[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
Kidder as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 4-15-2004 by Ord. No. 116]
The Township of Kidder hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions
of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. § 7210.101
through 7210.1103, as amended from time to time, and its regulations.
The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401-405,
as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by
reference as the Municipal Building Code of the Township of Kidder.
Administration and enforcement of the Code within the Township of Kidder
shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by the governing
body of the Township of Kidder from time to time by resolution:
A.
By the designation of an employee of the Township of
Kidder to serve as the Municipal Code Official to act on behalf of the Township
of Kidder.
B.
By the retention of one or more Construction Code Officials
or third-party agencies to act on behalf of the Township of Kidder.
C.
By agreement with one or more other municipalities for
the joint administration and enforcement of this Act through an intermunicipal
agreement.
D.
By entering into a contract with another municipality
for the administration and enforcement of this Act on behalf of the Township
of Kidder.
E.
By entering into an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department
of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and enforcement of structures
other than one-family or two-family dwelling units and utility and miscellaneous
use structures.
A Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution of the governing
body of the Township of Kidder in conformity with the requirements of the
relevant provisions of the Code, as amended from time to time, and for the
purposes set forth therein. If at any time enforcement and administration
is undertaken jointly with one or more other municipalities, said Board of
Appeals shall be established by joint action of the participating municipalities.
A.
All Building Code Ordinances or portions of ordinances
which were adopted by the Township of Kidder on or before July 1, 1999, and
which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code shall continue in full
force and effect until such time as such provisions fail to equal or exceed
the minimum requirements of the Code, as amended from time to time.
B.
All Building Code Ordinances or portions of ordinances
which are in effect as of the effective date of this article and whose requirements
are less than the minimum requirements of the Code are hereby amended to conform
with the comparable provisions of the Code.
C.
All relevant ordinances, regulations and policies of
the Township of Kidder not governed by the Code shall remain in full force
and effect.
D.
Work exempt from permit. Exemptions from permit requirements
of this Code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be
done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this Code or any other
laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction. Permits shall not be required for
the following:
(1)
Building.
(a)
One-story detached accessory structures used as tool
and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does
not exceed 120 square feet (11.15 m2).
(b)
Fences not over six feet (1,829 mm) high.
(c)
Oil derricks.
(d)
Retaining walls which are not over four feet (1,219 mm)
in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall,
unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids.
(e)
Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity
does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,924 L) and the ratio of height to diameter
or width does not exceed two to one.
(f)
Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches (762
mm) above grade and not over any basement or story below and which are not
part of an accessible route.
(g)
Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops
and similar finish work.
(h)
Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage
sets and scenery.
(i)
Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3
occupancy, as applicable in Section 101.2, which are less than 24 inches (610
mm) deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,925 L) and are installed entirely
above ground.
(j)
Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural
purposes and not including service systems.
(k)
Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached
one- and two-family dwellings.
(l)
Window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do
not project more than 54 inches (1,372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not
require additional support of Group R-3, as applicable in Section 101.2 and
Group U occupancies.
(m)
Movable cases, counters and partitions not over five
feet nine inches (1,753 mm) in height.
(2)
Electrical.
(a)
Repairs and maintenance: Minor repair work, including
the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical
equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.
(b)
Radio and television transmitting stations: The provisions
of this Code shall not apply to electrical equipment used for radio and television
transmissions but do apply to equipment and wiring for power supply, the installations
of towers and antennas.
(c)
Temporary testing systems: A permit shall not be required
for the installation of any temporary system required for the testing or servicing
of electrical equipment or apparatus.
(4)
Mechanical.
(a)
Portable heating appliance.
(b)
Portable ventilation equipment.
(c)
Portable cooling unit.
(d)
Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating
or cooling equipment regulated by this Code.
(e)
Replacement of any part which does not alter its approval
or make it unsafe.
(f)
Portable evaporative cooler.
(g)
Self-contained refrigeration system containing 10 pounds
(4.54 kg) or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of one horsepower
(746 W) or less.
(5)
Plumbing.
(a)
The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or
vent pipe; provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drain pipe, water,
soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove
and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new
work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as provided in this
Code.
(b)
The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in
pipes, valves or fixtures, and the removal and reinstallation of water closets,
provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement
of valves, pipes or fixtures.
(6)
Emergency repairs: Where equipment replacements and repairs
must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall
be submitted within the next working business day to the Building Official.
(7)
Repairs: Application or notice to the Building Official
is not required for ordinary repairs to structures, replacement of lamps or
the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently
installed receptacles. Such repairs shall not include the cutting away of
any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural
beam or load-bearing support, or the removal or change of any required means
of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress requirements;
nor shall ordinary repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement
or relocation of any standpipe, water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader,
gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or
other work affecting public health or general safety.
(8)
Public service agencies: A permit shall not be required
for the installation, alteration or repair of generation, transmission, distribution
or metering or other related equipment that is under the ownership and control
of public service agencies by established right.
E.
Work exempt from permit. Permits shall not be required
for the following. Exemption from the permit requirements of this Code shall
not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner
in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances
of this jurisdiction.
(1)
Building.
(a)
One-story detached accessory structures, provided the
floor area does not exceed 500 square feet (18.58 m2).
(b)
Fences not over six feet (1,829 mm) high.
(c)
Retaining walls that are not over four feet (1,219 mm)
in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall,
unless supporting a surcharge.
(d)
Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity
does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18,927 L) and the ratio of height to diameter
or width does not exceed two to one.
(e)
Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches (762
mm) above adjacent grade and not over any basement or story below.
(f)
Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops
and similar finish work.
(g)
Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches
(610 mm) deep.
(h)
Swings and other playground equipment accessory to a
one- or two-family dwelling.
(i)
Window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do
not project more than 54 inches (1,372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not
require additional support.
(2)
Electrical.
(a)
Repairs and maintenance: A permit shall not be required
for minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection
of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed
receptacles.
(4)
Mechanical.
(a)
Portable heating appliance.
(b)
Portable ventilation appliances.
(c)
Portable cooling unit.
(d)
Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating
or cooling equipment regulated by this Code.
(e)
Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval
of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
(f)
Portable evaporative cooler.
(g)
Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds
(4.54 kg) or less of refrigerant or that are actuated by motors of one horsepower
(746 W) or less.
(h)
Portable fuel cell appliances that are not connected
to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid.
(5)
Plumbing.
(a)
Stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent
pipe; provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drainpipe, water, soil,
waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and
replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work
and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as provided in this Code.
(b)
The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in
pipes, valves or fixtures, and the removal and reinstallation of water closets,
provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement
of valves, pipes or fixtures.
Fees assessable by the Township of Kidder for the administration and
enforcement undertaken pursuant to this article and the Code shall be established
by the governing body by resolution from time to time.