Source: https://www.ecode360.com/6540958
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 10:26:56+00:00

Document:
§ 74-1 Definitions and word usage.
§ 74-2 Dangerous buildings declared nuisances.
§ 74-3 Standards for repair, vacation, or demolition.
§ 74-4 Duties of enforcement officer.
§ 74-6 Removal of notice prohibited.
§ 74-8 Abatement by township.
§ 74-9 Violations and penalties.
Ordinance Enforcement Officer — See Ch. 28.
Building construction — See Ch. 72.
An independent structure having a roof supported by columns or walls resting on its own foundation, and includes a dwelling, garage, barn, stable, shed, greenhouse, mobile home, plant, factory, warehouse, school or similar structure.
Those which have been inspected by the Fire Department and found to be fire hazards by reason of age, condition, dilapidation, obsolescence or abandonment.
Any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
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 or sleeping by human occupants.
The Zoning Officer, Building Inspector, Fire Official, Ordinance Enforcement Officer or any other person designated by the Board of Commissioners to enforce township ordinances.
Control and elimination of insects, rodents or other pests by eliminating their harborage places, removing or making inaccessible the materials that may serve as their food, poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping or by any other recognized and legal pest-elimination methods.
Animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
The Township Board of Commissioners.
Presence within or around a dwelling of any insects, rodents or other pests.
Shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner or agent of the owner or as executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto to the same extent as if he/she were the owner.
Any individual, firm, corporation, association or partnership or other legal entity.
A piece, parcel, lot or tract of land.
Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage, including 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.
Anything constructed or erected with a fixed or ascertainable location on the ground or in water, whether or not affixed to the ground or anchored in the water, including buildings, walls, fences, platforms, docks, wharves, billboards, signs and walks.
Whenever the words "dwelling," "dwelling unit," or "premises," are used in this chapter, they shall be construed as though they were followed by the words "or any part thereof."
All dangerous buildings within the terms of § 74-1 of this chapter are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be repaired, vacated or demolished as herein provided.
If the dangerous 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.
If the dangerous building is in such condition as to make it dangerous to the health, safety or general welfare of its occupants or the public and is so placarded, it shall be ordered to be vacated within such length of time, not exceeding 30 days, as is reasonable.
No dwelling or dwelling unit which has been 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 enforcement officer. The enforcement officer shall remove such placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the placarding action were based have been eliminated.
If the dangerous building, whether or not vacant, has not been repaired in accordance with the notice and order herein provided and if it is in such condition as to make it dangerous to the health, safety, morals or general welfare of its occupants or of the public and the vacation of the building would not eliminate such condition, it shall be ordered to be demolished.
The enforcement officer shall inspect, on a regular basis, dwellings, buildings and structures to determine whether any conditions exist which render such premises dangerous buildings within the terms of § 74-1 above.
Shall include a statement of the reasons it is being issued.
Shall state a reasonable time to rectify the conditions constituting the nuisance or to remove and demolish the dwelling, building or structure.
Shall be served upon the owner or his agent or the occupant, as the case may require.
Except in emergency cases and where the owner, occupant, lessee or mortgagee is absent from the township, all notices shall be deemed to be properly served upon the owner, occupant or other person having an interest in the dangerous building if a copy thereof is served upon him/her personally or if a copy thereof is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the structure affected by the notice or if he/she is served with such notice by any other method authorized or required under the laws of the commonwealth.
Except emergency cases, in all other cases where the owner, occupant, lessee or mortgagee is absent from the township, all notices or orders provided for herein shall be sent by certified mail to the owner, occupant and all other persons having an interest in said building as shown by the records of the County Recorder of Deeds to the last known address of each, and a copy of such notice shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the dangerous building to which it relates. Such mailing and posting shall be deemed adequate service.
May contain an outline of remedial action which, if taken, will affect compliance with the provisions of this chapter and with the rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
Shall contain notice of the right to appeal to the governing body.
The enforcement officer shall appear at all hearings conducted by the governing body or hearing officer and testify as to the condition of the dangerous building.
Any person affected by any notice which has been issued in connection with the enforcement of any provision of this chapter may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the governing body or a hearing officer appointed by the governing body, provided that such person shall file with the Municipal Secretary 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 Municipal Secretary 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 30 days after the day on which the petition was filed.
After such hearing, the governing body or hearing officer shall sustain, modify or withdraw the notice. If the governing body or hearing officer sustains or modifies such notice, it shall be deemed to be an order. Any notice served pursuant to this chapter shall automatically become an order if a written petition for a hearing is not filed with the Municipal Secretary within 10 days after such notice is served.
Any aggrieved party may appeal the final order to the Court of Common Pleas in accordance with the provisions of the Judicial Code.
No person shall remove or deface the notice of a dangerous building except as provided in § 74-3C.
Whenever the enforcement officer finds that an emergency exists which requires immediate action to protect the public health, he/she may, without notice or hearing, issue an order reciting the existence of such an emergency and requiring that such action be taken as is necessary to meet the emergency. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter, such order shall be effective immediately. Any person to whom such order is directed shall comply therewith immediately, but upon petition to the enforcement officer shall be afforded a hearing as soon as possible. After such hearing, depending upon the findings as to whether the provisions of this chapter have been complied with, the enforcement officer shall continue such order in effect or modify or revoke it. The costs of such emergency repair, vacation or demolition of such dangerous building shall be collected in the same manner as provided herein for other cases.
If the owner, occupant, mortgagee or lessee fails to comply with the order of the enforcement officer within the time specified in the notice issued by him/her and no petition for a hearing is filed within 10 days thereafter or following a hearing by the governing body or hearing officer where the order is sustained thereby, the enforcement officer shall cause such building or structure to be repaired, vacated or demolished, as determined by the governing body or hearing officer in accordance with the standards hereinbefore provided. The township may collect the cost of such repair, vacation or demolition together with a penalty of 10% of such cost, in the manner provided by law, or the township may seek injunctive relief in a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to the rules of civil procedure.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment thereof, to undergo imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation continues beyond the date fixed for compliance shall constitute a separate offense.

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