The Code Official may order the owner of premises
upon which is located any structure or part thereof which in his judgment
is so old, dilapidated or has become so out of repair as to be dangerous,
unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise unfit for human habitation, occupancy
or use, and so that it would be unreasonable to repair the same, to
raze and remove such structure or part thereof or, if it can be made
safe by repairs, to repair and make safe and sanitary or to raze and
remove at the owner's option or, where there has been a cessation
of normal construction of any structure for a period of more than
two years, to raze and remove such structure or part thereof.
Whenever the Code Official and Township Engineer
determines that the cost of such repairs would exceed 100% of the
current value of such structure, such repairs shall be presumed unreasonable,
and it shall be presumed for the purpose of this section that such
structure is a public nuisance which may be ordered razed without
option on the part of the owner to repair.
The demolition order shall specify a time in
which the owner shall comply therewith and specify repairs, if any.
It shall be served on the owner of record or his agent where an agent
is in charge of the building and upon the holder of any encumbrance
of record in the manner provided for service of a summons by a court
of record. If the owner or a holder of an encumbrance of record cannot
be found, the order may be served by posting it on the main entrance
of the building and by publishing it once each week for two successive
weeks in a newspaper authorized to provide service by publication.
Whenever the owner of a property fails to comply
with a demolition order within the time prescribed, the Code Official
shall cause the structure or part thereof to be razed and removed,
either through an available public agency or by contract or arrangement
with private persons, and the cost of such razing and removal shall
be charged against the real estate upon which the structure is located
and shall be a lien upon such real estate. The Code Official shall
be present at all township-ordered demolition.
