[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Bethlehem 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 05-09; amended in its entirety 4-16-2018 by Ord. No. 08-18. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
That 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 2006 International Property Maintenance
Code, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., and any
subsequent amendments or successor triennial codes, 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 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 2006 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 2006 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, Applicability 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:
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.
Section 106.4, Violation Penalties, is amended to read as follows:
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 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.
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 Ordinance 03-04 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.
Section 111.2 and its subparts are deleted.
H.
The language of Section 111, Means of Appeal, is deleted, and replaced
with the following language:
Appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Building
Code Official relative to the application and interpretation of this
code shall be heard and decided by the Board of Appeals established
pursuant to the Building Code.
I.
In Section 201.3, Terms defined in other codes, replace the phrase
"International Zoning Code" with the phrase "the Bethlehem Township
Zoning Ordinance."
J.
In Section 202, General Definitions, add the following definition:
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.
K.
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.
L.
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.
M.
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 of vehicle.
302.8.2.16.
Broken grille 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.
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 chapter 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.
