All buildings or structures which have any of the following
defects shall be deemed to be unsafe buildings:
A. Buildings
or structures whose interior walls or other vertical structural members
list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a block line passing through
the center of gravity falls outside of the middle third of its base.
B. Buildings
or structures which, exclusive of the foundation, show 30% or more
of damage or deterioration of the supporting member or members or
50% or more of damage or deterioration of the nonsupporting interior
or outside walls or covering.
C. Buildings
or structures which have improperly distributed loads upon the floors
or roofs or in which the same are overloaded or which have insufficient
strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
D. Buildings
or structures which have been damaged by fire, wind or other causes
so as to have become dangerous to life or safety of the occupants
or to others in the vicinity.
E. Buildings
or structures which have become or are so dilapidated, decayed or
unsafe that they are unfit for human habitation or are likely to cause
injury to occupants or to others in the vicinity.
F. Buildings
or structures having inadequate facilities for egress in case of fire
or panic or those having insufficient stairways, fire escapes or other
means of access and egress.
G. Buildings
or structures, parts of which are so attached that they may fall and
injure members of the public or cause damage to property.
Whenever any building, structure or part thereof or appurtenance
thereto is found to be an unsafe building, the Township Building Inspector
shall give written notice to the owner, lessee, tenant, occupant and/or
agent, describing the unsafe condition and ordering the abatement
thereof within the period specified in the notice. Failure to comply
with the order contained in the notice within the time period specified
shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
All unsafe buildings, as herein defined, are declared to be public nuisances and shall be repaired, vacated and/or demolished pursuant to the notice and order of the Building Inspector under §
93-2 or
93-4A of this chapter, in accordance with the following standards or as otherwise provided in this chapter:
A. If
the unsafe building can reasonably be repaired so that it will no
longer exist in violation of the terms of this chapter, it shall be
ordered to be repaired.
B. If
the unsafe building is in such condition as to make it dangerous to
health, safety, morals or general welfare of the occupants of the
building or structure, it shall be ordered to be vacated.
C. If
the unsafe building is 50% damaged, decayed or deteriorated from its
original value or if it cannot be repaired so that it will no longer
exist in violation of the provisions of this chapter or if it is a
fire hazard existing or erected in violation of the provisions of
this chapter, it shall be ordered to be demolished.
D. If
a vacant, unused building is so dilapidated or in such a state of
disrepair that it constitutes a danger to the safety of children,
the morals of the community or the general welfare of the neighborhood,
it shall be ordered to be demolished.
The time limits in §§
93-2 and
93-4A for the abatement of the unsafe condition shall be 30 days, except that when, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, the hazard to life, limb or property warrants such action, he shall have authority to order such abatement within a shorter period of time.
After issuance of a notice of condemnation, the Building Inspector
shall have authority to order the discontinuance of any or all occupancies
in said building or structure. After notice ordering the discontinuance
of occupancy or copies of such notice have been sent to the owner,
lessee, tenant, occupant or agent of said building or structure, the
continued occupancy of the building or structure shall be a violation
of this chapter, and the owner and all occupants shall be in violation
thereof.
If any condemned portion of a building constitutes or contains
an exit which is required by law or ordinance or, in the opinion of
the Building Inspector, is a necessary means of egress, the continued
occupancy of said building after issuance of an order to discontinue
the occupancy shall be in violation of the chapter, whether or not
any other portion of said building is in unsafe condition.
[Amended 11-15-1988 by Ord. No. 1631]
Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of §
93-2 or
93-4 of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof before any issuing authority, forfeit and pay a fine of not more than $1,000 for each offense and may be sentenced to a period of incarceration not exceeding 90 days in the Allegheny County Jail. Each incident in violation of this chapter shall be considered a separate offense and may be punishable as such.