City of New Kensington, PA Chapter 78 Building Construction

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of New Kensington 8-9-1977 by Ord. No. 5-77 as Part 17, Art. 1709 of the 1977 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Moving of buildings — See Ch. 81.

Certificate of occupancy and compliance — See Ch. 92.

Code enforcement — See Ch. 94.

Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 96.

Electrical standards — See Ch. 108.

Fire prevention — See Ch. 115.

Flood damage prevention and building permits — See Ch. 121.

Grading, excavating and fill — See Ch. 123.

Plumbing — See Ch. 156.

Property maintenance — See Ch. 162.

Zoning — See Ch. 236.

§ 78-1 Adoption of standards.

[Amended 8-9-1977 by Ord. No. 8-77; 12-16-1986 by Ord. No. 8-86; 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94; 3-11-2002 by Ord. No. 2-02]

There is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, as if set out at length herein, for the purpose of regulating the construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use, location, occupancy and maintenance of all buildings and structures and their service equipment, that certain code known as the "2000 International Building Code,"[1] published by Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc., subject to any modifications hereinafter provided.

[1] Editor's Note: The City is using the most current version of the International Building Code. Copies are on file in the City offices.

§ 78-2 File and distribution copies.

[Amended 8-9-1977 by Ord. No. 8-77]

Three copies of the International Building Code herein adopted are on file with the City Clerk, kept with the City ordinance book and available for public use, inspection and examination. In addition, the City Clerk has copies available for distribution to the public at cost.

§ 78-3 Administration and enforcement.

All of the provisions of Chapter 94, Code Enforcement, are hereby adopted with this chapter. The administration and enforcement of this chapter and of the International Building Code adopted herein shall be carried out by the Office of Code Enforcement, in accordance with the procedures established by Chapter 94, Code Enforcement, and by the International Building Code adopted herein. Chapter 94, Code Enforcement, provides for certain powers and duties of a Code Enforcement Officer, for the creation of a Code Hearing Board and for procedures relative to applications, fees, permits, inspections, appeals, penalties and other matters.

§ 78-4 Definitions.

The following terms, as used in the International Building Code adopted herein, shall have the following meanings:

BOARD OF APPEALS

Code Hearing Board.

BUILDING OFFICIAL

Code Enforcement Officer.

CORPORATION COUNSEL

City Solicitor.

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTION

Office of Code Enforcement.

§ 78-5 Permits and certificates. [1]

A permit shall be required prior to the initiation of all buildings and other related activities as specified in the International Building Code adopted herein. A certificate of use and occupancy and other certificates as specified in the International Building Code shall also be required upon completion of all work completed in accordance with the issued permit. Such permits and certificates shall be issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, Chapter 94, Code Enforcement, and the International Building Code adopted herein.[2]

[1] Editor's Note: For additional provisions regarding building permits, see Ch. 121, Flood Damage Prevention.

[2] Editor's Note: Original Sec. 1709.06, Amendments, which immediately followed this section, was deleted 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94.

§ 78-6 Fees.

[Added 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94; amended 2-4-2009 by Ord. No. 1-09]

The fees required for permits under the International Building Code shall be as follows:

A. Minimum base permit fee: $50.

B. New dwelling structure: $50, plus $0.17 per square foot.

C. Residential addition or remodeling: $50, plus $0.17 per square foot.

D. Demolition of buildings.

(1) A fee of $75 shall be charged for the cost of demolition. In addition, for any structure to be demolished which has an assessed valuation in excess of $500, the applicant shall post a bond with the Code Enforcement Officer for a sum equal to no less than four times the assessed valuation of the building to be demolished, which bond shall be for the faithful performance of the demolition in accordance with the applicable codes and ordinances.

(2) Accessory demolition permit: $50.

(3) Commercial demolition permit: $100.

E. Pools.

(1) Aboveground pool: $50.

(2) In-ground pool: $100.

F. Fence permit: $35.

G. Detached garage: $50, plus $0.12 per square foot.

H. Deck/porch: $50, plus $0.12 per square foot.

§ 78-7 Violations and penalties.

[Added 12-20-1994 by Ord. No. 2-94]

Any person, firm or corporation who or which shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default thereof, shall be imprisoned for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day that a violation shall continue shall be deemed to be a separate offense.