Basement: That portion of a structure which is partly or
completely below grade.
Bathroom: A room containing plumbing fixtures
including a bathtub or shower.
Building: Any structure occupied or
intended for supporting or sheltering any occupancy.
Code official: The
Commissioner of the Department, or his or her duly authorized representative
charged with the administration and enforcement of this
code.
Condominiums: Real estate, portions of which are designated for
separate ownership and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership
solely by the owners of those portions, as defined in the Uniform Condominium
Act; 68 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 3101 et seq., or real properly as defined by the
Unit Property Act, Act of July 3, 1963, P.L. 196, 68 P.S. 700.101 et seq.,
whichever is applicable.
Condominium Council: A "unit owners'
association" as defined by the Uniform Condominium Act, 68 Pa. C.S.A.
§§ 3101 et seq. or a board of natural individuals as required and
defined by the Unit Property Act, Act of July 3, 1963, P.L. 196, 68 P.S. §
700.101 et seq., whichever is applicable.
Department: The Department of
Licenses and Inspections or a duly authorized
representative.
Dwellings:
Dormitory: A space in a building
where group sleeping accommodations are provided in one room, or in a series of
closely associated rooms, for persons not members of the same family
group.
Dwelling unit: A single unit providing complete, independent
living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for
living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation, including such units contained
within residential condominiums.
Hotel: Any building containing six or
more guestrooms, intended or designed to be occupied, or which are rented or
hired out to be occupied for sleeping purposes by
guests.
Multiple-family dwelling: A building containing more than two
dwelling units.
One-family dwelling: A building containing one dwelling
unit with not more than five lodgers or boarders in addition to the primary
family.
Rooming house: A building containing rooming units arranged or
occupied for lodging, with or without meals, for compensation and not occupied
as a one-family dwelling or a two-family dwelling.
Rooming unit: Any
room or group of rooms which together form a single habitable unit occupied or
intended to be occupied by an individual or family for sleeping or living, but
not for cooking purposes.
Two-family dwelling: A building containing two
dwelling units with not more than five lodgers or boarders in addition to each
primary family.
Exterior property: The open space on the premises and on
adjoining property under the control of owners or operators of such
premises.
Extermination: The control and elimination of insects,
rodents, vermin, or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; by
removing or making inaccessible materials that serve as their food; by poison
spraying, fumigating, trapping or by any other approved pest elimination
method.
Family: An individual or two or more persons related by blood,
marriage or adoption; or a group of three or less unrelated persons, living
together as a single housekeeping unit.
Garbage: The animal and
vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and
consumption of food.
Habitable space: Space in a structure for living,
sleeping, eating or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet compartments, closets, halls,
vestibules, foyers, stairways, laundries, basement recreation rooms, storage or
utility spaces, and similar areas are not considered habitable
spaces.
Infestation: The presence of insects, rodents, vermin or other
pests, within or contiguous to, a structure or premises.
Occupancy: The
purpose for which a building or portion thereof is used or
occupied.
Openable area: That part of a window or door which is
available for unobstructed ventilation and which opens directly to the
outdoors.
Operator: Any person who has charge, care, management, or
control of a structure or premises which is offered for occupancy. No person who
owns a dwelling unit in a condominium shall by virtue of that ownership, and/or
by virtue of rights and obligations or the exercise thereof in regard to the
Condominium Council, be considered an operator of that condominium within the
meaning of this code. However, in the case of a condominium, the Condominium
Council shall be considered the owner/operator of the condominium and the common
elements thereof. The developer or instrument established prior to the
establishment of the Condominium Council shall be considered the owner/operator
of the condominium until such time as the Condominium Council shall take
possession.
Owner: Any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation
having a legal or equitable interest in the property; or recorded in the
official records of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or City and County of
Philadelphia as holding title to the property; or otherwise having control of
the property; including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the
executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take
possession of real property by a court. No person who owns a dwelling unit in a
condominium shall by virtue of that ownership and/or by virtue of his rights and
obligations, or the exercise thereof in the Condominium Council shall be
considered an owner of the Condominium within the meaning of this section.
However, in the case of a condominium, the Condominium Council shall be
considered the owner/operator of the condominium and the common elements
thereof. The developer or instrument established prior to the establishment of
the Condominium Council shall be considered the owner/operator of the
condominium until such time as the Condominium Council shall take
possession.
Person: An individual, corporation, firm, partnership,
association, organization, or any other group acting as a
unit.
Plumbing: The materials and fixtures utilized in the installation,
maintenance, extension and alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliances,
vents, drains and appurtenances together with all connections to water and sewer
lines within the scope of the plumbing code.
Plumbing fixture: A
receptacle or device which is connected to the water distribution system of the
premises; or discharges waste water, liquid-borne waste materials, or sewage
either directly or indirectly to the drainage system of the premises, or
both.
Premises: A lot, plot or parcel of land including any structures
thereon.
Rubbish: Combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except
garbage; the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke
and other combustible materials, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior,
rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral
matter, glass, crockery, dust and similar materials.
Structure: That
which is built or constructed.
Toilet room: A room containing one or
more water closets or urinals but not a bathtub or shower.
Unsafe:
Includes the following:
[47] 1. The
physical condition or occupancy of any premises regarded as a public nuisance at
common law; or
2. Any physical condition or occupancy of any premises or
its appurtenances considered an attractive nuisance to children, including, but
not limited to, abandoned wells, shafts, basements and excavations;
or
3. Any premises that has unsanitary sewerage or plumbing facilities;
or
4. Any premises that is manifestly capable of being a fire hazard, or
is manifestly unsecure so as to endanger life, limb or property;
or
5. Any premises from which the plumbing, heating or facilities
required by this code have been removed, or from which utilities have been
disconnected, destroyed, removed or rendered ineffective, or the required
precautions against trespassers have not been provided; or
6. Any
premises that is unsanitary, or that is littered with rubbish, garbage, raw
sewage or contains infestation due to the presence of insects, rodents, vermin
or other pests; or
7. Any structure that is in a state of dilapidation,
deterioration or decay; faulty construction; vacant or abandoned and open to
public trespass; damaged by fire to the extent so as not to provide shelter; or
otherwise hazardous to anyone on or near the premises; or
8. Any
premises certified by the Police Department or the District Attorney's
Office as the location of drug sales or use.
Ventilation: The natural or
mechanical process of supplying conditioned or unconditioned air to, or removing
such air from, any space.
Workmanlike: Executed in a skilled manner;
e.g., generally plumb, level, square, in line, undamaged, and without marring
adjacent work.
Yard: All open space on the same lot with a
structure.