[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Lower Pottsgrove as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Taxation — See Ch. 220.
[Adopted 3-23-1995 by Ord. No. 192 (Ch. 11, Part 2, of the 1995 Code)]
This article is enacted to provide for the uniform and equitable distribution of the tax levies in Lower Pottsgrove Township upon the inhabitants thereof and to promote the health, safety, morals and general welfare.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BUSINESS UNIT
A parcel of real estate, with or without improvements located thereon, utilized by any person or persons for any commercial activity or purpose.
LANDLORD
A lessor or person who acts as agent for the lessor of any parcel of real estate or building or part thereof located in Lower Pottsgrove Township.
PERSON
Any individual, partnership, association, firm or corporation.
TENANT
A person who has the use of a dwelling unit or a business unit owned by a person other than himself for a period exceeding 30 days.
Within 30 days of receipt of notice, each landlord shall submit to the Township Manager a report form which includes the following information:
A. 
List of the dwelling units and business units owned by the landlord within Lower Pottsgrove Township, whether occupied or not occupied.
B. 
Address of each dwelling unit and business unit.
C. 
Brief description of each dwelling unit or business unit.
D. 
Whether or not said dwelling unit or business unit is inhabited or utilized by tenants.
E. 
Names of the tenant or tenants utilizing the aforementioned dwelling unit business, if any.
After the effective date of this article, any person who becomes a landlord of any parcel of real estate or building or part thereof in Lower Pottsgrove Township by agreement of sale, deed or any other means, within 30 days thereafter, shall report to the Township Manager the information and data set forth in § 176-3 above on forms to be provided by the Township Manager.
After the effective date of this article, each and every landlord of property within Lower Pottsgrove Township shall report to the Township Manager on a report form to be supplied by the Township Manager any change in the use or occupancy of any dwelling unit or business unit owned by such landlord. The reported change shall include the name or names of new tenants of such dwelling unit or business unit, the date when such change was effected and the forwarding address of the old tenant or tenants, if known. A landlord of a hotel, inn or boardinghouse shall not be required to report a person as a "tenant" until that person has resided in such landlord's establishment for a period exceeding 30 days. In the event that a dwelling unit or business unit was used or utilized by a tenant and then becomes vacant, this change also shall be reported to the Township Manager. All reports required by this section shall be made within 10 days after a landlord has knowledge that such a unit has had a change in occupancy or has become vacant.
The Township Manager under the authority of this article shall:
A. 
Maintain on file at the Lower Pottsgrove Township Building the names of the landlords owning dwelling units and business units in Lower Pottsgrove Township, said list to include the names of the current tenants of said dwelling units and business units.
B. 
Maintain a supply of forms for landlords to use in making reports as required by §§ 176-3 through 176-5 of this article.
C. 
Notify the Chief of Police and the Fire Marshal of Lower Pottsgrove Township of the address and description of any dwelling unit or business unit that is vacant, unoccupied and not in use.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days.