Code Enforcement/Property Maintenance
Castle Shannon Borough adopted the International Property Maintenance Code 2006 establishing minimum regulations and standards governing the conditions and maintenance of property, buildings and structures in the Borough to ensure that property, buildings and structures are safe, sanitary and fit for occupation and use; providing for the administration and enforcement of the property maintenance code, for violations thereof; emergency measures authorized; and the condemnation of unsafe buildings and structures and the demolition of such structures.
The following are some of the most common property maintenance code violations :
302.1 Sanitation. All exterior property and premises shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. The occupant shall keep that part of the exterior property which such occupant occupies or controls in a clean and sanitary condition.
302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
302.5 Rodent Harborage. All structures and exterior property shall be kept free from rodent harborage and infestation. Where rodents are found, they shall be promptly exterminated by approved processes which will not be injurious to human health. After extermination, proper precautions shall be taken to eliminate rodent harborage and prevent reinfestation.
302.7 Accessory Structures. All accessory structures, including detached garages, fences and walls, shall be maintained structurally sound and in good repair.
302.8 Motor Vehicles. Except as provided for in other regulations, no inoperative or unlicensed motor vehicle 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.
303.1 Swimming Pools. Swimming pools shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, and in good repair.
303.2 Enclosures. Private swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas, containing water more than 24 inches in depth shall be completely surrounded by a fence or barrier at least 48 inches in height above the finished ground level measured on the side of the barrier away from the pool. Gates and doors in such barriers shall be self-closing and self-latching. Where the self-latching device is less than 54 inches above the bottom of the gate, the release mechanism shall be located on the pool side of the gate. Self-closing and self-latching gates shall be maintained such that the gate will positively close and latch when released from an open position of 6 inches from the gatepost. No existing pool enclosure shall be removed, replaced or changed in a manner that reduces its effectiveness as a safety barrier.
304.3 Premises identification. Buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Numbers shall be a minimum of 4 inches in height.
307.1 Accumulation of rubbish or garbage. All exterior property and premises, and the interior of every structure, shall be free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
307.2 Disposal of rubbish. Every occupant of a structure shall dispose of all rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner by placing such rubbish in approved containers.
Ordinance #745. Section 5 Standards and Regulations for Garbage Collection
It shall be the duty of every resident, occupant, or person in charge of the residential property from which the garbage or rubbish is to be collected to place all containers, bags and bundles of garbage and rubbish at the curb or each property line and Borough street or alley, when an alley is available and convenient, with reasonable compactness, no earlier than 6:00 PM on the day preceding the day designated for the collection and removal from such property. No such containers, bags or bundles shall be placed on or in such a way as to block any sidewalk, walkway, street or alley. Collectors shall empty the containers from the curb-line not later than 12:00 midnight on the day pick up occurs.
The resident, occupant or person in charge of the property from which garbage and rubbish has been picked up shall remove, or cause to be removed, the emptied containers from the curb-line not later than 12:00 midnight on the day pick-up occurs. With the exception of pick-up days when the containers are placed out for collection, the container shall be properly stored on the owner or customer premises at all times. No container shall be placed in front of the building except during the times designated herein.