Municipality of Monroeville, PA Property Maintenance

[1]

Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 290, Property Maintenance, adopted 6-8-2010 by Ord. No. 2479, as well as Ord. Nos. 2023, 2298, 2391, and 2685.

The following sections are hereby revised as follows:

(1)

Replacing the title of Section 101.1 to read as follows:

101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Property Maintenance Code of the Municipality of Monroeville," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Replacing the title of Section 103 to read as follows:

SECTION 103

ADMINISTRATION OF THE

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE

(3)

Replace Section 103.1 with a new Section 103.1 to read as follows:

103.1 General. The Department of Community Development, its executive official and authorized representatives shall have the sole responsibility for, and benefit of, the execution of the provisions of the Property Maintenance Code.

(4)

Replace Section 103.2 with a new Section 103.2 to read as follows:

103.2 Appointment. The executive official and authorized representatives of the Department of Community Development shall act as, and be treated as, the code official(s) as described in this ordinance; and the code official(s) shall not be removed from the office except for cause and after full opportunity to be heard of specific and relevant charges by and before the appointing authority.

(5)

Replace Section 103.5 with a new Section 103.5.

103.5 Fees. The fees for activities and services preformed by the department in carrying out its responsibility under this code shall be as indicated in the most recent fee schedule resolution adopted from time to time by the Monroeville Council.

(6)

Replace Section 106.4 with a new Section 106.4.

106.4 Violation penalties. Any person who shall violate a provision of this code, or fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $500 and costs. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense. The fine shall be forwarded to the Municipality of Monroeville.

(7)

Replace Section 111.1 with a new Section 111.1.

111.1 Means of appeal. Any person directly affected by a decision of the code official or a notice or order issued under this code shall have the right to appeal to the Turtle Creek Valley Council of Governments Joint Board of Appeals, provided that a written application for appeal is filed within 20 days after the day the decision, notice or order was served. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of this code or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply, or the requirements of this code are adequately satisfied by other means.

(8)

Replace Section 112.4 with a new Section 112.4.

112.4 Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop-work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine of not more than $500.

(9)

Insert a new Section 302.3.1 and a new Section 302.3.2 as follows:

302.3.1 Snow and ice removal. Snow and ice shall be removed from all sidewalks, driveways and parking lots within 24 hours after the accumulation of any snow or ice on these surfaces.
Snow and ice shall be removed from the full paved width of any public sidewalk.
Snow and ice shall be cleared three feet from the area around fire hydrants so as to permit free and clear access to the hydrant by the Fire Department.
Collected snow from snow removal processes shall not be placed on areas of the lot where the collected snow will impede access to fire hydrants, dumpsters or other garbage collection facilities, or reduce visibility of signs or visibility at driveways or intersections.
A.	Collected snow and ice shall not be placed on any public road, street or alley.
B.	Penalties; depositing of snow and ice.
	(1)	First infraction: written notice to the property owner of record.
	(2)	Second and subsequent infractions: fine of $500 for each occurrence for depositing snow or ice while performing winter maintenance upon any public road, street or alley.
302.3.2 Leaves and grass waste disposal. Leaves from trees, bushes and other plants, garden residue, chipped shrubbery and tree trimmings, including grass clippings.
A.	Collected leaves and grass clippings shall not be placed on any public road, street or alley.
B.	Penalties; depositing of leaves and grass clippings.
	(1)	First infraction: written notice to the property owner of record.
	(2)	Second and subsequent infractions: fine of $500 for each occurrence for depositing leaves or grass clippings while performing maintenance upon any public road, street or alley.

(10)

Replace the first paragraph of Section 302.4 with the following first paragraph:

302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of eight inches high. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. "Weeds" shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs; provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.

(11)

Replace the first paragraph of Section 302.8 with the following first paragraph:

302.8 Motor vehicles. Except as provided for in other regulations, no motor vehicle that is inoperable or without current valid registration or current valid inspection shall be parked, kept or stored on any premises, and no motor vehicle shall be at any time in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth.

(12)

Replace the first sentence of the first paragraph of Section 303.2 with the following first sentence:

303.2 Enclosure. Private swimming pools, hot tubs and spas and any other man-made body of water capable of containing water more than 24 inches (610 mm) in depth shall be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier at least 48 inches (1,219 mm) in height above the finished ground level measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool or body of water.

(13)

Replace Section 304.3 with the following Section 304.3:

304.3 Premises Identification. Each building or structure shall display its approved address number in compliance with the following requirements.

(a)

Address numbers shall be Arabic reflective numerals not less than four inches in height and not less than 1/2 inch in stroke width. These numbers shall contrast with their background.

(b)

Address numbers shall be placed on or within three feet of the main door of the structure that faces the street and clearly visible from the street.

(c)

Where the main door of the building cannot be seen from the street or where the building is set back more than 100 feet from the street right-of-way, in addition to the address numbers placed in proximity to the door as required by part (b) of this section, address numbers in compliance with part (a) of this section shall also be placed at the driveway entrance. These numbers shall be located within 10 feet of the driveway entrance to the building and within 10 feet of the edge of the street right-of-way. These numbers shall be located on a pole and be not less than three feet above or more than seven feet above ground level. These numbers shall be placed so to be clearly visible by traffic traveling in either direction on the street.

(d)

In the event that a private driveway serves more buildings, the address numbers of all buildings served by the driveway shall be displayed as required in part (c) of this section.

(14)

Replace Section 304.6 with the following Section 304.6:

304.6 Exterior walls. All exterior walls shall be free from holes, breaks, growing vegetation and loose or rotting materials; and maintained weatherproof and properly surface-coated where required to prevent deterioration.

(15)

Remove the first five words of Section 304.14 so it reads as follows:

304.14 Insect screens. Every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of not less than 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm), and every swinging door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.

(16)

Insert a new Section 304.20 as follows:

304.20. Maintenance of billboards and/or outdoor advertising signs

(A)	Any billboard and/or outdoor advertising sign shall be constructed with noncombustible material and maintained in a good condition;
(B)	Any nonfunctioning/burned out diodes or pixels are to be promptly replaced;
(C)	Every 10 years, the owner of the billboard and/or outdoor advertising sign shall have a structural inspection of the structure by a qualified professional engineer licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The professional engineer shall provide to the Municipality a certificate certifying that the billboard and/or outdoor advertising sign is structurally sound; and
(D)	Annual inspections of the billboard and/or outdoor advertising sign shall be conducted by the Municipality to determine compliance with provisions of this article. Any sign found to be in an unsafe condition upon inspection by the Zoning Officer, or his/her designee, shall be declared to be a public nuisance and a notice shall be given to the owner in writing to repair or remove the sign within 30 days after receiving written notice from the Zoning Officer. Upon failure of the owner to comply, the Municipality shall remove the sign at the owner's expense and a lien shall be placed on the property.

(17)

Add to Section 308, Rubbish and Garbage, a new Section 308.4, Collection of Rubbish and Garbage.

308.4 Collection of rubbish and garbage. In addition to all of the provisions of Chapter 221 of the Code of the Municipality of Monroeville, the following requirements shall apply to the collection of garbage and rubbish:

(a)	No container for the collection of garbage, refuse or debris contemplated for collection as herein set forth shall be placed at the curb or cartway as required by Chapter 221 of the Code of the Municipality of Monroeville prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day prior to the day regularly scheduled for collection.
(b)	All containers used for the collection of garbage or refuse and all garbage, refuse and debris not collected on the day regularly scheduled for collection shall be removed from the curb or cartway no later than 9:00 p.m. the day of collection.
(c)	Rubbish and garbage containers for commercial and industrial properties shall be clearly marked with the name and phone number of the business responsible for the container.

(18)

Remove the words "during the period from [DATE] to [DATE]" of Section 602.3 so it reads as follows:

602.3 Heat supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat to maintain a minimum temperature of 68° F. (20° C.) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms.

(19)

Remove the words "during the period from [DATE] to [DATE]" of Section 602.4 so it reads as follows:

602.4 Occupiable work spaces. Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat to maintain a minimum temperature of 65° F. (18° C.) during the period the spaces are occupied.