been corrected after a period of 30 calendar days.
Appeals of suspension initiated by the code official shall be heard by the Board of Code Appeals in accordance with the
procedures established for appeals to that Board. The Board of Code
Appeals is empowered to sustain, withdraw, or modify the suspension.
Appeals by the property owner or Board of Code Appeals of the
Municipality of Norristown decision shall be made to the Court of
Common Pleas.
While under suspension, the residential dwelling subject to
suspension shall be secured and vacated.
Any affected owner may appeal a suspension notice by first filing
an appeal to the Board of Code Appeals. All appeals must be filed
in writing using the appeal form within 10 calendar days of receipt
of the suspension notice. The Board of Code Appeals shall hold a hearing
within 30 calendar days of receiving the appeal, and shall notify
the owner of the date, time, and location of the hearing. Following
the conclusion of the inquiry, the Board of Code Appeals is empowered
to take any of the following actions:
2. Overturn the suspension upon a finding that proper procedure was
not followed or that the available evidence does not support suspension.
3. Stay or terminate the suspension
4. Enter into a consent agreement with the owner and stay the effective
dates of the suspension pursuant to Section 805.8. Consent Agreement.
The municipality may charge an administrative fee to recover
the costs of conducting the hearing. These fees shall be set by municipal
resolution.
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The Board of Code Appeals is empowered during the course of
an hearing on suspension of a rental license to enter into a consent
agreement with the owner. The consent agreement may set forth steps
and conditions designed to bring the property into compliance with
Municipal Ordinances and to maintain the property in a proper manner
so that it ceases to be a non-compliant property. In conjunction with
the consent agreement, the Board of Code Appeals may stay the effective
date of the suspension to afford the owner an opportunity to complete
the steps as set forth in the agreement and to comply with any further
conditions outlined in the agreement. If during the stay, a violation
of the consent agreement occurs or additional major life/safety violations
occur, the stay shall be immediately lifted and the suspension reinstated.
An affected property owner may appeal any adverse decisions
or determinations made by the code official to the
Board of Code Appeals. The appeal shall be filed, in writing, within
10 calendar days of receipt of the code official's decision. The Board of Code Appeals shall notify the appellant of
the date, time, and location of the hearing, which shall be held within
30 calendar days of receipt of the request for hearing. The Board
of Code Appeals is empowered to void, suspend or sustain the code official's decision. A fee for an appeal will be set
by resolution of Municipal Council from time to time.