The following sections are hereby revised from or added to the International Property Maintenance Code, 2015 edition, as follows:
A. Title. These regulations shall be known as the Property Maintenance Code of Hanover Township, Lehigh County, hereinafter referred to as “this code.”
B. 104.0 Inspections.
104.3.1 Within 30 days of the sale of any structure, the same shall be inspected for the purposes of ascertaining compliance with the Township Codes.
Exemptions: One and two family dwellings.
104.3.2 All structures shall be reinspected every 5 years. The schedule of inspection shall be determined as follows:
All structures within an area of compliance as designated by resolution of the Hanover Township Council shall be subject to inspection during the compliance period as designated by such resolution.
Exemptions: One and two family dwellings.
104.3.3 All properties within 30 days of a change in tenancy or use group (as defined in Chapter 3 of the International Building Code, 2003 edition) of any structure, shall be inspected for the purposes of ascertaining compliance with the Township Codes.
104.3.4 All structures falling within the R-1 and R-2 category shall be reinspected annually.
Exceptions. Structures having no units available for lease. rental or other chase for periods of less than 30 days.
104.3.5 When served with notice of violations, corrective work shall be completed within 90 days, or as determined by the code official depending on the difficulty of the work; or an appeal to the Building Board of Appeals may be filed within 30 days receipt of notice.
104.3.6 Notice of Change of Use or Occupancy.
Exemptions: One and two family dwellings.
104.3.6.1 Within 15 days after a sale of a structure, the new owner shall notify the Township Clerk of such sale and the name and address of the new owner.
104.3.6.2 Within 15 days after a change in the lessee or other tenant of a leased or rented premises, the owner of the premises shall notify the Township Clerk of such change in lessee or tenant and the name and address of such new lessee or tenant.
104.3.6.3 Within 15 days after a change in the sublessee or other subtenant of a lease or rented premises, the sublessor shall notify the Township Clerk of such change in sublessee or subtenant and the name and address of such new sublessor or subtenant.
104.3.6.4 Within 30 days after any change in use of any structure, or portion thereof, the owner of the structure shall notify the Township Clerk of the address of the structure in question and nature of the change in use.
104.3.6.5 Within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter, each property owner leasing property or lessee subleasing property in Hanover Township shall submit to the Township a list of the names, addresses and suite or room numbers of all lessees or sublessees of such properties as of the end of the last quarter.
[Ord. 506; as amended by Ord. 586, 3/15/2017]
C. 304.3 Premises Identification
3.4.3.1 Building Address of Commercial Properties: Address numbers at least 6 inches in height shall be placed at the topmost corner of all buildings or as approved by the code official and shall be visible from the street to which the numbered address applies. Name of tenant, and/or address shall be visible on the rear doors of multi-tenant buildings.
D. 106.4 Violation Penalties. Any person who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, construct alter, repair, remove, demolish or occupy a building or structure in violation of an approval plan or directive of the code official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provision of this code, shall be guilty of summary offense punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment, not exceeding 90 days, or both such fine and imprison ment. Each day that violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense. In addition to the penalties provided herein, the Township may recover reasonable attorney's fees, court costs, court recorder fees and other expenses of litigation by appropriate suit at law against the person found to have violated the rules and regulations.
E. SECTION 111
MEANS OF APPEAL
111.1. Application for Appeal. Any person directly affected by a decision of the code official or a notice or order issued under this code shall have the right to appeal is filed within 20 days after the day the decision, notice or order was served. An application for appeal shall be based on a claim that the true intent of this code or the rules legally adopted thereunder have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions of this code do not fully apply, or the requirements of this code are adequately satisfied by other means.
111.2. Board of Appeals. The Building Board of Appeals established pursuant to Part II of Chapter 4 of Statutory Code of Hanover Township shall be the board of appeals for the provisions of this Property Maintenance Code.
111.3. Procedures. Procedures for appeals under this Section 111 shall be the same as those procedures for appeal to the board of appeals established in Part II of Chapter 4 of the Statutory Code of Hanover Township or adopted by the board of appeals.
F. Section 103.5.
103.5 Fees. The fees for activities and services performed by the depart ment in carrying out its responsibilities under this code shall be established by resolution of the Hanover Township Council.
[Ord. 526]
G. Section 104.1.
104.1 General. The Code Official shall enforce the provisions of this Code except with respect to the following sections, subsections or portions thereof: 301.3 Vacant structures and land, except with regard to structures otherwise subject to provisions of the Uniform Construction Code; 302.1 Sanitation; 302.2 Grading and drainage; 302.3 Sidewalks and driveways; 302.4 Weeds; 302.5 Rodent harborage; 302.7 Accessory structures, except structures which are otherwise subject to provisions of the Uniform Construction Code; 302.8 Vehicles; 302.9 Defacement of property; Section 307 Rubbish and Garbage; and Section 308 Extermination, together referred to as the “exterior property standards.” Hanover Township Code Enforcement Officers shall enforce the provisions of the exterior property standards except for Section 302.2 grading and drainage which shall be enforced by the Township Engineer and Township Zoning Officer.
[Ord. 526]
H. Section 202. The following is added to Section 202, General Definitions:
EXTERIOR PROPERTY STANDARDS: The definition set forth in Section 104.1.
[Ord. 526]
I. Section 302.8.
302.8 Vehicles. Except as provided for in other regulations or ordinance, no inoperative or unlicensed motor vehicle, and no trailer other than a mobile home, house trailer, recreational trailer or farm equipment, all as defined in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, lacking current state inspection sticker, shall be parked, kept or stored on any premises, and no vehicle shall at any time be in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. Painting of vehicles is prohibited unless conducted inside an approved spray booth.
Exception: Any vehicle in any state may be parked, kept or stored in an enclosed building and a vehicle of any type is permitted to undergo major overhaul, including body work, provided that such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes.
[Ord. 526]
J. Section 304.14 The first sentence of Section 304.14 is amended to read as follows:
Section 304.14 Insect screens. During the period from May 16 to September 30, every door, window and other outside opening required for ventilation of habitable rooms, food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products to be included or utilized in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored, shall be supplied with approved tightly fitting screens of not less than 16 mesh per inch (16 mesh per 25 mm) and every swinging door shall have a self-closing device in good working condition.
[Ord. 526]
K. Section 602.3 The first sentence of Section 602.3 is amended to read as follows:
602.3 Heat supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling unit, rooming unit, dormitory or guestroom on terms, either expressed or implied to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from October 1 to May 15 to maintain a temperature of not less than 68ºF (20ºC) in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms.
[Ord. 526]
L. Section 602.4 The first sentence of Section 602.4 is amended to read as follows:
602.4 Occupiable work spaces. Indoor occupiable work spaces shall be supplied with heat during the period from October 1 to May 15 to maintain a temperature of not less than 65ºF (18ºC) during the period the spaces are occupied.
[Ord. 526]
M. Section 704, Fire Protection Systems is amended by adding the following new subsection 704.2.5.
704.2.5 Fire Alarm and Signaling Systems - Maintenance. The service provider shall report to the authority having jurisdiction and any fire alarm and/or signaling system that is out of service for more than eight hours. Such report shall include the identity of the system, the name, and telephone number of the owner of the system, or owner's representative and the address of the building in which the system is located. Any person who provides maintenance, testing or repair services to a fire alarm and/or signaling system is a service provider.
[Ord. 588]
(Ord. 450, 5/19/2004, §1; as amended by Ord. 502, 5/5/2010; by Ord. 506, 10/20/2010; by Ord. 526, 11/2/2011, §1; and by Ord. 588, 4/5/2017)