(A) If any person, owner, agent or occupant of property shall fail to comply with a written notice of violation(s), or directive, under this chapter or shall fail to correct a violation thereof within the time period set forth in the notice provided herein, the public officer may:
(1) Enter an administrative order directing compliance with the provisions of this subchapter and the Zoning, Subdivision, Health and Sanitation, International Building, Gas, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes, the National Electrical Code, and other provisions of this code, Department of Health and Environmental Control statutes, laws and regulations, erosion and sediment control provisions of this code and other applicable statutes, laws and ordinances;
(2) Board up such premises in order to make the same inaccessible for habitation;
(3) Commence an action in a court of competent jurisdiction for injunction, mandamus or abatement or discontinuance of violations of the provisions of this subchapter or other provisions of the Code of York County; and
(4) If a violation of this chapter is not corrected within the time period provided in the notice of violation, enter upon such property, either directly or in conjunction with a third- party designee hired to perform services on behalf of the county, and correct or abate such violations or take such other action as may be reasonably necessary to remove the threat to the public health, safety and welfare, and all costs incurred in such action (including, but not limited to, inspection, administration, labor and equipment costs, court costs and attorney's fees) shall become a lien on the affected property.
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with, hinder or refuse to allow any properly identified public officer or his designee from performing the abatement measures authorized herein; and, when on private property subject to the abatement process, the duly authorized public officers, including any third-party designee, shall seek the assistance of the York County Sheriffs Department to ensure an efficient and safe completion of the abatement process.
(b) The cost of such abatement shall be billed to the owner, agent, or occupant to be paid in full within 30 days. In addition, an administrative fee of $50 or 15% of the actual cost of abatement, whichever being the greater amount, shall be applied to the cost of abatement. Whenever said bill has not been paid within the prescribed time period, the county shall apply all costs as a lien on the property; and/or such costs shall be applied to the annual tax levied and shall be collected by the county in addition to annual property tax; or collection shall be achieved by other means as may be available and provided by law.
(c) Public officers, prior to entry onto private property in order to commence the abatement process authorized herein shall advise York County Council in advance of entering such property and performing the abatement authorized in this chapter.
(B) The remedies provided in this subchapter are not mutually exclusive and shall be cumulative to other remedies provided in this subchapter and to any other remedy provided at law or in equity.
(Ord. 722, passed 1-18-22)