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Code Enforcement |
CODE ENFORCEMENT is the responsibility of all municipalities in
Allegheny County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
In order to maintain clean & safe neighborhoods, desirable living
spaces and healthy work environments, ordinances are adopted by elected
officials and enforced by code inspectors, code agents, as well as the police
department. Senate Bill 900, or the Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act, was signed
into law by Gov. Ed Rendell in October of 2010. Under the law, if a property is
in serious violation of a building or housing code, a municipality may take
action to prevent, restrain, correct or abate the problem.
Council began
its battle against blight two years ago with the passing of Ordinance 09-05, “Reasonable Regulations for Rental Dwellings.” With 65% of borough property changing from
single family homes to multiple rental units, something had to be done to
regulate the decay that was occurring.
Last summer, 2010, Council met with landlords, explained Ordinance 09-05
and how it will affect the landlords as well as the borough. Many responsible landlords have complied, but
more must be done to cease the urban decline.
This summer the
Borough of Sharpsburg is doubling its efforts to combat nuisance properties. Code
enforcement agents are assessing properties for high grass, trash, damaged
structures and more. If you see two men
taking pictures and handing out lime green tags, they are the agents. Both will have Sharpsburg Borough ID’s on
their person. Ask to see the I.D’s
In order to
familiarize you with the code violations that the agents will look for, a list
has been provided below. Each violation
is “deemed so” by an ordinance or by the “International Property Maintenance Code – 2009”
(IPMC – 2009) that was adopted by Council on January 6, 2009.
The process for identifying and citing for
code violations is as follows:
1.
A designated agent of the borough will asses the property
2.
A designated agent will take pictures and collect data that is
recorded and archived. Agents will not go on the property unless given written
permission or when placing a violation tag
3.
A designated agent will give a warning to the owner of the
property by hanging a fluorescent green tag on the door of the property and
followed up with a written notice of said violation
4.
Property owner will be given a period of time for the violation
to be corrected. Each violation can carry up to a 30 day period of time to begin
and/or complete corrections of violations
5.
A designated agent will inspect the property for correction of
the violation
6.
A designated agent will once again take pictures and record data
for the archives
7.
Property owner will receive a written notice that will state
either the code violation has been corrected or a citation will be issued for
non-compliance.
8.
Property owners receiving citations will be expected to appear
in district court before the local district judge. Fines will range from $300 a day to no more
than $1,000 a day, depending on the code violation and may possibly be accrued
on a daily bases up to a maximum of $8,000
Property
owners may appeal a violation notice by asking for a hearing with the “Code
Appeal Board!” This board is comprised of
the seven members of Borough Council and the Official Building, Code and Zoning
Officer.
CODE VIOLATIONS
|
VIOLATION |
CODE |
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302.4 WEEDS |
ORDINANCE NO. 418
1982/ IPMC - 2009 |
|
302.1 SANITATION |
IPMC - 2009 |
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302.3 SIDEWALKS & DRIVEWAYS |
IPMC - 2009 |
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302.9 DEFACED PROPERTIES |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.13 WINDOWS & DOORS |
IPMC - 2009 |
|
304.1 EXTERIOR
UNSAFE |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.2 PROTECTIVE TREATMENT |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.3 PREMISES
ID |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.5 FOUNDATION WALLS |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.6 EXTERIOR WALLS |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.7 ROOFS |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.8 DECORATIVE FEATURES |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.9 OVERHANGS & EXTENTIONS |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.10 CHIMNEYS |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.11 STAIRWAYS DECKS & PORCHES |
IPMC - 2009 |
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304.12 HAND GUARD RAILS |
IPMC - 2009 |
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308.1 RUBBISH/GARBAGE |
ORDINANCE NO. 415
1982/ IPMC - 2009 |