[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Bethlehem 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 05-09; amended in its entirety 8-15-2022 by Ord. No. 07-22. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the
office of Economic and Community Development Office of the Township
of Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, being marked and designated
as the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code, as published
by the International Code Council, Inc., be and is hereby adopted
as the Property Maintenance Code of the Township of Bethlehem, Northampton
County, Pennsylvania, for regulating and governing the conditions
and maintenance of all property, buildings and structures; by providing
the standards for supplied utilities and facilities and other physical
things and conditions essential to ensure that structures are safe,
sanitary and fit for occupation and use; and the condemnation of buildings
and structures unfit for human occupancy and use, and the demolition
of such existing structures as herein provided; providing for the
issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor, and each and
all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms
of said Property Maintenance Code on file in the office of the Director
of Planning and Economic Development of the Township of Bethlehem,
Northampton County, Pennsylvania, are hereby referred to, adopted,
and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this chapter, with
the additions, insertions, deletions and changes prescribed hereinafter.
The 2018 International Property Maintenance Code is completed
by the following insertions:
A.Â
In Section 101.1, Title, insert "Township of Bethlehem, Northampton
County, Pennsylvania" in place of the bracketed phrase "[NAME OF JURISDICTION]."
B.Â
In Section 103.5, Fees, insert "See Township of Bethlehem Fee Schedule
as established by the Board of Commissioners from time to time" in
place of the bracketed phrase "[JURISDICTION TO INSERT APPROPRIATE
SCHEDULE]."
C.Â
In Section 302.4, Weeds, insert "eight inches" in place of the bracketed
phrase "[JURISDICTION TO INSERT HEIGHT IN INCHES]."
D.Â
In Section 304.14, Insect screens, insert "April 1" and "October
31," respectively, in place of the two bracketed terms "[DATE]."
E.Â
In Section 602.3, Heat supply, insert "September 30" and "May 30,"
respectively, in place of the two bracketed terms "[DATE]."
F.Â
In Section 602.4, Occupiable work spaces, insert "September 30" and
"May 30," respectively, in place of the two bracketed terms "[DATE]."
The 2018 International Property Maintenance Code is amended
as follows:
A.Â
The phrase "Building Code Official" shall be substituted for the
phrase "code official" wherever it appears in the Property Maintenance
Code.
B.Â
The phrase "Economic and Community Development Office" shall be substituted
for the phrase "department of property maintenance inspection" wherever
it appears in the Property Maintenance Code.
C.Â
The last sentence of Section 102.3, Application of other codes, is
amended to read as follows:
Nothing in this code shall be construed to cancel, modify or
set aside any provision of the Bethlehem Township Zoning Ordinance.
D.Â
The first sentence of Section 106.3, Prosecution of violation, is
amended to read as follows:
Any person failing to comply with a notice of violation or order
served in accordance with Section 107 shall be deemed guilty of a
summary offense, and the violation shall be deemed a strict liability
offense.
E.Â
Section 106.4, Violation penalties, is amended to read as follows:
Any person who shall violates any provision of this code, or
fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof,
shall, upon conviction, therefore, be sentenced to pay a fine not
to exceed $1,000 and costs. A separate offense shall arise for each
day or portion thereof in which a violation is found to exist and
for each provision of this code which is found to have been violated."
F.Â
The first sentence of Section 111.1, Application for appeal, is amended
to read as follows:
Any person directly affected by a decision of the Building Code
Official, or a notice or order issued under this code shall have the
right to appeal to the Board of Appeals, established by Bethlehem
Township in conformity with the requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform
Construction Code, provided that a written notice of appeal is filed
with Bethlehem Township within 20 days of the date the decision, notice
or order of the Building Code Official was served.
G.Â
Section 111.2 and its subparts are deleted.
H.Â
In Section 201.3, Terms defined in other codes, replace the phrase
"International Zoning Code" with the phrase "the Bethlehem Township
Zoning Ordinance."
I.Â
MOTOR VEHICLE
In Section 202, General definitions, add the following definition:
Any type of mechanical device, propelled by a motor, in which
persons or property may be transported upon public streets or highways,
and including trailers or semitrailers pulled thereby.
J.Â
Section 302.8, Motor vehicles, is amended to read as follows:
302.8 Motor vehicles in residential districts.
Except as provided in other regulations, not more than one currently
unregistered and/or uninspected motor vehicle shall be parked, kept
or stored on any premises located in a residential district as defined
by the Bethlehem Township Zoning Ordinance.
K.Â
Section 302.8.1, Motor vehicles in nonresidential districts, is added
as follows:
302.8.1 Motor vehicles in nonresidential districts.
Except as provided in other regulations and approved by the
Building Code Official, not more than two currently unregistered and/or
uninspected motor vehicles shall be parked, kept or stored on any
premises located in a nonresidential district as defined by the Bethlehem
Township Zoning Ordinance.
L.Â
Section 302.8.2, Motor vehicle nuisances prohibited, is added as
follows:
Section 302.8.2 Motor vehicle nuisances prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person, owner or lessee to maintain
a motor vehicle nuisance upon any premises, except when completely
enclosed in an approved structure. A motor vehicle nuisance shall
include any motor vehicle which is unable to move under its own power
and has any of the following defects:
302.8.2.1 Broken windshields, mirrors or other glass, with sharp
edges.
302.8.2.2 One or more flat or open tires or tubes which could
permit vermin harborage.
302.8.2.3 Missing doors, windows, hood, trunk or other body
parts which could permit animal harborage.
302.8.2.4 Any body parts with sharp edges including holes resulting
from rust.
302.8.2.5 Missing tires resulting in unsafe suspension of the
motor vehicle.
302.8.2.6 Upholstery which is torn or open which could permit
animal and/or vermin harborage.
302.8.2.7 Broken headlamps/tail-lamps with sharp edges.
302.8.2.8 Disassembled chassis parts apart from the motor vehicle
stored in disorderly fashion or loose in or on the vehicle.
302.8.2.9 Protruding sharp objects from the chassis.
302.8.2.10 Broken vehicle frame suspended from the ground in
an unstable manner.
302.8.2.11 Leaking or damaged oil pan or gas tank which could
cause fire or explosion.
302.8.2.12 Exposed battery containing acid.
302.8.2.13 Inoperable locking mechanism for doors or trunk.
302.8.2.14 Open or damaged floor boards including trunk and
firewall.
302.8.2.15 Damaged bumpers pulled away from perimeter or vehicle.
302.8.2.16 Broken grill with protruding edges.
302.8.2.17 Loose or damaged metal trim and clips.
302.8.2.18 Broken communication equipment antennae.
302.8.2.19 Suspended on unstable supports.
M.Â
Section 303.3, Pool door and window alarms, is added as follows:
Section 303.3 Pool door and window alarms.
Audible alarms shall be installed on all doors and windows that
have direct access to a pool area. Such alarm shall sound continuously
for a minimum of 30 seconds immediately after the door is opened and
be capable of being heard throughout the house during normal household
activities. The alarm shall automatically reset under all conditions.
N.Â
Section 308.4, Furniture, is added as follows:
Section 308.4 Furniture.
All furniture, materials and other similar products designed,
built, and manufactured exclusively for indoor living shall not be
placed or stored on exterior porches, in yards or any part of an exterior
property in residential and non-residential areas. The storage or
placement of automobile car seats and other nonweather resistant materials
shall also be prohibited.
O.Â
Section 504.4, Traps, is added as follows:
Section 504.4 Traps.
Traps shall be of standard design, shall have smooth uniform
internal waterways, shall be self-cleaning and shall not have interior
partitions except where integral with the fixture. Traps shall be
constructed of cast iron, copper or copper alloy or approved plastic.
Trap designs with moving parts are prohibited.
P.Â
Section 602.1, Facilities required, is amended to read as follows:
602.1 Facilities required.
All dwelling units shall have permanently installed, nonportable
type central heating facilities or fixed electrical heating systems
that are approved for the purpose and location where installed. Heating
facilities shall be capable of maintaining the required temperatures
in all habitable areas of the dwelling unit.
Q.Â
Section 604.2, Service, is amended to read as follows:
604.2 Service.
The size and usage of appliances and equipment shall serve as
a basis for determining the need for additional facilities in accordance
with NFPA 70. Dwelling units shall be served by a three-wire, 120/240
volt, single phase electrical service having a minimum rating of 100
amperes.
R.Â
Section 604.2.1, Occupant to have ready access, is added as follows:
Section 604.2.1 Occupant to have ready access.
Each occupant of a dwelling unit shall have ready access to
all overcurrent devices protecting the conductors supplying that dwelling
unit.
S.Â
Section 605.2, Receptacles, is amended to read as follows:
Section 605.2 Receptacles.
Every habitable space in a dwelling shall contain not less than
two separate and remote receptacle outlets. Every laundry area shall
contain not less than one grounding-type receptacle or a receptacle
with a ground fault circuit interrupter. Every bathroom and powder
room shall contain at least one three-wire fifteen- or twenty-amp
GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) and all outlets on light fixtures and
bathroom cabinets must be disconnected if not GFI protected. All receptacle
outlets shall have the appropriate faceplate cover for the location.
T.Â
Section 605.2.1, Standards for receptacles, is added as follows:
Section 605.2.1 Standards for receptacles.
605.2.1.1 All existing wall-type receptacles which
serve kitchen countertop surfaces must be three-wired fifteen- or
twenty-amp GFI protected. Countertop spaces separated by range tops,
refrigerators and sinks shall be considered as separate countertop
spaces and apply to the requirements of this section.
605.2.1.2 All kitchen areas shall have two accessible
fifteen- or twenty-amp GFI receptacles to serve countertop surfaces.
If no countertop is available, there shall be two accessible GFI receptacles
at countertop height. Refrigerator receptacles shall not be counted
in determining the number of GFI receptacles required in the kitchen
areas.
605.2.1.3 All existing receptacles located within
six inches on either side of an auxiliary sink shall be three-wired
fifteen- or twenty-amp GFI protected.
605.2.1.4 All exterior receptacles must be three-wired
fifteen- or twenty-amp GFI protected and installed in approved weatherproof
boxes with covers. Exception: All GFI outlets built into
exterior walls must have damp-proof covers.
605.2.1.5 All outlets within unfinished basement
areas must be three-wired fifteen- or twenty-amp GFI protected.
605.2.1.6 All outlets within garages must be three-wire
fifteen- or twenty-amp GFI protected.
605.2.1.7 All electrical receptacles that cannot
be tested for improper wiring, installation, deterioration or damage
due to immovable furniture, appliances, or other obstructions shall
be the responsibility of the property owner and/or agent.
605.2.1.8 NOTE: The inspection of electrical panels
and boxes is limited to a visible inspection only.