A. 
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DWELLING
Any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
GARBAGE
The animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
HABITABLE ROOM
A room occupied by one or more persons for living, eating or sleeping; includes kitchens serving multiple or individual dwellings, but does not include serving and storage pantries, corridors, cellars and spaces that are not used frequently or during extended periods.
HOTEL
A dwelling, not a single-family or a two-family dwelling, providing lodging with or without meals and having lodging accommodations for more than 10 guests.
MULTIPLE DWELLING
Any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units.
OCCUPANT
Any person over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
OPERATOR
Any person who has charge, care or control of a building or part thereof in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
ROOMING HOUSE
A dwelling, not a single-family or a two-family dwelling, providing lodging with or without meals and having lodging accommodations for less than 10 guests.
ROOMING UNIT
Any room or group or rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping but not for cooking or eating purposes.
RUBBISH
Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage, and shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke and other combustible material, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin, cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery and dust.
B. 
Meaning of certain words. Whenever the words "dwelling," "dwelling unit," "rooming house," "rooming unit" or "premises" are used in this Health Code, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or part thereof."
The Health Officer is hereby authorized to make inspections to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises located within the Township in order that he may perform his duty of safeguarding the health and safety of the occupants of dwellings and of the general public. For the purpose of making such inspections, the Health Officer is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey, at all reasonable times, all dwellings, dwelling units, rooming units and premises. The owner or occupant of every dwelling, dwelling unit and rooming unit or person in charge thereof shall give the Health Officer free access to such dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit and its premises, at all reasonable times, for the purpose of such inspection, examination and survey. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall give the owner thereof or his agent or employee access to any part of such dwelling or dwelling unit or its premises, at all reasonable times, for the purpose of making such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this Health Code or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this Health Code.
A. 
Whenever the Health Officer determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this Health Code or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, he shall give notice of such alleged violation to the person or persons responsible therefor, as hereinafter provided.
(1) 
Such notice shall:
(a) 
Be in writing.
(b) 
Include a statement of the reasons why it is being issued.
(c) 
Allow a reasonable time for the performance of any act it requires.
(d) 
Be served upon the owner or his agent or the occupant, as the case may require, provided that such notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner or agent or upon such occupant if a copy thereof is served upon him personally or if a copy thereof is sent by registered mail to his last known address or if a copy thereof is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the dwelling affected by the notice or if he is served with such notice by any other method authorized or required under the provisions of this Health Code.
(2) 
Such notice may contain any outline of remedial action which, if taken, will effect compliance with the provisions of this Health Code and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(3) 
Such notice pertaining to § 155-70D violations of supplying hot and cold running water to a dwelling unit shall serve as constructive notice as to all future violations for a period of one year from the date of issue. Said notice shall also state that if at any time within one year after notice is issued other violations of this section occur, then the Township can proceed with citations without additional prior notice.
[Added 9-28-2011 by Ord. No. 1977]
B. 
Any person affected by any notice which has been issued in connection with the enforcement of any provision of this Health Code, or of any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the Board, provided that such person shall file in the office of the Health Officer a written petition requesting such hearing and setting forth a brief statement of the grounds therefor within 10 days after the day the notice was served. Upon receipt of such petition, the Board shall set a time and place for such hearing and shall give the petitioner written notice thereof. At such hearing the petitioner shall be given an opportunity to be heard and to show why such notice should be modified or withdrawn. The hearing shall be commenced not later than 10 days after the day on which the petition was filed, provided that, upon application of the petitioner, the Health Officer may postpone the date of the hearing for a reasonable time beyond the ten-day period if in his judgment the petitioner has submitted a good and sufficient reason for such postponement.
C. 
After such hearing the Board shall sustain, modify or withdraw the notice, depending upon its findings as to whether the provisions of this Health Code and of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto have been complied with. If the Board sustains or modifies such notice, it shall be deemed to be an order. Any notice served pursuant to § 155-69 of this Health Code shall automatically become an order if a written petition for a hearing is not filed in the office of the Health Officer within 10 days after such notice is served.
D. 
The proceedings at such hearing, including the findings and decision of the Board, shall be summarized, reduced to writing and entered as a matter of public record in the office of the Health Officer. Such record shall also include a copy of every notice or order issued in connection with the matter. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Board may seek relief therefrom in any court of competent jurisdiction.
E. 
Whenever the Health Officer finds that an emergency exists which requires immediate action to protect the public health, he may, without notice or hearing, issue an order reciting the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such action be taken as he deems necessary to meet the emergency.
F. 
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Health Code, such order shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom such order is directed shall comply therewith immediately but, upon petition to the Board, shall be afforded a hearing as soon as possible. After such hearing, depending upon its finding as to whether the provisions of this Health Code and of the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto have been complied with, the Health Officer shall continue such order in effect or modify it or revoke it.
A. 
All dwellings and dwelling units located on or adjacent to a street in which a public water main is laid shall use a public water supply which meets the requirements of Article IV of this Health Code, and water shall be distributed through the building as to furnish adequate quantities of wholesome water, with reasonable facilities for drinking and washing purposes, for the occupants thereof.
B. 
All dwellings and dwelling units so located that a public water supply is not accessible shall be furnished with a water supply which shall meet the requirements of Article IV of the Health Code. Such water supply shall also be so distributed through the building as to furnish adequate quantity of wholesome water, with reasonable facilities for drinking and washing purposes, for the occupants thereof.
C. 
A dwelling so located as to be accessible to a Township sanitary sewer shall have the drainage system of the building connected thereto. A dwelling so located as to be inaccessible to a Township sanitary sewer shall have the drainage system of the building connected to a private sewage system which meets the requirements of Chapter 216, Plumbing, of the Code of the Township of Ridley.
D. 
Every dwelling unit shall contain a kitchen sink, a water closet, a hand lavatory and a bathtub or shower, all of which shall be in good repair and working condition. Every kitchen sink, hand lavatory and bathtub or shower shall be properly connected and supplied with both hot and cold running water. All plumbing pipes and fixtures shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 216, Plumbing, of the Code of the Township of Ridley. In all dwellings and dwelling units, the bathroom or water closet compartment floor surface shall be constructed of a material impervious to water and shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. A finished wood floor is not acceptable.
E. 
All garbage and rubbish must be kept in a clean and sanitary manner and stored in approved watertight containers with tight-fitting lids of not more than 30 gallons' capacity. The operator of a multiple dwelling shall provide proper containers and shall provide for the removal of garbage and rubbish from the premises so as to maintain satisfactory sanitary conditions.
F. 
Every dwelling shall have supplied water-heating facilities which are properly installed, are maintained in safe and good working condition, are properly connected with the hot water lines required under the provisions of Chapter 216, Plumbing, of the Code of the Township of Ridley and are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit an adequate amount of water to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory basin, bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than 120° F. Such supplied water-heating facilities shall be capable of meeting the requirements of this section when the dwelling or dwelling unit heating facilities required under the provisions of Chapter 216, Plumbing, are not in operation.
G. 
Every dwelling unit shall have two safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level.
A. 
Every habitable room shall have one or more windows opening directly on a street or on a court or yard or shall be provided with an approved means of mechanical ventilation as prescribed in this article.
B. 
Windows shall have an area between stop beads of not less than 10% of the floor area of the room served by them and, in addition, shall not be less than 12 square feet in area for habitable rooms and public halls and eight square feet for bathrooms and similar rooms, provided that where a water closet occupies a separate compartment 40 square feet or less in area, the minimum requirement shall be four square feet. At least 50% of the required window area shall be arranged to open for ventilation. Where 100% of the window area is arranged to open for ventilation, the window area required for separate water closet compartments 40 square feet or less in area may be reduced to not less than three square feet. In lieu of windows in habitable rooms, the glass areas in exterior doors may be accepted for 100% of the light requirements but not more than 50% of the ventilation requirements.
C. 
The area of skylights permitted by this article shall be not less than required for windows which they replace. At least 50% of the required area shall be made available as clear ventilating area by means of movable sash, louvers or similar devices.
D. 
When mechanical ventilation is required, or is permitted as an alternative, the system shall be designed and constructed in accordance with generally accepted good practice to provide the necessary changes in air, but not less than one cubic foot of air per minute shall be provided for each square foot of floor area in any case. Such system shall be kept in continuous operation at all times during the normal occupancy of the building.
E. 
All dwellings and dwelling units shall be supplied with electric service of at least two separate and remote floor or wall-type electrical convenience outlets in every habitable room. Every public hall, water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room and furnace room shall contain at least one electric light fixture. The electric service in all multiple dwellings must be installed with the approval of underwriters insuring properties in the Township. When artificial lighting is required, all habitable rooms shall have sufficient light to produce an intensity of not less than 15 footcandles at 30 inches from the floor.
F. 
All dwellings and dwelling units shall have heating facilities which shall be properly installed, safely maintained and in good working condition. All habitable rooms, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be heated to a temperature of at least 68° F. at a distance four feet above the floor level and not closer than three feet to an outside wall, window or door at all times. Portable heating equipment employing a flame and using gasoline or kerosene does not meet the standards of this Health Code and is prohibited.
G. 
Every public hall and public stairway in a multiple dwelling shall be lighted by means of electrically lighted fixtures. Such lighting fixtures shall provide two footcandles of light in every part of the public hall and public stairway at all times; provided, however, that such electrical lighting may be omitted from sunrise to sunset where there are windows or skylights opening directly to the outside and where the total window or skylight area provides two footcandles of natural light to all parts of each such public hall or stairway.
H. 
All dwellings and dwelling units shall be furnished with screens for every door and window opening directly to outdoor space. In multiple dwellings it shall be the responsibility of the operator to furnish and hang the screens. Screens shall have a mesh of not less than No. 14 and shall be hung not later than June 1 and not removed before November 1 of each year. Screens shall not be required during such period in rooms deemed by the Health Officer to be located high enough in the upper stories of buildings as to be free from insects and in rooms located in areas which are deemed by the Health Officer to have so few insects as to render screens unnecessary.
A. 
Every foundation, floor, wall, ceiling and roof shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight and rodentproof; shall be capable of affording privacy; and shall be kept in good repair.
B. 
Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight and rodentproof and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
C. 
Every inside and outside stair, every porch and every appurtenance thereto shall be so constructed as to be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair.
D. 
Every supplied facility, piece of equipment or utility which is required under this Health Code shall be so constructed or installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall be maintained in satisfactory working condition. All dwellings and dwelling units shall be supplied with cooking equipment which meet the following minimum standards:
(1) 
Every piece of cooking equipment shall be constructed and installed so that it will function safely and effectively and shall be maintained in sound working order.
(2) 
Portable cooking equipment employing flame and cooking equipment using gasoline or kerosene as fuel for cooking are prohibited.
E. 
No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required under this Health Code to be removed from or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling let or occupied by him, except for such temporary interruption as may be necessary while actual repairs or alterations are in process or during temporary emergencies when discontinuance of service is approved by the Health Officer.
A. 
Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 150 square feet of floor space for the first occupant thereof and at least 100 additional square feet of floor space for every additional occupant thereof, the floor space to be calculated on the basis of total habitable room area.
B. 
In every dwelling unit of two or more rooms, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor space, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor space for each occupant. Such rooms shall have a minimum width of six feet in any part and a minimum clear ceiling height of seven feet six inches for the minimum area.
C. 
Emergency shelters, if erected, shall conform to all federal and state regulations heretofore or hereafter enacted.
D. 
No space below ground shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless:
(1) 
The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and are insulated against dampness.
(2) 
The total window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum window area sizes as required in § 155-71B of this Health Code.
(3) 
Such required minimum window area is located entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area.
(4) 
The total openable window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum as required under § 155-71B of this Health Code.
(5) 
The mechanical ventilation and the artificial lighting meet the minimum standards required under § 155-71D and G of this Health Code.
A. 
Every owner of a multiple dwelling shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition the halls, stairs and public area of the building and premises thereof.
B. 
Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit and premises thereof which he occupies and controls.
C. 
No owner shall occupy or let to any other occupant any vacant dwelling unit unless it is clean, sanitary and fit for human occupancy.
D. 
The owner of any multiple dwelling shall, whenever the same becomes vacant, remove therefrom all papers or other combustible waste materials accumulated therein or upon any part of the premises. All doors, windows or other openings into such building shall be kept closed while the same remains unoccupied.
E. 
The owner of a multiple dwelling, and the occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit, shall be responsible for the extermination of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests therein or on the premises.
A. 
Every rooming house shall have at least one water closet, hand lavatory and bathtub or shower, in good working condition, properly, connected to a water and sewer system, for each eight persons or fraction thereof, including members of the operator's family where they share the use of such facilities. All such facilities shall be so located within the rooming house as to be accessible to the occupants of each rooming unit sharing such facilities without going outside the rooming house and without going through a dwelling unit or through a rooming unit of another occupant. Every hand lavatory and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot and cold running water at all times in accordance with the provisions of § 155-70D of this Health Code. No plumbing facilities required under this section of this Health Code shall be located in a cellar nor more than one floor distant from the rooming unit for which the same are provided.
B. 
The operator of every rooming house shall change supplied bed linen and towels therein at least once each week and prior to the letting of any room to any occupant. The operator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bedding in a clean and sanitary manner.
C. 
Every rooming unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level.
D. 
The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors and ceilings and for maintenance of a sanitary condition in every other part of the rooming house, and he shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building is leased or occupied by the operator.
E. 
Every provision of this Health Code which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to hotels.
F. 
Every hotel and rooming house shall require from any guest, at the time of registration, a photo ID to be presented and kept on file.
[Added 2-25-2015 by Ord. No. 2017]
A. 
Any dwelling or dwelling unit which shall be found to have any of the following defects shall be condemned as unfit for human habitation and shall be so designated and placarded by the Health Officer:
(1) 
One which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, insanitary, unsafe or vermin-infested, or has been abandoned, that it creates a serious hazard to the health or safety of the occupants or of the public.
(2) 
One which lacks illumination, ventilation or sanitation facilities adequate to protect the health or safety of the occupants or of the public.
(3) 
One which, because of its general condition or location, is insanitary or otherwise dangerous to the health or safety of the occupants or of the public.
B. 
Any dwelling or dwelling unit condemned as unfit for human habitation and so designated and placarded by the Health Officer shall be vacated within a reasonable time as ordered by the Health Officer.
C. 
No dwelling or dwelling unit which has been condemned and placarded as unfit for human habitation shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from and such placard is removed by the Health Officer. The Health Officer shall remove such placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the condemnation and placarding action were based have been eliminated.
D. 
No person shall deface or remove the placard from any dwelling or dwelling unit which has been condemned as unfit for human habitation and. placarded as such, except as provided in Subsection C.
E. 
Any person affected by any notice or order relating to the condemning and placarding of a dwelling or dwelling unit as unfit for human habitation may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the Board, under the procedure set forth in Subsection C of this section.