Township of Upper Allen, PA Chapter 112 Construction Codes, Uniform

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Upper Allen 5-10-2004 by Ord. No. 584. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 112-1 Intent.

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the general health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Upper Allen Township and to conform to the requirements of the PCCA and regulations to the PCCA promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.

§ 112-2 Election to administer and enforce.

The Township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions of the PCCA, Act 45 of 1999, 35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 et seq., as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

§ 112-3 Adoption of code standards.

The Uniform Construction Code (UCC), contained in 34 Pa. Code, Chapters 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the Municipal Building Code of the Township.

§ 112-4 Repealer.

Township Ordinance No. 584 and any amendments thereto, and all other existing ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith, be and they are hereby repealed; provided that ordinances or those parts of same not expressly named in this section which impose building specifications or requirements more restrictive than adopted hereby shall not be considered in conflict with this chapter.

§ 112-5 Administration and enforcement.

Administration and enforcement of the PCCA and Uniform Construction Code within the Township shall be undertaken by the designation of an employee of the Township to serve as the municipal Building Code Official (BCO) to act on behalf of the Township. The BCO may delegate duties to other construction code officials and current code administrators, either employed by the Township or retained by the Township through contracts with qualified individuals and/or third party agencies.

§ 112-6 Board of Appeals.

A Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Upper Allen Township in conformity with the requirements of the relevant provisions of the Uniform Construction 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.

§ 112-7 Fees.

Fees assessable by the Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the Uniform Construction Code shall be established by the governing body of Upper Allen Township by resolution from time to time.

§ 112-8 Revisions to Uniform Construction Code standards.

Pursuant to Uniform Construction Code Section 403.102 (l), the following regulations are hereby enacted to facilitate municipal administration and enforcement of the Uniform Construction Code, including insertion of local climatic and geographic information.

A. The text of the 2018 International Building Code, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(1) Section 1612.3 is amended to insert "Upper Allen Township," and "February 15, 1980."

(2) Section 1809.5 shall be deleted and replaced with the following text:[1]

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

1809.5 Frost Protection. Extending below the frost line of Upper Allen Township, which shall extend a minimum of 36 inches in depth, measured from the bottom of the footing to the surface.

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(3), regarding Section 3410.2, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

B. The text of the 2018 International Residential Code for One and Two Family Dwellings, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby revised as follows:

(1) Section 101.1, Title, is amended to insert "Upper Allen Township."

(2) Section 103 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

R103.1 Enforcement agency. The Community Development Department shall be charged with the task of administering this code. The executive official in charge thereof shall be known as the Building Code Official. The Board of Commissioners of Upper Allen Township shall appoint the Building Code Official and his deputies.

(3) Table R301.2 (1) is amended to insert the appropriate climatic and geographic design criteria, as follows:

(a) Ground snow load: 30 psf.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

(b) Wind speed: 90 mph.

(c) Seismic design category: B.

(d) Weathering of concrete probability: severe.

(e) Frost line depth: 36 inches.

(f) Termite probability: moderate to heavy.

(g) Decay probability: slight to moderate.

(h) Winter design temperature: = 10° F.

(i) Ice shield underlayment required: yes.

(j) Flood hazards: Consult March 16, 2009, FIRM and FBFM.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

(k) Air freezing index: 784.

(l) Mean annual temperature: 53.1° F.

(4) Section P2603.6.1 shall be deleted and replaced with the following:

P2603.6.1 Sewer Depth. Building sewers shall be a minimum of 36 inches below grade.

(5) Section P3103.1 shall be amended by inserting "12" as the number of inches that a vent pipe shall extend above a roof through which it penetrates, and inserting "12" as the number of inches that a roof-penetrating vent pipe shall extend above anticipated snow accumulation.

(6) Building permits shall be required for all residential accessory utility and miscellaneous structures larger than 400 square feet.

[Added 4-18-2007 by Ord. No. 636]

(7) Building permits shall be required for all decks attached to the foundation of a residence and shall require footers to be installed in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code.

[Added 4-18-2007 by Ord. No. 636]

(8) Building permits shall be required for all residential alterations and renovations, subject only to certain established exceptions set forth in the Uniform Construction Code.

[Added 4-18-2007 by Ord. No. 636]

C. The text of the 2018 International Plumbing Code, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(1) Section 101.1, Title, is amended to insert "Upper Allen Township."

(2) Section 103 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

103.1 Enforcement agency. The Community Development Department shall be charged with the task of administering this code. The executive official in charge thereof shall be known as the Building Code Official. The Board of Commissioners of Upper Allen Township shall appoint the Building Code Official and his deputies.

(3) Section 106.6.2 Fee schedule. Fees assessable by the Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the Uniform Construction Code shall be established by the governing body of Upper Allen Township by resolution from time to time.

(4) Section 106.6.3.2 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:[2]

106.6.3.2 One hundred percent of permit fees will be refunded. Applicant will be charged for plan reviews as indicated on a fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Upper Allen Township.

[2] Editor's Note: Former Subsection C(5), regarding Section 106.6.3.3, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

(5) Section 108.4, Violation penalties, shall be amended by inserting "summary offense" and "1,000" in the appropriate spaces, and by deleting "...or by imprisonment not exceeding [NUMBER OF DAYS], or both such fine and imprisonment."

(6) Section 108.5, Stop work orders, shall be amended as follows: "...condition, shall be liable to pay a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000."

(7) Section 305.6.1 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

305.6.1 Sewer depth. Building sewers shall be a minimum of 36 inches below grade.

(8) Section 904.1 shall be amended by inserting "12" as the number of inches that a vent pipe must extend beyond a roof through which it penetrates.[3]

[3] Editor's Note: Former Subsection D, regarding the Electrical Code, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

D. The text of the 2018 International Mechanical Code, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(1) Section 101.1, Title, shall be amended by inserting "Upper Allen Township" in the relevant space.

(2) Section 103 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

103.1 Enforcement agency. The Community Development Department shall be charged with the task of administering this code. The executive official in charge thereof shall be known as the Building Code Official. The Board of Commissioners of Upper Allen Township shall appoint the Building Code Official and his deputies.

(3) Section 106.5.2 Fee schedule. Fees assessable by the Township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the Uniform Construction Code shall be established by the governing body of Upper Allen Township by resolution from time to time.

(4) Section 106.5.3.2 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:

106.5.3.2 One hundred percent of permit fees will be refunded. Applicant will be charged for plan reviews as indicated on a fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Upper Allen Township.

(5) Section 108.4, Violation penalties, shall be amended by inserting "summary offense" and "1,000" in the appropriate spaces, and by deleting "...or by imprisonment not exceeding [NUMBER OF DAYS], or both such fine and imprisonment."

(6) Section 108.5, Stop work orders, shall be amended as follows: "...condition, shall be liable to pay a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000."

E. The text of the 2018 International Fire Code, adopted as a reference standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby enforced within Chapter 26 of the Township Code.

[Amended 5-4-2022 by Ord. No. 818]

F. The text of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(1) Section 101.1, Title, shall be amended by inserting "Upper Allen Township" in the relevant space.

G. The text of the 2018 International Existing Building Code, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(1) Section 101.1, Title, shall be amended by inserting "Upper Allen Township" in the relevant space.

(2) Section 103.1 is amended by inserting "July 9, 1973," as the date that building codes first became effective in Upper Allen Township.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

H. The text of the 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(1) Section 101.1, Title, shall be amended by inserting "Upper Allen Township" in the relevant space.

(2) Section 103.1 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:[4]

103.1 Enforcement agency. The Community Development Department shall be charged with the task of administering this code. The executive official in charge thereof shall be known as the Building Code Official. The Board of Commissioners of Upper Allen Township shall appoint the Building Code Official and his deputies.

[4] Editor's Note: Former Subsection G(3), regarding fee schedule, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

(3) Section 108.5 shall be deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:[5]

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

108.5 One hundred percent of permit fees will be refunded. Applicant will be charged for plan reviews as indicated on a fee schedule adopted by resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Upper Allen Township.

[5] Editor's Note: Former Subsection G(5), regarding Section 106.5.3.3, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

(4) Section 108.4, Violation penalties, shall be amended by inserting "summary offense" and "1,000" in the appropriate spaces, and by deleting "...or by imprisonment not exceeding [NUMBER OF DAYS], or both such fine and imprisonment."

(5) Section 108.5, Stop work orders, shall be amended as follows: "...condition, shall be liable to pay a fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000."

I. The text of the 2018 International Urban-Wildland Interface Code, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(1) Section 101.1, Title, shall be amended by inserting "Upper Allen Township" in the relevant space.

J. The text of the 2018 International Code Council Performance Code, adopted as a referenced standard by the Uniform Construction Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(1) Add the following new section after Section 101.1, Purpose:

101.1.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the "Performance Code of Upper Allen Township," hereinafter referred to as "this code.”