[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Morrisville 7-14-1981 by Ord. No. 764. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Prevention, Bureau of — See Ch. 40.
Planning Commission — See Ch. 76.
Real estate — See Ch. 86.
Condominiums — See Ch. 152.
Building and construction codes — See Ch. 129.
Registration of multifamily dwelling occupants — See Ch. 286.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 390.
Zoning — See Ch. 465.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DWELLING UNIT
Any dwelling designed for permanent living quarters including, but not limited to:
A. 
One and two family dwellings (including semi-detached dwellings)
B. 
Lodging or rooming houses
C. 
Hotels
D. 
Row dwellings
E. 
Multi-family dwellings
F. 
Apartment buildings
G. 
Commercial establishments which are occupied by owners or tenants.
OWNER
Person, persons, or entity which holds legal title to real estate in question, according to the records in the Bucks County Recorder of Deeds Office.
SMOKE DETECTOR
A device which, operating on the Ionization Principle, emits an audible signal when activated by smoke or fire, or which must meet or exceed the standards set forth by Factory Mutual Research Corporation or Underwriter's Life. The smoke detector must have a self contained power supply, and must be capable of emitting an audible signal of at least 85 decibels at a range of 10 feet.
The smoke detector shall always be installed pursuant to manufacturers instructions or on sidewalls or ceilings, but never closer than 12 inches from corners of interior walls. The general area in which the smoke detectors should be installed are:
A. 
At the top of stairways;
B. 
At the doorways outside of sleeping area;
C. 
Between sleeping areas and potential fire sources, i.e. kitchens;
D. 
At least one detector shall be installed on each floor.
A. 
It shall be the owner's responsibility and duty to:
(1) 
Install smoke detectors;
(2) 
Periodically inspect smoke detectors to insure working condition;
(3) 
Maintain smoke detector in proper working condition;
(4) 
To inform all persons residing in the dwelling unit of the presence and purpose of the smoke detector.
B. 
The time within which to comply with this chapter shall be six calendar months from effective date of this chapter.
A. 
Morrisville Borough Fire Chiefs are hereby authorized and empowered to inspect each smoke detector installed within a dwelling unit at least one time per year, or in the case of fire within the leased or rented dwelling unit, immediately thereafter to ascertain that such smoke detector fulfills the requirements of this chapter and is in an operable condition.
B. 
It shall be the duty of the Morrisville Borough Fire Chief to inform any person, who is determined to be in violation of any section of this chapter, of the exact nature of such violation. The Morrisville Borough Fire Chiefs, their agents, and the Morrisville Borough Council shall be immune from civil or criminal liability for any acts or omissions in connection with the inspection, maintenance and testing of any smoke detector installed in compliance with this chapter.
Pursuant to the authority granted to the Morrisville Borough Council it hereby authorizes any Morrisville Police Officer, Morrisville Borough Fire Chiefs or the Code Enforcement Officer of said Borough, upon notice of any violation of this chapter, to bring charges before the District Justice in accordance with the penalties set forth in §§ 353-6 and 353-7 of this chapter.
Any owner of a leased and/or rented dwelling unit who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, be fined in an amount not to exceed $100 for the final offense, and for each offense thereafter shall be fined in an amount not less than $200 nor more than $300.