[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Bethlehem 6-1-2009 by Ord. No. 05-09. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
§ 186-1 Adoption of Property Maintenance Code.
§ 186-2 Insertions for Property Maintenance Code.
§ 186-3 Amendments to Property Maintenance Code.
§ 186-4 Effect on other provisions.
§ 186-5 Continuation of existing regulations.
§ 186-1 Adoption of Property Maintenance Code.
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.
§ 186-2 Insertions for Property Maintenance Code.
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 "8 inches" in place of the bracketed phrase "[JURISDICTION
TO INSERT HEIGHT IN INCHES]."
D.
In Section 304.14, Insert 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]."
§ 186-3 Amendments to Property Maintenance Code.
[Amended 12-7-2015 by Ord. No. 19-15]
The 2012 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:
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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 misdemeanor, 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 therefore be sentenced to pay a fine
not to exceed $1,000 and/or to undergo imprisonment for a term not
to exceed 90 days. 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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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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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K.
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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L.
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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M.
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 a 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 of
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 antennas.
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302.8.2.19
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Suspended on unstable supports.
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N.
Section 304.17, Guards for basement windows, is hereby deleted in
its entirety.
O.
Section 307.1, General, is hereby amended by adding the following
Note A to the end of Section 307.1, General, to read as follows:
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Note A: Stair guards with a spacing of no more than four inches
apart shall be required on all interior stairs of four or more treads
higher than 30 inches from the ground or grade in all structures built
in the year 2000 or later. In structures built prior to the year 2000,
all interior stairs of four or more treads higher than 30 inches from
the ground or grade shall require stair guards of no more than six
inches apart, or guarding to the written satisfaction of the Inspector.
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P.
Section (P) 505.2, Contamination, is amended in its entirety to read
as follows:
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Antisiphon vacuum breakers on exterior fixtures of properties
shall only be required if the property is sited and delineated within
a FEMA flood zone. Antisiphon vacuum breakers shall be required as
part of any lawn or landscaping irrigation system that directly accesses
the water supply via the water delivery line.
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Q.
Section 603.1, Mechanical appliances, is hereby deleted in its entirety.
§ 186-4 Effect on other provisions.
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.
§ 186-5 Continuation of existing regulations.
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 chapter shall not affect any act done or liability incurred
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.