[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Paxtang 11-20-1967 by Ord. No. 400; amended in its entirety 12-21-1970 by Ord. No.
418 (Part 6, Ch. 1, Art. C, of the 1994 Code of
Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any building which has fallen into such a state of dilapidation
or disrepair as to be structurally unsound and subject to danger of
collapse.
Any building in which, by reason of serious deficiencies
in drainage, plumbing, water supply, light, heat, ventilation, floor
area, or by reason of dilapidation, disrepair or other similar conditions,
or because of the need for repairs to the roof, walls, ceilings, floors,
or by reason of dilapidation, disrepair or other similar conditions,
parts of the building are unsafe and constitute a serious hazard to
the health, safety or welfare of the occupants of the building or
the public.
The Building Inspector shall make periodic inspections of any
building he believes to be unfit for human habitation and of buildings
or structures constituting a threat to the public safety.
Whenever an inspection of a building by the Building Inspector discloses that the building is unfit for human habitation or constitutes a threat to the public safety, as defined in § 138-1, the Building Inspector shall issue a written notice by registered mail requiring the owner, within a reasonable time specified in the notice, to repair or demolish the building.
Within 30 days of the receipt of the notice to repair or demolish,
the owner of the premises of the building shall submit to the Building
Inspector:
A.
An application for a demolition permit, in accordance with the Code
of the Borough of Paxtang; or
B.
An application for a building permit, in accordance with Chapter 160, Construction Codes, Uniform; and
C.
In such instances where the dollar amount of the repairs do not
require a building permit, plans for the repair of the building, said
plans to conform in all respects to the provisions of the Uniform
Construction Code where covered thereby or otherwise to meet such
requirements as the Building Inspector shall in his judgment determine
necessary to make the building safe for human habitation or structurally
sound.
Upon failure of the owner of the building to comply with the provisions of § 138-4, the Borough shall have the power to remove the building at the expense of the owner and to proceed for collection of the costs thereof according to law. The Borough shall also have power to post notices on the building declaring that it is unfit for human habitation or constitutes a threat to the public safety and order the occupants thereof to vacate it.
[Amended 12-15-1992 by Ord. No. 535[1]]
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall,
for every violation, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of
not more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution and, in default of payment
of fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment for not more than 30 days.
Each violation of any provision of this chapter and each day the same
is violated shall be deemed and taken to be separate and distinct
offenses. Imposition of the penalty shall in no way abridge the right
of the Borough to enforce this chapter in any other manner provided
by law.
