(A) Whenever it shall be reported or come to the attention of any township official that any building or structure is or may be in a dangerous or unsafe condition, such person having knowledge thereof shall report the same to the Township Code Officer.
(1) Should the Township Code Officer receive such a report, or whenever the Township Code Officer in the normal discharge of his or her patrol duties shall determine that a building or structure is or may be in a dangerous or unsafe condition, the Code Officer shall cause an investigation and examination to be made of such building or structure. The investigation and examination shall include, at a minimum, the taking of photographic evidence. The Township Code Officer shall review his or her findings with the Township Manager.
(2) If the Township Code Officer and Manager determine that the building or structure does appear to be in a dangerous or unsafe condition, the Code Officer shall provide written notice to the owner of said building or structure, communicating the Code Officer’s finding that the building or structure is in a dangerous or unsafe condition. The written notice shall request a response within 30 days of delivery, in order to determine the owner’s intention with respect to repairing or demolishing the building or structure. The Code Officer’s letter also shall reference this subchapter, in communicating to the property owner that the building or structure appears to be in violation of the same. If the owner fails to respond or responds with notification that the owner does not plan to repair or demolish the building or structure, then a written report of the investigation and examination, including the photographic evidence described above, as well as copies of any correspondence by and between the Code Officer and the owner, shall be submitted to the Board of Supervisors. The report shall specify the condition of the building or structure and setting forth the basis upon which the Code Officer concluded that the building or structure may be dangerous. The report also should contain the Code Officer’s finding regarding whether or not the building or structure appears to be capable of being repaired or whether it should be demolished.
(B) It shall be unlawful for any person to refuse entrance to or to impede any township official or any other authorized individual in the investigation of any such building or structure under this subchapter. The owner, occupant or operator of every building or structure within the township, or the person in charge thereof, shall give such official or authorized individual free access thereto and to all parts thereof and to the premises on which it is located at all reasonable times for the purpose of such investigation, upon display by such individual of proper identification.
(1987 Code, § 47-4) (Ord. 7-1999, passed 8-3-1999; Ord. 2-2013, passed 6-6-2013) Penalty, see § 150.99