[Adopted 10-23-1984 by Ord. No. 1387]
[Added 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 1518]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A structure which is structurally unsound, unsanitary or
not provided with adequate ingress or egress or which constitutes
a fire hazard or which has become unsafe by reason of damage by fire,
the elements, age or general deterioration or which, in relation to
an existing use, constitutes a hazard to public health, safety or
welfare by reason of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence
or abandonment or which is otherwise dangerous to human life.
Any condition, structure, improvement or material which shall
constitute a threat or potential threat to the health, safety or welfare
of the citizens of Clairton or which is detrimental to the property
of others or which causes or tends to cause substantial diminution
in the value of other property in the neighborhood in the neighborhood
in which such premises are located.
[Amended 4-14-1992 by Ord. No. 1518]
In order to avail itself of the power conferred by 53 P.S. § 37403,
the City of Clairton is hereby authorized and empowered to prohibit
and remove any nuisance or dangerous structure on public or private
property or to require the repair or removal of the same by the owner
or occupier of such property, in default of which the City may cause
the same to be razed and removed, and collect the cost thereof, together
with a penalty of 10% of such cost, in the manner provided by law
for the collection of municipal claims or by instituting appropriate
proceedings in a court of equity.
The Building Inspector shall, upon a finding that a condition
or structure on any premises constitutes a nuisance or dangerous structure,
give notice of such finding to the owner or occupier of the premises
requiring the owner or occupier to raze and remove such nuisance or
structure, within a period of 15 days or to repair the same if, in
the Building Inspector's judgment, it can be made safe and sanitary
by repairs.
The finding of the Building Inspector that a condition or structure
is in fact a nuisance or dangerous structure shall be binding upon
the owner or occupier of the property unless an appeal is made to
the City Council within said period of 15 days, all proceedings to
be stayed pending the action of the City Council on the finding of
the Building Inspector. The City Council, at its next regular meeting,
shall hear the appeal and make such order as it considers proper and
such decision shall be final.
Whenever the owner of a property fails to comply with a demolition
order of the City Council within the further period of 15 days after
such order was made, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to
proceed with the removal thereof for and on behalf of the City.
