[HISTORY: Adopted by the City of Council of the City of Chester 5-15-1974 by Ord. No. 15-1974 (Art. 1133 of the 1978 Codified Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 5-31-1989 by Ord. No. 8-1989]
As used in this chapter, certain words are defined as follows:
BUILDING
Means a structure enclosed within exterior walls, built, erected and framed of component structural parts, designed for the housing, shelter, enclosure and support of individuals, animals or property of any kind.
CERTIFIED PESTICIDE APPLICATOR
Means a person licensed by the Commonwealth's Department of Agriculture as a commercial or private pesticide applicator.
DEPARTMENT
Means the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Health.
EXTERMINATION
Means the control and elimination of vermin by eliminating their harborage, removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food, by poisoning, spraying with insecticides, baiting or trapping so that buildings and premises are completely freed of vermin.
HARBORAGE
Means any place or condition that may provide shelter or protection for vermin and favorable conditions for their breeding.
INFESTATION
Means the presence of any vermin of such kind or in such quantities as may create a potential health hazard or nuisance.
OPENINGS
Means openings of the exterior or interior of buildings which rodents may ingress, egress or use for harborage.
OTHER
Means that the singular includes the plural and the masculine includes the feminine and neuter.
PERSON
Means an individual, firm, partnership, company, corporation, trustee, association or any public or private entity.
PESTICIDE
Means any chemical or other substance used to destroy plant and animal pests.
PREMISES
Means any lot or parcel of land, including but not limited to all building structures thereon either occupied or vacant, improved or unimproved.
RODENT-PROOFING
Means preventing ingress and egress of rodents, and consists of closing or protecting with materials impervious to rodent gnawing all openings which may be reached by rodents.
SHALL
Means always mandatory and not merely directory.
VERMIN
Means members of the class insects, the phylum arthropoda, the order rodentia and such other small wild animals considered to be potential vectors of disease or pestiferous.
VIOLATOR
Means any person who violates any provision of this chapter, including the owner, tenant, occupant or trespasser of the premises.
[Amended 5-31-1989 by Ord. No. 8-1989]
A. 
Any person utilizing any chemicals for the purpose of controlling or exterminating vermin within the City shall hold a currently valid license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a certified pesticide applicator. This does not include the private homeowner that performs his own vermin control and disinfection procedures for the premises he is currently occupying and if his family is the sole occupant.
B. 
Only pesticides registered with the Commonwealth and classified as appropriate for the intended distribution or use by regulations of the Commonwealth's Department of Agriculture shall be used within the City.
C. 
All pesticides shall be stored in well-constructed locked containers, clearly labeled "poison" on the exterior of such container, both within the premises and upon vehicles used by any applicator.
[Amended 5-31-1989 by Ord. No. 8-1989]
No person shall permit any person other than a pesticide applicator licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to dispense pesticides in or upon a single or multifamily dwelling, or commercial or public building, for the purpose of disinfestation or the control of vermin. This does not include the private homeowner that performs his own vermin control and disinfestation procedures for the premises that he is currently occupying and if his family is the sole occupant.
A. 
No person shall place food in the open for the feeding of any domesticated or wild fowl, birds or animals except in such containers that will prevent the scattering of such feed upon the ground. After such feeding, such food shall not be allowed to remain where it is accessible to vermin.
B. 
All food and feed for domestic or wild fowl, birds or animals shall be kept stored in rodent-free and rodent-proof containers, compartments or rooms unless kept in a completely rat-proofed building.
[Amended 5-31-1989 by Ord. No. 8-1989]
No permit for the demolition of a building or structure shall be issued by the Building Inspector unless provisions for rodent and vermin eradication as required and verified by the Bureau of Health have been carried out by a state licensed pesticide applicator.
[Amended 7-9-1980 by Ord. No. 13-1980]
A. 
Every premises shall be rodent-proofed and maintained in such condition, and shall be kept free of rodent harborage at all times.
B. 
No building or structure shall be erected, repaired, altered or extended unless such construction, repair or alteration shall render the building or structure rodent-proof, provided that only such construction, repair or alteration as affects the rat-proof condition of any building or structure shall be considered as subject to the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 7-9-1980 by Ord. No. 13-1980]
Any person failing to comply with any provisions of this chapter shall be in violation of this chapter and subject to the penalties set forth herein.
[Amended 7-9-1980 by Ord. No. 13-1980]
Whenever any violation of this chapter occurs, any officer or employee of the Department of Public Safety shall notify in writing the violator to remove or abate the condition in such manner and within such time as the notice shall direct. The notice shall be signed by such employee or officer and also by the Director of the Department of Public Safety or his designee. It shall be served upon the violator either personally or by regular mail, or by posting the premises if no person can be found or ascertained.
[Amended 5-31-1989 by Ord. No. 8-1989]
If the notice is not complied with and the violation not abated as directed, the Director of the Department of Public Safety, or his duly authorized representative, may at his discretion take either or both of the following actions:
A. 
File a criminal complaint or citation against the violator who, upon conviction before a District Justice, shall be fined not more than $1,000 and costs, and in default of payment thereof, imprisonment of not more than 90 days. Each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense;
B. 
Cause the condition to be removed or abated by the employees of the Department of Public Safety, any duly authorized agent of the City or by any independent contractor authorized by the Director of Public Safety. Thereafter, the violator shall be liable for the costs of such removal or abatement plus a service charge of 20% of the costs. The Director shall collect the same by civil action or by directing the City Solicitor to file a lien against the property.