[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of New Kensington 8-9-1977 by Ord. No. 5-77 as Part 17, Art. 1705 of the 1977 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 78.
Certificate of occupancy and compliance — See Ch. 92.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 96.
Electrical standards — See Ch. 108.
Fire prevention — See Ch. 115.
A. 
There is hereby created the Office of Code Enforcement. The Office shall have the responsibility for administering and enforcing the provisions of this chapter and of those other codes and/or city ordinances (hereinafter referred to as the "applicable codes and ordinances") which designate the Office of Code Enforcement as their official administration and enforcement agency.
B. 
Council may also enter into agreements with the Westmoreland County Planning Department and/or with the Redevelopment Authority of Westmoreland County designating such Department and/or Authority to provide advice, assistance and personnel to the Office of Code Enforcement relative to all of the powers and duties of the Office of Code Enforcement herein provided.
[Amended 7-11-2000 by Ord. No. 2-00]
There shall be appointed by Council a Code Enforcement Officer who shall be in charge of the Office of Code Enforcement. The Code Enforcement Officer shall report to the Director of Public Safety, and his work may be reviewed on the basis of results at completion by the City Engineer and ultimately Mayor and Council. The Code Enforcement Officer shall supervise such other employees or assistants as are necessary for the administration and execution of the responsibilities of the Office, as appointed and approved by Council. The Code Enforcement Officer and other personnel may consist of employees directly hired and compensated by the city and/or of employees designated by the Westmoreland County Planning Department and/or the Redevelopment Authority of Westmoreland County in accordance with the agreements provided for under § 94-1. Any such Code Enforcement Officer and other personnel designated by such Department and/or Authority pursuant to such agreements shall be deemed to have all of the duties and powers provided in this chapter and in the applicable codes and ordinances of the city and shall represent the city to the same extent as if appointed directly by the city. Council may also designate a Code Liaison Officer who shall coordinate all local activities and responsibilities of the city related to code enforcement with the Westmoreland County Planning Department and/or with the Redevelopment Authority of Westmoreland County.
The Code Enforcement Officer or other official or employee shall not, while acting for the city, render himself liable personally because of any act or omission as required or permitted in the discharge of his official duties. Any suit instituted against such Code Enforcement Officer, official or employee because of any act performed by him in the lawful discharge of his duties shall be defended by the City Solicitor, and in no case will the officer, official or employee be liable for costs in any action, suit or proceeding.
An official record shall be kept of all business and activities of the Office of Code Enforcement, and all such records shall be open to the public for inspection at all appropriate times, except that no individual, owner, operator, occupant or other person shall be subject to unwarranted invasion of privacy and except that all evidence or information obtained in the course of any inspection shall be considered privileged information and shall be kept confidential. Such evidence or information shall not be disclosed except as may be necessary in the judgment of the Code Enforcement Officer for the proper and effective administration and enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and shall not otherwise be made public without the consent of the owner, occupant, operator or other person in charge of the unit, structure or premises inspected.
A. 
Enforcement and administration. The Code Enforcement Officer shall enforce and administer all of the provisions of this chapter and of those other applicable codes and ordinances which establish the Office of Code Enforcement as their official administration enforcement agency.
B. 
Duties. The duties of the Code Enforcement Officer shall include the receipt of applications, the issuance of permits, notices, certificates and orders, the making of inspections to determine conformance with applicable codes and ordinances, the undertaking of systematic inspection programs, the undertaking of research and investigations, the recommendation of appropriate administrative rules for review and adoption by the Code Hearing Board, the keeping of records, the issuance of written annual reports and such other activities as may be required.
C. 
Right of entry.
(1) 
In the discharge of his duties the Code Enforcement Officer or his authorized representative, upon showing proper identification where requested, is hereby authorized to enter and inspect, at any reasonable hour, any structure or premises in the municipality and to enforce the provisions of this chapter and of those other applicable codes and ordinances. The assistance and cooperation of all other municipal officials, including the Police and Fire Departments, shall be available to the Code Enforcement Officer to assist in the performance of his duties and in securing right of entry.
(2) 
The Code Enforcement Officer and the owner, operator or occupant or other person in charge of any structure or premises subject to the provisions of this chapter may agree to an inspection by appointment at a mutually convenient time.
(3) 
The owner, operator or occupant or other person in charge of any structure or premises shall give the Code Enforcement Officer entry and free access thereto and to every part of the structure or to the premises surrounding the structure.
(4) 
If any owner, operator or occupant or other person in charge fails or refuses to permit entry and free access to the structure or premises under his control or to any part thereof with respect to any authorized inspection, the Code Enforcement Officer, upon a showing that probable cause exists for the inspection, may file a complaint and may petition for and obtain an order directing compliance with the inspection requirements of this chapter from a court of competent jurisdiction. Any person who refuses to comply with such an order issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to such penalties as may be authorized by law for violation of a court order.
A. 
Permit required. An application for a permit shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those other applicable codes and ordinances which the Office of Code Enforcement has the responsibility to administer. The application shall be submitted in such form as may be prescribed by the Code Enforcement Officer and shall be accompanied by any required plans and fees.
B. 
Action on application. The Code Enforcement Officer shall examine the application to determine compliance with those other applicable codes and ordinances and shall, within 15 days after filing, either approve or reject the application. If the application is rejected, the Code Enforcement Officer shall inform the applicant, in writing, stating the reasons for such rejection.
C. 
Required fees.
(1) 
Applicants for permits required by any of the applicable codes and ordinances shall pay, at the time of application, to the Code Enforcement Officer, for use by the municipality, any fees required by any resolution of the Council or any other provisions of this Code.[1]
[Amended 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. A246, Fees, for related fees.
(2) 
The fees for application to the Code Hearing Board for a hearing shall be as follows:
[Added 2-4-2009 by Ord. No. 1-09]
(a) 
Administrative hearing costs, $100, plus additional estimated costs for advertising and stenographic charges in the amount of $300, shall be paid by any applicant prior to the scheduling of a hearing.
(b) 
The City shall hold the $300 in escrow, and money not used shall be refunded to the applicant at the conclusion of the hearing. If additional money is required, the applicant shall be billed by the City and payment shall be due five days from the date of the bill.
D. 
Certificates. The following certificates shall be required in accordance with the provisions of those other applicable codes or ordinances which the Office of Code Enforcement has the responsibility to administer. Certificates may be issued separately or combined in the form of a single certificate.
(1) 
Certificate of use and occupancy. In accordance with Section 118.0 of the BOCA National Building Code, a certificate of use and occupancy shall be required, and no new building, or portion of an existing building which is enlarged or altered, shall be used or occupied, in whole or in part, until such a certificate of use and occupancy shall have been issued by the Code Enforcement Officer.
[Amended 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94]
(2) 
Certificate of approval. A certificate of approval shall be required for any electrical or plumbing work completed under the provisions for the applicable codes and ordinances. All applicants shall apply to the Office of Code Enforcement for such a certificate of approval within 30 days of the completion of the building, structure, work or premises.
(3) 
Other certificates. Any other permits, certificates or licenses as required by the applicable codes and ordinances shall be obtained by the applicant in accordance with the provisions of such applicable codes and ordinances. Application for such permits, certificates or licenses shall be made to the Code Enforcement Officer.
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this chapter or of the other applicable codes and ordinances or of any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, he shall proceed as follows:
A. 
Service of notice.
(1) 
He shall serve notice, in writing, of the alleged violation which shall be signed by the Code Enforcement Officer or his authorized representative. The notice shall be served personally to the responsible owner, occupant, operator or other person in charge or served by registered mail with a return receipt requested; or, where such responsible person in charge cannot be found, service may be made by posting a notice in or about the structure or premises or by publishing such notice in a newspaper of general circulation for a period of three consecutive days; or notice may be served by any other method authorized under the laws of the commonwealth.
(2) 
The notice shall include a statement of the reasons why the notice is being issued, the sections of the code and/or ordinances which have been violated and the remedial actions required.
(3) 
The notice shall allow a reasonable time, not to exceed 60 days, for the initiation and correction of the violation alleged or of the remedial actions required, except where emergency conditions exist which require immediate corrective action.
(4) 
The notice shall contain a statement indicating that the notice will become an order if no request and approval for an extension of time is made to the Code Enforcement Officer or if no petition for an appeal or hearing is requested before the Code Hearing Board within 15 days from the receipt of such notice.
B. 
Extension of time. The Code Enforcement Officer may grant a request for a reasonable extension of time where he has evidence to believe that the responsible person is attempting to remove the alleged violation; however, no such extension of time may exceed a period of 90 days unless authorized by the Code Hearing Board upon appeal of the responsible owner, operator, occupant or other person in charge.
Structures which contain dwellings which are unfit for human habitation or structures which are dangerous or unsafe and structures which contain dangerous conditions or materials, as defined by the applicable codes and ordinances, are hereby declared to be a public nuisance.
A. 
General procedure. The Code Enforcement Officer shall order the responsible owner, operator, occupant or person in charge of the structure or premises which is dangerous, unsafe or unfit for human habitation to vacate, repair and/or demolish such structure and to remove the public nuisance as provided for in this chapter and in the applicable codes and ordinances in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth.
B. 
Failure to comply. Whenever an order to vacate, repair and/or demolish a structure which is a public nuisance because it is unsafe, dangerous or unfit for human habitation has not been complied with, the Code Enforcement Officer may, in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth, proceed to cause the structure to be vacated, repaired and/or demolished or take such other action as is necessary to abate the nuisance. Abatement under this section shall not commence until at least 10 days after the service of the order, except that the Code Enforcement Officer may determine that more immediate action is required because of the special emergency or dangerous conditions which exist.
C. 
Recovery of expenses. The expenses incurred pursuant to Subsection B hereof and the other applicable codes and ordinances shall be paid by the responsible owner, operator or occupant or by the persons who caused or maintained such a public nuisance. The Code Enforcement Officer shall file on his records an affidavit stating with fairness and accuracy the items and date of the expenses incurred. Council may institute a suit to recover such expenses to be charged against the property as a lien.
A. 
Code Hearing Board. There is hereby established a Code Hearing Board, appointed by Council, consisting of not fewer than three members nor more than five members who shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary and reasonable expenses. Their terms of office shall be for three years, except for those first appointed, so fixed that the term of office of at least one member shall expire each year. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be only for the unexpired portion of the term.
B. 
Powers of the Board. The Code Hearing Board shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) 
Interpretation. On appeals from a determination of the Code Enforcement Officer or on request of any municipal official, the Code Hearing Board shall decide any question involving the interpretation of any provision of this chapter or of another applicable code and/or ordinance.
(2) 
Variances. The Code Hearing Board may grant a variance from the strict application of this chapter or of those other applicable codes. Such variances may be granted only in those cases which would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship and where the public health and safety will not be jeopardized.
(3) 
Decide appeals. The Code Hearing Board shall hear all appeals made to it and, depending on its findings, shall decide whether such appeals shall be granted.
C. 
Requests for appeals or variances. Any person requesting a variance or aggrieved by a decision of the Code Enforcement Officer or by any other employee or official charged with the administration and enforcement of this chapter and of those other applicable codes or ordinances may take an appeal to the Code Hearing Board. All appeals shall be made in writing stating the grounds upon which the appeal is based and shall be transmitted to the Office of Code Enforcement. An appeal must be taken within 15 days of the action or of the receipt of written notice of any decision or ruling which is being appealed.
D. 
Appeals and variance procedure.
(1) 
Public hearing. The Code Hearing Board shall meet and conduct a hearing within 30 days of the receipt of an appeal or a request for a variance. All hearings shall be public, and all persons whose interest may be affected shall be given an opportunity to be heard. A record shall be kept of all evidence and testimony presented at the hearing.
(2) 
Decision of the Board. All decisions of the Board shall be in writing, and a copy of each decision shall be sent to the applicant and to the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Hearing Board shall also retain in its files a copy of each decision, which files shall be available for inspection by the public. Each decision shall set forth fully the reasons for the decision of the Code Hearing Board and the findings of fact on which the decision was based. The Code Hearing Board shall make an order on its decision, and the Code Enforcement Officer shall take immediate action to carry out such order.
E. 
Appeals from the decision of the Board. Any person or persons aggrieved by any final order or decision of the Code Hearing Board may appeal such order or decision within 30 days to the Court of Common Pleas in accordance with, as far as practicable, the Rules of Civil Procedure of the Supreme Court regarding appeals from administrative agencies.
F. 
Reports by the Board. The Code Hearing Board shall report to Council periodically, at intervals of not later than 12 months. The report shall summarize all applications and appeals made to it since the last report and shall contain a summary of the Board's decision on each case. A copy of the report shall be filed with the Code Enforcement Officer. The Code Hearing Board may also submit to Council advisory reports recommending changes and modifications in this chapter or in those other applicable codes or ordinances.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sections 1705.10 and 1705.11, regarding floodplain regulations, were deleted 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94.
[Added 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94]
For provisions regarding floodplain regulations and variances, see Chapter 121, Flood Damage Prevention.
A. 
Whoever fails to correct a violation or take remedial action as ordered by the Code Enforcement Officer or whoever violates a provision or fails to comply with any requirement of this chapter or of any other applicable code or ordinance shall be fined, for each violation, not more than $600 and costs of prosecution and, in default of payment, shall be imprisoned for not more than 90 days and, in the case of a specific code or ordinance, shall be fined as may be provided in said code or ordinance. Each day of failure to comply shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94]
B. 
The imposition of a penalty shall not preclude the City Solicitor from initiating, and he is hereby ordered to initiate, appropriate action or proceeding at law or in equity to effect the purposes of this chapter.