[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Bethlehem 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 05-09; amended in its entirety 2-18-2019 by Ord. No. 02-19. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the
office of the Director of Planning and Economic Development of the
Township of Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, being marked
and designated as the 2015 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 2015 International Property Maintenance Code is completed
by the following insertions:
A.
In Section 101.1, Title, insert "Township of Bethlehem, Northampton
County, Pennsylvania" in place of the bracketed phrase "[NAME OF JURISDICTION]."
B.
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.
In Section 302.4, Weeds, insert "eight inches" in place of the bracketed
phrase "[JURISDICTION TO INSERT HEIGHT IN INCHES]."
D.
In Section 304.14, Insect screens, insert "April 1" and "October
31," respectively, in place of the two bracketed terms "[DATE]."
E.
In Section 602.3, Heat supply, insert "September 30" and "May 30,"
respectively, in place of the two bracketed terms "[DATE]."
F.
In Section 602.4, Occupiable work spaces, insert "September 30" and
"May 30," respectively, in place of the two bracketed terms "[DATE]."
The 2015 International Property Maintenance Code is amended
as follows:
A.
The phrase "Building Code Official" shall be substituted for the
phrase "code official" wherever it appears in the Property Maintenance
Code.
B.
The phrase "Office of Building Code Official" shall be substituted
for the phrase "department of property maintenance inspection" wherever
it appears in the Property Maintenance Code.
C.
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.
The first sentence of Section 106.3, Prosecution of violation, is
amended to read as follows:
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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.
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E.
Section 106.4, Violation penalties, is amended to read as follows:
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Any person who shall violate any provision of this code, or
fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof,
shall, upon conviction therefor, 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."
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F.
The first sentence of Section 111.1, Application for appeal, is amended
to read as follows:
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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.
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G.
Section 111.2 and its subparts are deleted.
H.
In Section 201.3, Terms defined in other codes, replace the phrase
"International Zoning Code" with the phrase "the Bethlehem Township
Zoning Ordinance."
I.
In Section 202, General definitions, add the following definition:
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MOTOR VEHICLE. 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 semi-trailers pulled
thereby.
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J.
Section 302.8, Motor vehicles, is amended to read as follows:
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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.
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K.
Section 302.8.1, Motor vehicles in nonresidential districts, is added
as follows:
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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.
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L.
Section 302.8.2, Motor Vehicle Nuisances Prohibited, is added as
follows:
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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:
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302.8.2.1
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Broken windshields, mirrors or other glass, with sharp edges.
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302.8.2.2
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One or more flat or open tires or tubes which could permit vermin
harborage.
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302.8.2.3
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Missing doors, windows, hood, trunk or other body parts which
could permit animal harborage.
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302.8.2.4
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Any body parts with sharp edges including holes resulting from
rust.
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302.8.2.5
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Missing tires resulting in unsafe suspension of the motor vehicle.
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302.8.2.6
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Upholstery which is torn or open which could permit animal and/or
vermin harborage.
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302.8.2.7
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Broken headlamps/tail-lamps with sharp edges.
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302.8.2.8
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Disassembled chassis parts apart from the motor vehicle stored
in disorderly fashion or loose in or on the vehicle.
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302.8.2.9
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Protruding sharp objects from the chassis.
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302.8.2.10
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Broken vehicle frame suspended from the ground in an unstable
manner.
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302.8.2.11
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Leaking or damaged oil pan or gas tank which could cause fire
or explosion.
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302.8.2.12
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Exposed battery containing acid.
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302.8.2.13
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Inoperable locking mechanism for doors or trunk.
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302.8.2.14
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Open or damaged floor boards including trunk and firewall.
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302.8.2.15
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Damaged bumpers pulled away from perimeter or vehicle.
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302.8.2.16
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Broken grill with protruding edges.
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302.8.2.17
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Loose or damaged metal trim and clips.
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302.8.2.18
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Broken communication equipment antennae.
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302.8.2.19
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Suspended on unstable supports.
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In all matters that are regulated by the laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania or by regulations of departments or agencies of the
commonwealth promulgated by authority of law, such laws or regulations,
as the case may be, shall control where requirements thereof are more
restrictive than the provisions of this Property Maintenance Code.
The provisions of this code insofar as they are the same as
those of ordinances and/or codes in force immediately prior to the
adoption hereof are intended as a continuation of such ordinances
and/or codes and not as new enactments. The provisions of this code
shall not affect any act done or liability insured prior to the adoption
hereof, nor shall they affect any suit or prosecution pending or to
be instituted to enforce any right or penalty or punish any offense
under the authority of any of the repealed ordinances and/or codes.
