[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners (now Township Council) of the Township of Bristol 5-17-1961 by Ord. No. 372. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Minimum Housing Standards Ordinance of the Township of Bristol."
[Amended 4-16-1969 by Ord. No. 635]
A. 
For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meaning given herein:
APPROVED
Approved in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Building Official.
BASEMENT
A portion of any dwelling located partly underground but having less than half its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
BUILDING CODE
The Building Code of this Township.[1]
BUILDING OFFICIAL
The Building Official of this Township.
CELLAR
A portion of any dwelling having half or more than half of its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
DWELLING
A building or structure, except temporary housing, which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
DWELLING UNIT
A 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.
HABITABLE ROOM
A room or permanently enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, foyers, pantries, communicating corridors, stairways, closets, basement recreation rooms and storage spaces.
MULTIFAMILY DWELLING
Any dwelling or part thereof containing three or more dwelling units.
OCCUPANT
Any person, including an owner or operator, living and sleeping in a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
OPENABLE AREA
The part of a window or door which 1s available for unobstructed ventilation and which opens directly to the outdoors.
OPERATOR
Any person having charge, care, management or control of any dwelling or part of it in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
OWNER
Any person who, alone, jointly or severally with others, holds legal or equitable title to any dwelling, rooming house, dwelling unit or rooming unit.
PERSON
Any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.
PLUMBING
Water-heating facilities, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes-washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents and other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water and sewer lines.
PLUMBING CODE
The Plumbing Code of this Township.[2]
PREMISES
A lot, plot or parcel of land, including the buildings and structures thereon.
RENTAL UNIT
A dwelling unit or rooming unit, as herein defined, which is occupied for a sum of rent paid to the owner thereof by the occupant or occupants.
ROOMING HOUSE
Any dwelling or that part thereof containing one or more rooming units in which space is let to three or more persons.
ROOMING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping but not for cooking or eating purposes.
SUPPLIED
Installed, furnished or provided by the owner or operator at his expense.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
TWO-FAMILY DWELLING
Any dwelling containing two dwelling units.
YARD
All ground, lawn, court, walk, driveway or other open space constituting part of the same premises as a dwelling.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 84, Construction Codes, Uniform.
[2]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 84, Construction Codes, Uniform.
B. 
When not inconsistent with the context, words used in the present tense include the future, words in the plural number include the singular number, and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
[Amended 9-18-1968 by Ord. No. 616; 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
The Development Coordinator or such person as the Township Council may direct shall have the power that may be necessary in the interest of public safety, health and general welfare to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to interpret and implement the provisions of this chapter, to secure the intent thereof and to designate requirements applicable because of local climatic or other conditions; but no such rule shall have the effect of waiving requirements specifically provided in this chapter or of violating accepted practice involving public safety.
[Amended 4-16-1969 by Ord. No. 636]
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling, rooming house, dwelling unit or rooming unit which does not comply with the following minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities:
A. 
Dwelling units. Every dwelling unit shall contain within its walls:
(1) 
Lavatory facilities. A room, separate from the habitable rooms, which affords privacy and which is equipped with a flush water closet.
(2) 
Basin. A lavatory basin located in the same room as the required flush water closet.
(3) 
Bathtub or shower. A room, separate from the habitable room, which affords privacy to a person in the room and which is equipped with a bathtub or shower.
(4) 
Kitchen sink. A kitchen sink.
B. 
Waterline connections. Every kitchen sink, lavatory, basin and bathtub or shower required by this chapter shall be properly connected with both hot- and cold-water lines. The hot-water lines shall be connected with supplied water-heating facilities which are capable of heating water to such a temperature as to permit one gallon of water per minute to be drawn at every required kitchen sink, lavatory sink and bathtub or shower at a temperature of not less than 120° F. even when the heating facilities required by this chapter are not in operation.
C. 
Plumbing fixtures. All plumbing fixtures required by this section shall be properly connected to an approved water system and to an approved sewerage system.
D. 
Rubbish collection. Every multifamily dwelling shall have approved common garbage and rubbish storage or disposal facilities in accordance with Chapter 170, Solid Waste.
E. 
Rooming house: additional sanitation standards.
(1) 
Lavatories.
(a) 
Every rooming house shall be equipped with at least one flush water closet, one lavatory basin and one bathtub or shower for each six persons or fraction thereof living within the rooming house, including members of the family of the owner or operator if they share the use of facilities. In a rooming house in which rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than 1/2 the required number of water closets. All such facilities shall be properly connected to approved water and sewerage systems. No such facilities located in a basement or cellar shall count in computing the number of facilities required by this subsection except when approved by the Building Official.
(b) 
Every flush water closet, flush urinal, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower required by this subsection shall be located within the rooming house in a room or rooms which:
[1] 
Afford privacy and are separate from the habitable rooms.
[2] 
Are accessible from a common hall and without going outside the rooming house.
[3] 
Are not more than one story removed from the rooming unit of any occupant intended to share the facilities.
(2) 
Bedding and towels. Where bedding, bed linen or towels are supplied, the owner or operator shall maintain the bedding in a clean and sanitary manner, and he shall furnish clean bed linen and towels at least once each week and prior to the letting of any room to any occupant.
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling, rooming house, dwelling unit or rooming unit which does not comply with the following minimum standards for ventilation, lighting and heating:
A. 
Windows and openable space.
(1) 
Habitable rooms. Every habitable room shall have at least one window which can be easily opened and which faces directly to the outdoors. The minimum openable area for such room shall be 10% of the floor area for every habitable room with 100 square feet or less and 10 square feet plus 5% of the floor area for every other habitable room and for every basement recreation room except where there is some other device approved by the Building Official as affording adequate ventilation.
(2) 
Sleeping rooms. The minimum total window area of every sleeping room with 100 square feet or less of floor area shall be 10% of the floor area. The minimum total window area of every sleeping room with more than 100 square feet of floor area shall be 10 square feet plus 5% of each square foot of floor area over 100 square feet.
(3) 
Glass-fronted porch. For the purpose of this section, where a living room faces onto a glass-fronted porch, the porch shall be considered as a part of the living room if the total window and open area between the porch and the living room is at least 7% of the floor area of the living room.
(4) 
Bathroom. Every bathroom and water closet compartment shall have at least one window facing to the outdoors and having a minimum openable area of 4% of the floor area of such room except where there is supplied some other device approved by the Building Official as affording adequate ventilation.
(5) 
Laundry rooms. Every laundry room shall have a minimum openable area of at least two square feet except where there is supplied some other device approved by the Building Official as affording adequate ventilation.
(6) 
Calculating window area. Whenever a window or a room faces a wall or other portion of any abutting structure which is located less than three feet from the window and extends to a level above that of the ceiling of the room, the window shall not be counted in calculating window area or openable area.
(7) 
Skylight-type windows. A skylight-type window shall be considered as a window for the purpose of this section except in the case of a kitchen with more than 80 square feet in floor area, a living room or sleeping room.
(8) 
Public halls and stairways. Each public hall and stairway in every two-family dwelling, multifamily dwelling and rooming house shall be adequately ventilated.
B. 
Lighting.
(1) 
Every dwelling shall be supplied with electricity as follows:
(a) 
Habitable room. Every habitable room shall contain at least two separate floor or wall-type electric convenience outlets or one such convenience outlet and one supplied ceiling-type electric light fixture.
(b) 
Bathrooms and utility rooms. Every water closet compartment, bathroom, laundry room and furnace room shall contain at least one supplied ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture.
(c) 
Public halls. Every public hall in a dwelling shall contain at least one supplied ceiling or wall-type electric light fixture so as to provide adequate illumination at all times.
(d) 
Standards for installation. Every outlet and fixture shall be properly installed and maintained in good and safe working condition.
(2) 
Two-family dwelling, multifamily dwelling and rooming house. Every public hall and stairway in every two-family dwelling, multifamily dwelling and rooming house shall be adequately lighted at all times, except that in a two-family dwelling an adequate lighting system which may be turned on when needed by conveniently located light switches shall be permitted instead of a full-time lighting system. "Adequate" shall mean not less than 20 footcandles of light at two feet above any stair tread or hall floor.
C. 
Heating.
(1) 
Every dwelling shall have heating facilities which are capable of safely and adequately heating all habitable rooms, bathrooms and water closet compartments within its walls to a temperature of at least 70° F. when the outside temperature is 10° F.
(2) 
Heaters. Portable electric heating equipment and heating equipment using gasoline, fuel oil or kerosene do not meet the standards of this chapter and are prohibited.
[Amended 12-15-2005 by Ord. No. 2005-11]
No person shall occupy or shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling, rooming house, dwelling unit or rooming unit which does not comply with the following minimum standards for space and occupancy:
A. 
Habitable floor area.
(1) 
Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 250 square feet of habitable floor area for each of the first three occupants and at least 150 square feet of additional habitable floor area for each additional occupant.
(2) 
Exception for children under one year of age. For the purposes of this subsection, a person under one year of age shall not be counted as an occupant.
B. 
Sleeping rooms. In every dwelling unit and in every rooming unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area, and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 45 square feet of floor area for each occupant 12 years of age and over and at least 25 square feet for each occupant under 12 years of age.
C. 
Calculation of floor area. Floor area shall be calculated on the basis of habitable room area. However, closet area and hall area within the dwelling unit, where provided, may count for not more than 10% of the required habitable floor area. At least 1/2 of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet six inches; and the floor area of any part of any room where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the room to determine maximum permissible occupancy.
D. 
Cellars. No cellar shall be used for living purposes.
E. 
Basements. No basement shall be used for living purposes unless:
(1) 
The floors and walls are substantially watertight.
(2) 
The total window area, total openable area and ceiling height are in accordance with this chapter.
(3) 
The required minimum window area of every habitable room is entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area, not including stairwells or accessways.
(4) 
Minimum clearance from floor to finished ceiling is seven feet six inches.
[Amened 9-18-1968 by Ord. No. 616]
No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or shall let to another for occupancy any dwelling, rooming house, dwelling unit or rooming unit which does not comply with the following minimum standards for safe and sanitary maintenance:
A. 
Foundations, exterior walls and roofs. Every foundation, exterior wall and exterior roof shall be substantially weathertight, watertight and rodentproof; shall be kept in sound condition and good repair; and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
B. 
Floors, interior walls and ceilings. Every floor, interior wall and ceiling shall be substantially rodentproof; shall be kept in sound condition and good repair; and shall be safe to use and capable of supporting the load which normal use may cause to be placed thereon.
C. 
Windows and exterior doors. Every window, exterior door and basement or cellar door and hatchway shall be substantially weathertight, watertight and rodentproof and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair.
D. 
Stairways and porches. Every inside and outside stair, porch and any appurtenance shall 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.
E. 
Plumbing fixtures. Every plumbing fixture shall be properly installed and maintained in sound mechanical condition, free from defects, leaks and obstructions and in accordance with Chapter 84, Construction Codes, Uniform.
F. 
Bathroom floor surfaces. Every water closet compartment floor surface and bathroom floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be substantially impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
G. 
Maintenance of required equipment and utilities. Every supplied facility, piece of equipment or utility which is required under this chapter and every chimney and smokepipe shall be so constructed and installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall be maintained in sound working condition.
H. 
Maintenance of exterior structural elements. All exterior structural elements subject to decay must be painted. The condition of the paint must be such that it still prevents decay of the material.
I. 
Maintenance of fences, accessory structures, interior walks and paved area. All fences, accessory structures, interior walkways and paved areas shall be maintained in good repair and in such a manner that they do not endanger the life, limb, health, property, safety or welfare of the public or the occupants of any dwellings.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
Any dwelling unit, habitable room, rooming house or rooming unit or part thereof or the premises upon which same is located which fails to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter to an extent that endangers the life, limb, health, property, safety or welfare of the public or the occupants thereof is hereby declared to be substandard housing and a public nuisance.
A. 
All dwellings, dwelling units, habitable rooms, rooming houses, rooming units or parts thereof and premises upon which the same are located which are determined by the Building Official to be substandard as provided hereinafter shall be repaired, vacated or demolished, as provided herein.
(1) 
If the substandard dwelling, dwelling unit, habitable room, rooming house, rooming unit or part thereof can reasonably be repaired so that same shall no longer violate this chapter, the same shall be ordered repaired.
(2) 
If same is in such condition as to make it dangerous to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of its occupants or the public, the same shall be ordered to be vacated.
(3) 
If any dwelling, multifamily dwelling, two-family dwelling or rooming house is 50% or more damaged or decayed or deteriorated from its original value or structure, the same shall be demolished. In all cases where the same cannot be repaired as provided in Subsection A(l) above, the same shall be demolished.
B. 
Notice of defects.
(1) 
The Building Official shall examine every dwelling or part thereof and premises reported to be substandard as defined herein, and if it is his opinion that the same is substandard, he shall give written notice thereof to the owner, stating the defects. Said notice shall require the owner of said dwelling or part thereof or person in charge of same to commence within 48 hours the required repairs or improvements or demolition, as provided in Subsection A hereof, which work shall be completed within 60 days from the date of said written notice. If in the opinion of said Building Official the continued occupancy of said dwelling or part thereof shall cause danger to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of its occupants or the public, said notice shall also order that said dwelling or part thereof be vacated forthwith and not reoccupied until the required repairs and improvements are completed, inspected and approved by said Building Official.
(2) 
Proper service of said notice shall be by personal service upon the owner of record if he shall be found within the limits of the Township of Bristol; otherwise, service shall be made upon the owner by posting conspicuously one copy of same upon the substandard dwelling and mailing another by certified mail to the last known address of said owner.
C. 
The Building Official shall, whenever he determines any dwelling or part thereof to be substandard housing as provided herein, cause to be posted at each entrance to said substandard dwelling a substandard dwelling notice, to read: "Do Not Enter. Unsafe to Occupy. Township of Bristol, Bucks County, Pennsylvania."
D. 
In case the owner shall fail, neglect or refuse to comply with the notice to repair or demolish said substandard housing dwelling or part thereof within the time provided herein, the Township Council of the Township of Bristol may order the Building Official to proceed with the work specified in said notice. A bill for the cost of said work shall be served upon the owner of said premises if notice of violation has been served, and if not paid within 10 days of said service, the Township shall file a lien against the premises as other liens are by law levied and assessed.
E. 
The owner of any building who receives a notice of violation as provided herein may appeal the Building Official's decision to the Housing Advisory Board by notifying the Building Official in writing within 10 days of said notice to repair or demolish.
No owner, operator or occupant shall furnish or use any cooking equipment which does not comply with the·following minimum standards:
A. 
Every piece of cooking equipment shall be so constructed and installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall be maintained in sound working condition.
B. 
Portable cooking equipment employing flame and cooking equipment using gasoline, fuel oil or kerosene as fuel for cooking are prohibited.
[Amended 4-16-1969 by Ord. No. 635; 1-19-1977 by Ord. No. 911; 2-15-1978 by Ord. No. 935]
A. 
Sanitation.
(1) 
Every occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit or rooming unit shall maintain in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit and yard which he occupies and controls and shall be responsible for his own misuse of areas and facilities available in common.
(2) 
Every owner or operator of a two-family dwelling, multifamily dwelling or rooming house shall maintain in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or public areas of the dwelling and yard.
(3) 
Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all supplied facilities, including plumbing fixtures and cooking equipment, in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in their proper use and operation.
B. 
Removal of waste matter.
(1) 
Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall dispose of all rubbish, ashes, garbage and other organic waste in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in approved storage or disposal facilities which are safe and sanitary. Every occupant shall provide such facilities for and within his dwelling unit and shall maintain them in a clean and sanitary manner. The owner or operator of a multifamily dwelling shall be responsible for the clean and sanitary maintenance of common storage or disposal facilities. He shall be responsible further for placing for collection all common garbage and rubbish containers except where such facilities are for the sole use of an occupant, under which circumstances it shall be the responsibility of the occupant to place these containers out for collection.
(2) 
Every owner or operator of every rooming house shall dispose of all rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in supplied and approved storage or disposal facilities which are safe and sanitary.
C. 
Extermination.
(1) 
Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests in it or in the yard. In a two-family dwelling or a multifamily dwelling, the occupant shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infested. When, however, infestation is caused by failure of the owner or operator to maintain a dwelling in a rodentproof or substantially insectproof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the owner or operator.
(2) 
Every owner or operator shall be responsible for extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling or in the shared or public areas of any two-family dwelling or any multifamily dwelling.
(3) 
Every owner or operator of a rooming house shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents or other pests in the yard.
D. 
Heat. During the time of the year when it is necessary, as determined by the Building Official, every owner or operator of every two-family dwelling, multifamily dwelling and rooming house shall supply adequate heat, as heretofore defined, to every habitable room therein except where there are separate heating facilities for each dwelling unit, whose facilities are under the sole control of the occupant of such dwelling unit. Each dwelling unit shall have a heater certification provided to the Township stating that the heater is in good working condition. This can only be done by a Pennsylvania licensed HVAC professional. This certification must be provided prior to rental inspection and occupancy.
[Amended 11-10-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-18]
E. 
Utilities. No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service equipment or utility which is required by this chapter to be removed, shut off 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.
F. 
Janitorial service. Every dwelling of six or more dwelling units in which the owner or operator does not reside shall have a janitor as found necessary by the Building Official.
G. 
Transfer of responsibility. A contract effective as between owner and operator, operator and occupant or owner and occupant with regard to compliance hereunder shall not relieve any party of his direct responsibility under this chapter.
H. 
Notice of maximum occupancy. Every owner or operator shall advise the occupant in writing, either by insertion in the lease between the parties qr otherwise, of the maximum number of occupants permitted in the occupied premises under this chapter.
I. 
Inspection and licensing of rental units.
(1) 
License and notice requirements.
(a) 
Every person who, as principal, shall rent a house, an apartment, multifamily dwelling or room for residence (but not including motels or hotels) or other rental unit located within the Township of Bristol shall:
[1] 
Obtain from the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections an annual license. The annual license fee and the fee for any additional inspections required under this chapter shall be as established by resolution or ordinance[1]
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
[1]
Editor’s Note: See Ch. 101, Fees of the Township Council.
[2] 
Give written notice of any and all changes in occupancy in said rental units.
(b) 
Failure to comply with any one of the foregoing requirements shall constitute a violation of this chapter, subject to the penalties provided for herein.
(2) 
A certificate of approval shall be issued for each rental unit for which there has been issued an annual license and upon determination that the rental unit offered for rent or rented meets the requirements of this chapter and all other appropriate regulatory ordinances of the Township.
(3) 
The annual license shall act as registration of the dwelling units only. Certificates of approval shall become invalid upon a rental unit’s becoming vacant or upon notice of revocation for violation of the provisions of this chapter from the Director of the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections and/or the Housing Official. Thereafter, a certificate of approval will be reissued after inspection and determination that the rental unit is fit for occupancy as provided for under the provisions of this chapter.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
(4) 
The annual license shall be obtained for each subsequent calendar year by payment of the registration fee not later than October 31 of the preceding year; provided, that fees paid on or before October 31, 1978, shall be applied to the year 1979; and provided further, that annual inspections pursuant to this Subsection I will not be made until there is payment of the registration fee. Failure to qualify for receipt of certificates of approval by reason of failure to register, as aforesaid, by February 28 of any year will result in the dwelling units being declared unfit for occupancy under the provisions of this chapter, and the occupants thereof may be ordered by the Director of the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections to vacate the subject dwelling units.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
J. 
Chimney certification. Each dwelling unit with a working chimney must be certified by a licensed professional. If a chimney is not in service and/or has not received certification, the owner shall take the necessary action to prevent the use by the occupant(s). This certification must be provided prior to rental inspection and occupancy.
[Amended 11-10-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-18]
[Amended 9-18-1968 by Ord. No. 616]
The Building Official of the Township of Bristol is hereby authorized and directed to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. It shall be the duty of said Building Official to appear and report his findings at all appeals made to the Housing Appeals Board.
A. 
In order to perform his duties in safeguarding the health and safety of occupants of dwellings and of the general public, said Building Official or his duly authorized representative is hereby authorized and directed to investigate complaints alleging violations of this chapter, and further it is deemed to be in the public interest for the Building Official or his duly authorized representative to conduct inspections, surveys or examinations of areas when undue lapse of time has expired since the last official inspection of any such area or when the general condition of that area or the types of properties located within the area warrant inspection to determine the condition of dwellings, dwelling units, buildings, structures, apartments, apartment houses and premises located within Bristol Township for those purposes of identifying, correcting, preventing, abating and arresting the development of conditions which are hazardous to public health and safety. The Building Official or his duly authorized representative is hereby authorized to conduct investigations, inspections, surveys and examinations to determine compliance with the provisions of this chapter during all reasonable hours after presenting proper identification to the owner, agent or tenant in charge thereof and after obtaining consent from the person in charge.
B. 
In the event said Building Official or his duly authorized representative is unable to obtain consent of the owner, agent or tenant in charge to investigate, inspect, examine or survey the dwelling, dwelling units, buildings, structures, apartments, apartment houses or premises, he shall obtain a warrant to inspect from the District Justice to conduct such investigation, inspection, examination or survey by making application to the District Justice, stating by affidavit that he has been refused entry and that he has reason to believe based upon complaint that a violation of this chapter exists or that, pursuant to the authority under this section, he is conducting an inspection, examination or survey at this time because of a lapse of time since the last official inspection, examination or survey or because of the condition of the area in which is located the particular property to be inspected, examined or surveyed, provided that nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the entry of the Building Official or his duly authorized representatives at any time when an actual emergency exists which may involve potential danger to life or severe property damage.
[Amended 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
There is hereby created by the Township of Bristol a Housing Appeals Board consisting of three members who are residents of the Township of Bristol and who are not employed by said Township or any of its agencies.
A. 
The members of said Board shall be appointed by the Township Council for a term of four years from the date of the adoption of this chapter.
B. 
The members of said Board shall receive no compensation; however, they shall be entitled to reimbursement of expenses when approved by the Township Council.
C. 
The powers and duties of said Housing Appeals Board shall be as follows:
(1) 
To establish rules of procedure for all appeals made to the Board.
(2) 
To hear appeals from any decision of the Building Official.
D. 
Said Housing Appeals Board shall be permitted to reverse or set aside any decision of the Building Official only where, due to unusual circumstances, strict compliance with the provisions of this chapter will cause hardship to the owner in excess of the benefit that would be derived by the general public if strict enforcement of this chapter were required. In all cases, said Board shall exercise its powers in such manner that the public welfare is secured and substantial justice is done most nearly in accord with the intent and purpose of this chapter.
E. 
Any person aggrieved by the decision of said Housing Appeals Board may appeal said decision to the Township Council of the Township of Bristol by giving written notice to the Managing Director within 10 days of the decision of said Housing Appeals Board. The Township Council may affirm, reverse or modify, in part or in whole, by resolution, any decision of the Housing Appeals Board, and the decision of said Township Council shall be final.
[Amended 10-18-1961 by Ord. No. 383; 10-20-1992 by Ord. No. 92-17]
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter shall be liable, on conviction thereof, to a fine or penalty not exceeding $600 for each and every offense, which shall inure to the benefit and use of the Township, with the cost of suit, and in default of payment thereof, any District Justice may, in his discretion, commit the offender to prison in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days for each and every offense. The Building Official shall give official written notice to the violator by certified mail that he is committing a violation. Each day's continuance of such violation after notification shall constitute a separate offense, punishable by a like fine or penalty. Such fines shall be collected as like fines are now collected by law.