[Added 9-8-2009 by Ord. No. 09-1218, § 1; Amended 1-12-2010 by Ord. No. 10-1226, § 14]
A. Intent. The intent of this section is to supplement and amend the provisions of the Uniform Construction Code so that it better applies to the Township and more fully satisfies the unique building code requirements of the Township for the protection of health, safety, and welfare within the Township as justified below:
(1) Established in 1701, Upper Dublin Township was originally a part of a 1684 land grant from William Penn called “Dublin.” In its early years, the Township was mostly farmland with population centers around the settlements of Dreshertown, Fort Washington, Fitzwatertown, Jarrettown, Maple Glen, Rose Valley and Three Tons. During the Revolutionary War the Continental Army encamped within the Township in 1777 and the Township was witness to many military movements and expeditions. Today, Upper Dublin Township occupies the inner suburban ring around Philadelphia and is over 90% built-out as a near-urban suburban community.
(2) The historic population centers of Dresher, Fort Washington, Fitzwatertown, Jarrettown, and Maple Glen grew tremendously following World War II, through the 1950's to the present. The vast majority of the 13 square miles of Upper Dublin Township are now developed and committed to the following uses: residential use (58%); commercial, office and industrial use (11%); and as institutional and public use (27%). Only 4% of the land area of Upper Dublin Township is currently undeveloped.
(3) As of the year 2000, Upper Dublin Township accommodated a population of 25,878 persons. The Township's forecasted population in the year 2025 is 27,370. The population density of the Township in the year 2000 was 1,960 persons per square mile As a densely developed inner-ring suburban community near Philadelphia, with distinct historic neighborhoods connected by modern suburban housing and commercial development, the Township must address complex health, safety and welfare issues, including environmental protection, stormwater management, historic preservation, place identity, population density, and redevelopment. These issues are experienced on a scale within the Township that exceeds that of most other municipalities within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(4) As one consequence of the Township's size and extent of urbanization, the Township is compelled by the Clean Water Act to obtain and comply with a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (“MS4"), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) permit for the management and discharge of stormwater within the Township, the terms of which require increased Township regulation of development and construction activities with respect to stormwater runoff and the effects of such runoff on public health, safety, welfare, and the environment.
(5) The Board of Commissioners of Upper Dublin Township finds that the provisions of the Uniform Construction Code do not fully meet the building code requirements of the Township of Upper Dublin and therefore must be supplemented and amended to better apply to the Township.
B. The Uniform Construction Code standards as administered in Upper Dublin Township shall be supplemented and amended with the addition of the following standards:
(1) (Reserved)
(2) (Reserved)
(3) (Reserved)
(4) (Reserved)
(5) Section 403.26 related to Swimming Pools, shall have added the following subsection (d) which reads: “(d) Completion guaranty. Before any building permit shall be issued for the construction or installation of a swimming pool, the Township shall be assured by means of a proper completion guarantee in the form of a bond or the deposit of funds or securities in escrow in the amount of 20% of the estimated cost of construction, as determined by the Director of Code Enforcement, to assure that the required improvements (i.e., fencing, electrical, grading, walls and drainage structures) will be installed on or before a date specified in said bond or escrow agreement.” [Added 1-12- 2010 by Ord. No. 10-1226]
(6) Swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs. In addition to the provisions of 34 Pa.Code § 403.26, the provisions of the International Residential Code and the provisions of the International Building Code relating to swimming pools, the construction of all swimming pools, spas, and hot tubs shall comply with the provisions of Chapter 218, Swimming Pools, Article I, Construction Standards.
C. Commercial permits and inspections.
(1) As the Uniform Construction Code is administered in Upper Dublin Township, 34 Pa.Code § 403.42(c)(1)(xiii) regarding permit exceptions shall be amended to read, “except for Historic Resources, where the installation and replacement of windows shall require a building permit.”
(2) As the Uniform Construction Code is administered in Upper Dublin Township, 34 Pa.Code § 403.43(a) regarding the grant of a permit shall have added a second sentence which reads: “When a grading permit has been applied for in conjunction with proposed construction, the 30-day approval/denial time-frame may be extended because the building permit shall not be issued until the grading permit has been approved.”
(3) As the Uniform Construction Code is administered in Upper Dublin Township, 34 Pa.Code § 403.43(g) regarding permit expiration shall read with respect to permit expiration: “A permit is valid for one year from its issue date and may be renewed annually for up to five years from its issue date.”
(4) As the Uniform Construction Code is administered in Upper Dublin Township, 34 Pa.Code § 403.45(c) regarding inspections shall have added a sentence which reads: “The owner or contractor shall provide a minimum of twenty-four-hour notice to the Code Official for inspection.”
D. Residential permits and inspections.
(1) Contrary to 34 Pa.Code §§ 403.1(b)(3) and 403.62(c) regarding exclusions and exemptions, the Uniform Construction Code as administered in Upper Dublin Township shall apply to all utility and miscellaneous use structures that are accessory to one- and two-family dwellings and that are greater than or equal to 120 square feet in building area, including, but not limited to, carports, detached private garages, greenhouses, and sheds.
(2) Contrary to 34 Pa.Code §§ 403.1(b)(8) and 403.62(c) regarding exclusions and exemptions, the Uniform Construction Code as administered in Upper Dublin Township shall apply to all uncovered decks regardless of the elevation of the deck floor above grade, and a permit shall be required for the installation of an uncovered deck.
(3) Contrary to 34 Pa.Code §§ 403.1(b)(8) and 403.1(b)(9) regarding alterations and repairs to residential buildings, the Uniform Construction Code as administered in Upper Dublin Township shall apply to alterations and repairs to residential buildings, including basement remodeling projects and the installation and replacement of doors and windows in historic resources.
(4) As the Uniform Construction Code is administered in Upper Dublin Township, 34 Pa.Code § 403.62(c)(8) shall be deleted. The Township shall require a building permit for the installation of an uncovered deck regardless of the height of the floor of the deck.
(5) As the Uniform Construction Code is administered in Upper Dublin Township, 34 Pa.Code § 403.63 (a) regarding the grant of a permit shall have added a second sentence which reads: “When a grading permit has been applied for in conjunction with proposed construction, the 15-day approval/denial time-frame may be extended because the building permit cannot be issued until the grading permit has been approved.”
(6) As the Uniform Construction Code is administered in Upper Dublin Township, 34 Pa.Code § 403.63 (g) regarding permit expiration shall read: “A permit is valid for one year from its issue date and may be renewed annually for up to five years from its issue date.”
(7) As the Uniform Construction Code is administered in Upper Dublin Township, 34 Pa.Code § 403.64 (b) regarding inspections shall have added a sentence which reads: “The owner or contractor shall provide a minimum of 24-hour notice to the Code Official for inspection.”