(a) The position of BCO-CEO of the township, as an appointed and designated agent and employee of the township, is hereby established, with an annual salary to be set by the Board of Township Commissioners. Such BCO-CEO is hereby directed to develop and adopt plans for the annual and periodic inspection of all rental dwelling units, multiple dwelling units and rooming houses, subject to the provisions of this chapter governing the licensing of the operation of such dwellings.
(b) The BCO-CEO is authorized to prepare the necessary forms and checklists to be utilized when conducting inspections.
(c) Before making inspections, and pursuant to a plan authorized in subsection (a) above, the BCO- CEO shall advise the property owners and other residents of his or her intent to inspect.
(d) The BCO-CEO shall enforce this chapter and is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections pursuant to one or more of the plans for inspection authorized by subsection (a) above, or when the BCO-CEO has valid reason to believe that a violation of this chapter or any rules and regulations adopted pursuant hereto has been or is being committed.
(e) The authority granted herein to the BCO-CEO is not in conflict with nor does it supersede any and all authority and responsibilities granted to the BCO-CEO of the township pursuant to Part Eighteen - the Health and Sanitation Code. Rather, the authority of the BCO-CEO is separate from and in addition to the authority and responsibilities granted to the BCO-CEO in such Code.
(f) The BCO-CEO is hereby authorized to enter and inspect, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., all rental dwellings, multiple dwelling units, rooming houses, rooming units, dormitories and dormitory rooms subject to this chapter for the purpose of determining whether or not there is compliance with this chapter.
(g) The BCO-CEO is hereby authorized to inspect the premises surrounding rental dwellings, multiple dwelling units, rooming houses, rooming units, dormitories and dormitory rooms subject to this chapter for the purpose of determining whether or not there is compliance with this chapter.
(h) The BCO-CEO and the owner, occupant or person in charge of a rental dwelling, multiple dwelling unit, rooming unit, rooming house, dormitory or dormitory room subject to this chapter may agree to an inspection by appointment at a time other than the hours provided in subsection (f) above.
(I) The owner, occupant or other person in charge of a rental dwelling, multiple dwelling unit, rooming unit, rooming house, dormitory or dormitory room, upon presentation of proper identification by the BCO-CEO, shall give the BCO-CEO entry and free access to every part of the rental dwelling, multiple dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory or dormitory room or to the premises surrounding any of the same.
(j) The BCO-CEO shall keep confidential all evidence which he or she may discover or obtain in the course of an inspection made pursuant to this section, and such evidence shall be considered privileged.
(k) (1) If any owner, occupant or other person in charge of a rental dwelling, multiple dwelling unit, rooming unit, multiple dwelling or rooming house, subject to licensing under this chapter, fails or refuses to permit free access and entry to the structure or premises under his or her control, or any part thereof, with respect to which an inspection authorized by this chapter is sought to be made, the BCO- CEO may, upon a showing that probable cause exists for the inspection and for the issuance of an order directing compliance with the inspection requirements of this section with respect to such rental dwelling, multiple dwelling unit, rooming unit, multiple dwelling or rooming house, petition and obtain such order from a court of competent jurisdiction.
(2) When required, the BCO-CEO shall obtain a warrant to inspect.
(3) Any person who refuses to comply with an order issued pursuant to this section shall be subject to such penalties as may be authorized by law for a violation of a court order.
(Ord. 616, passed 5-20-1987; Ord. 936, passed 7-15-2015)