As used in this article, the following terms shall have the following meanings. If a term is not defined in this article, but is defined in the Property Maintenance Code of the City of Easton or Construction Code, then that definition shall apply to this article. If a term is not defined in any of those codes, but is defined in Chapter
595, Zoning, of the City's Code, then the definition in such chapter shall apply to this article.
BUSINESS DAYS
Days in which the offices of the City of Easton are open for public business.
CITY
The City of Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania.
CODE
Any code or ordinance adopted, enacted and/or in effect in and for the City of Easton concerning fitness for habitation or the construction, maintenance, operation, occupancy, use, vermin or rodent control, or public health matters of any premises or dwelling unit. This shall include, but not be limited to, the City's Existing Structures Code, the Electrical Code, the construction codes, solid waste and water ordinances, public health ordinances, and noise control ordinances.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The duly appointed Code Enforcement Officer(s), Code Compliance Officer(s), Rental Compliance Officer, or other individual having the duty to enforce this article, the City's Existing Structures Code and other codes and ordinances of the City of Easton.
COMMON AREA
In multiunit buildings, space which is not part of an individual regulated rental unit and which is shared among occupants of the dwellings. Common areas shall be considered as part of the premises for purposes of this article.
DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT
(1)
A form of conduct, action, incident or behavior perpetrated, caused or permitted by an occupant or guest of a regulated rental unit that:
(a)
Is a violation of ordinances of the City of Easton and that is so loud, untimely as to time of the day, offensive and/or nuisance-causing that it unreasonably interferes with the peaceful enjoyment by other persons of their premises or causes damage to property that is owned by others;
(b)
Involves music or noise that is disruptive to persons occupying a different dwelling unit;
(c)
Involves music that is audible from a street, sidewalk or dwelling from a minimum distance of 40 feet away from the premises where the sound is originating;
(d)
Is the subject of a criminal citation for disorderly conduct; or
(e)
Is the subject of a criminal citation under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code or the Pennsylvania Liquor Code.
(2)
Upon prosecution of any of the activities described above that is defined as "disruptive conduct," and a determination of guilt, either by plea of the individual accused or determination by the Magisterial District Judge or the Court, a copy of that disposition is to be sent to the owner or manager along with a copy to the Office of Residential Rental Properties Licensing and Inspection.
DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT REPORT
A written report of "disruptive conduct" that is completed by a police officer who investigated the matter.
DWELLING
A building including one or more dwelling units.
DWELLING UNIT
A residential living area for one household that is used for living and sleeping purposes and that has its own cooking facilities and a bathroom with a toilet and a bathtub and/or shower.
GUEST
A person on the premises of a regulated rental unit with the actual or implied consent of an occupant.
LANDLORD
This term shall have the same meaning as "owner."
MANAGER
An adult individual designated by the owner of a regulated rental unit under this article. The manager shall be the agent of the owner for service of process and receiving notices or demands and to perform the obligation of the owner under this article and under rental agreements with occupants.
MONTH
A period of time between the same dates in successive calendar months, ranging between 28 and 31 days.
MULTIUNIT BUILDING
A building containing two or more dwelling units that are not completely separated from each other by vertical party walls.
OCCUPANT
An individual who resides in a regulated rental unit.
OWNER
One or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested all or part of the legal title to the premises, or all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the premises, including but not limited to a mortgage holder who is in possession of a regulated rental unit.
PERSON
A natural person, partnership, corporation, unincorporated association, limited partnership, trust, or any other entity.
POLICE
Sworn law enforcement officers of the Police Department of the City of Easton or the Pennsylvania State Police.
PREMISES
Any parcel of real property in the City, including the land and all buildings and structures, on which one or more regulated rental units is located.
REGULATED RENTAL UNIT
(1)
Any improved structure or portion of a structure within the City which is not: a) an owner-occupied dwelling unit and b) exempted by this article from needing a residential rental license.
(2)
Regulated rental units include, but are not limited to the following: any living quarters or accommodations in any hotel, apartment hotel, motel, resort motel, apartment, apartment motel, rooming house, mobile home, mobile home park, mobile home space, recreational vehicle park, town home, or condominium and for which the owner and/or landlord receives any value or consideration, including but not limited to money, or the exchange of goods or services, regardless of the relationship between lessor and lessee. A college fraternity or sorority used for residential purposes shall be considered regulated rental units unless it is within a dormitory that is owned by a college. "Regulated rental unit" shall include both long-term and short-term regulated rental units.
RENTAL AGREEMENT
A written agreement or other legally enforceable agreement between owner and tenant embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of a specified regulated rental unit.
RESIDENTIAL RENTAL LICENSE
The license issued, subsequent to an inspection of the premises by the Code Enforcement Officer, to the owner of regulated rental units under this article, which is required in order to lawfully rent and occupy regulated rental units. Until a rental unit has been inspected and a license issued, the residential rental license shall be considered a residential rental registration.
ROOMING HOUSE UNIT
A living unit that does not meet the definition of a dwelling unit and that is not within a City-permitted hotel or bed-and-breakfast inn.
TENANT
An occupant of a regulated rental unit with whom a legal relationship with the owner is established by a lease or other enforceable agreement under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
UNRELATED PERSONS
Two or more persons who reside in a dwelling unit and who are not related to each other through blood, adoption, marriage or formal foster relationship. A person who is only related as a cousin shall be considered unrelated for the purposes of this article. The term "related" shall be restricted to the following relationships: spouse, parent, child, sister, brother, grandchild, great grandchild, grandparent, great grandparent, aunt, uncle, or any of these same relationships in a "step-" or "in-law" situation.