[HISTORY: Adopted by the City of Council of the City of Chester 6-22-2022 by Ord. No. 4-2022 (Art. 1713 of the 1978 Codified Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the City Clerk of City of Chester, being marked and designed as the International Property Maintenance Code, 2018 edition, as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Chester, being Chapter 409 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Chester, in the State of Pennsylvania for regulating and governing the conditions and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures; by providing the standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use; and the condemnation of buildings and structures unfit for human occupancy and use, and the demolition of such existing structures as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Property Maintenance Code on file in the office of the City Clerk are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this chapter, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in § 409-2.
The following sections are hereby revised:
A. 
Section 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Property Maintenance Code of the City of Chester," hereinafter referred to as "this Code."
B. 
Section 103.5. Fees. The fees for activities and services performed by the department in carrying out its responsibilities under this code shall be as indicated in a fee resolution adopted by the City Council from time to time.
C. 
Section 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 for a fine of not less than $500 or more than $1,000.
D. 
Section 302.4. Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of six inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than tree or shrubs, provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
E. 
Section 304.14. Insect screens. During the period from April 1 to October 1, 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 minimum 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm), and every screen door used for insect control shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.
Exemption: Screens shall not be required where other approved means, such as air curtains or insect-repellent fans, are employed.
F. 
Section 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 during the period from October 1 to April 1 to maintain a minimum temperature of 68° F. (20° C.) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms.
Exceptions:
1.
When the outdoor temperatures is below the winter outdoor design temperature for the locality, maintenance of the minimum room temperature shall not be required, provided that the heating system is operating at its full design capacity. The winter outdoor temperature for the locality shall be as indicated in Appendix D of the International Plumbing Code.
2.
In areas where the average monthly temperature is above 30° (-1° C.), a minimum temperature of 65° F. (18° C.) shall be maintained.
G. 
Section 602.4. Occupiable work spaces. Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat during the period from October 1 to April 1 to maintain a minimum temperature of 65° F. (18° C.) during the period the spaces are occupied.
Exceptions:
1.
Processing, storage and operation areas that require cooling or special temperature conditions.
2.
Areas in which persons are primarily engaged in vigorous physical activities.
All other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phase of this chapter is, for any reason, held to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this chapter. The Council hereby declares that it would have passed this chapter, and each section, subsection, clause or phase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases be declared unconstitutional.
Nothing in this article or in the Property Maintenance Code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired existing, under any act or ordinance hereby repealed as cited in § 409-3; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this article.