Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-92
Section 66704-A - Property maintenance code(a)Property maintenance code.--Notwithstanding the primacy of the Uniform Construction Code, the township supervisors may enact a property maintenance ordinance, and they may incorporate a standard or nationally recognized property maintenance code, or a variation or change or part of the code, published and printed in book form, without incorporating the text of the code in the ordinance, or the supervisors may enact a standard or nationally recognized property maintenance code or a change or variation or part, as the ordinance. In either event, the proposed ordinance, or a brief summary of the proposed ordinance, shall be published not more than 60 days nor less than seven days before passage at least once in one newspaper circulating generally in the township. The notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and the particular nature of the ordinance to be considered. The notice shall also state where copies of the proposed ordinance and property maintenance code can be examined or obtained at cost. A property maintenance code adopted by reference need not be recorded in or attached to the ordinance book, but shall be deemed to have been legally recorded if the ordinance by which the code was adopted by reference shall have been recorded, with an accompanying notation stating where the full text of the code has been filed. The ordinance may provide for reasonable property fines and penalties for violations of the ordinance. The procedure under this section relating to the adoption of the ordinance may likewise be utilized in amending, supplementing or repealing a provision of the ordinance. (b)Code enforcement officers.--The township supervisors may appoint code enforcement officers who shall have the right to enter upon and inspect any premises, subject to constitutional standards, at reasonable hours and in a reasonable manner for the administration and enforcement of the township's property maintenance code. A fee payable to code enforcement officers under the ordinance shall be promptly paid by the township supervisors to the township treasurer for the use of the township. (c)Legal actions.--In addition to the penalties provided by the property maintenance ordinance, the township may institute appropriate actions or proceedings at law or in equity to prevent or restrain property maintenance violations. (d)Construction.--The powers of a township as provided in this section shall be in addition to, but not limited to, the powers provided in the act of November 26, 2008 (P.L. 1672, No. 135), known as the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act, 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization) and 68 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 (relating to land banks).1933, May 1, P.L. 103, No. 69, § 1704-A, added 2015, Nov. 24, P.L. 427, No. 69, § 3, effective in 60 days [Jan. 25, 2016].