(a) The purpose of this chapter is to promote the general health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the township and to conform to the requirements of the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and regulations to the Act promulgated by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the “Code”).
(b) The Pennsylvania Construction Code Act requires the enactment of an appropriate ordinance by municipalities electing to administer and enforce the building code provisions of the Code.
(1) The township hereby elects to administer and enforce the provisions Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45, of 1999, 35 P.S. §§ 7210.101 through 7210.1103, as amended from time to time and its regulations.
(2) The Uniform Construction Code, contained in 34 Pa. Code Chs. 401 through 405, as amended from time to time, is hereby adopted and incorporated herein by reference as the municipal building code of the township.
(3) Administration and enforcement of the Code within the township shall be undertaken in any of the following ways as determined by the Board of Commissioners of the township from time to time by resolution:
A. By the designation of an employee of the township to serve as the Township Code Official to act on behalf of the township;
B. By the retention of one or more construction code officials or third party agencies to act on behalf of the township;
C. By agreement with one or more other municipality for the joint administration and enforcement of this Act through an intermunicipal agreement;
D. By entering in to a contract with another municipality for the administration and enforcement of this Act on behalf of the township;
E. By entering in to an agreement with the State Department of Labor and Industry for plan review, inspections and enforcement of structures other than one-family or two-family dwelling units and utility and miscellaneous use structures; and
F. All building code ordinances and resolutions of the township requiring and regulating the issuance of permits and fees adopted prior to the adoption of this chapter, shall remain in full force and effect subsequent to the adoption of this chapter.
(4) A Board of Appeals shall be established by resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the township in conformity with the requirements of the relevant provisions of the Code, as amended from time to time, and for the purposes set forth therein. If at any time enforcement and administration is undertaken jointly with one or more other municipality, the Board of Appeals shall be established by joint action of the participating municipalities.
(5) A. All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which were adopted by the township on or before July 1, 1999, and which equal or exceed the requirements of the Code shall continue in full force and effect until such time as such provisions fail to equal or exceed the minimum requirements of the Code, as amended from time to time.
B. All building code ordinances or portions of ordinances which are in effect as of the effective date of this ordinance and whose requirements are less than the minimum requirements of the Code are hereby amended to conform with the comparable provisions of the Code.
C. All relevant ordinances, resolutions, regulations and policies of the township not governed or regulated by the Code shall remain in full force and effect.
(6) Fees assessable by the township for the administration and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this chapter and the Code shall be established by the Board of Commissioners by resolution from time to time.
(Ord. 817, passed 6-16-2004)