[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of
the City of Pottsville 5-8-2023 by Ord. No. 911.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 95,
adopted 5-21-1966 by Ord. No. 72-66 as Art. 1703 of the 1966 Code,
as amended.
The administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be
the duty of the Code Enforcement Officer of the City, who is hereby
authorized to take such action as may be reasonably necessary to enforce
the purposes of the Building Code herein adopted.
This chapter and the Building Code herein adopted are intended
to provide a system of specifications and regulations to ensure the
structural safety and the incombustibility of buildings constructed,
reconstructed, altered, enlarged, repaired or maintained within the
City and a system of specifications and regulations for the setting
out, construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, occupation, sanitation,
ventilation, lighting, water supply, toilet facilities, drainage,
use and inspection of all buildings, parts of buildings and the walls
and foundations thereof constructed, erected, altered, designed or
used, in whole or in part, for human habitation and for the sanitation
and inspection of land appurtenant thereto.
The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chapters
401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and
incorporated herein by reference as the municipal Building Code of
the City of Pottsville.
Nothing in this chapter or in the Building Code hereby adopted
shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding impending in any
court or any rights acquired or liability incurred or any cause or
causes of action acquired or existing under any act or ordinance hereby
repealed; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character
be lost, impaired or affected by this chapter.
The Code Enforcement Officer, in the discharge of his official
duties and upon proper identification, shall have authority to enter
any building, structure or premises at any reasonable hour.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
The City Solicitor of Pottsville.
The reasonable value of all services, labor, materials and
use of scaffolding and other appliances or devices entering into and
necessary to the prosecution and completion of the work ready for
occupancy, provided that the cost of excavation or grading and of
painting, decorating or other work that is merely for embellishment
or not necessary for the safe and lawful use of the building or structure,
is not deemed a part of such estimated cost.
The City of Pottsville.
A.
No permit required by the Building Code shall be issued until the
fee prescribed in this section shall have been paid, nor shall an
amendment to a permit be approved until the additional fee, if any,
due to an increase in the estimated cost of the building or structure,
shall have been paid.
B.
For a permit for the construction or alteration of a building or
structure, the fee shall be at the rate of $30 for any construction
under $1,000 and $10 for each $1,000 of construction over the first
$1,000. There is no limit.
C.
For a permit for the removal of a building or structure from one
lot to another, the fee shall be at the rate of $50 per $1,000 of
the estimated value of the building or structure in its completed
condition after removal.
D.
For a permit for the removal of a building or structure to a new
location within the same lot, the fee shall be at the rate of $20
per $1,000 of the estimated cost of moving, of new foundations and
of work necessary to put the building or structure in usable condition
in its new location.
E.
For a permit for the demolition of a building or structure, the fee
shall be $150 for under $10,000 of the demolition contract, and $10
for each additional $1,000 or any part thereof. There is no limit.
F.
In case of abandonment or discontinuance, the cost of work performed
under a permit may be estimated, an adjustment of the fee made and
the portion of the fee for uncompleted work returned to the permit
holder, provided that no refund of a prescribed minimum fee shall
be made. If such discontinuance is due to revocation of a permit,
a similar adjustment and return may be made, provided that no refund
shall be made until all penalties incurred or imposed by due authority
have been collected. After such a refund has been made, no work shall
be resumed until a new application has been made and a new permit
has been issued.
G.
The fee for a certificate of occupancy permit shall be $75.
H.
The fee for a regular zoning permit shall be $50.
Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this
chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000 for each offense with
costs. In default of the payment of such fine and costs, such person
may be imprisoned for a period not to exceed 30 days. The imposition
of any fine for any violation of this chapter shall not excuse such
violation or permit it to continue.
