CODES AND ZONING
***IMPORTANT INFORMATION***
Spring has arrived. This means checking your property for damages and debris from the long winter months. Please be sure to use proper property maintenance and clean up debris from the exterior of your property.
ALSO...
Remember, there are strict rules and regulations that govern the installation of all above ground swimming pools that are designed to contain over 24 inches of water. (See the 2006 International Residential Code, Chapter 41) THIS INCLUDES THE INEXPENSIVE "BLOW-UP" POOLS that are becoming so popular. Before you go out and purchase one of these swimming pools, or any other pool, be sure to stop by the Borough Office and pick up the information packet that has been prepared for all swimming pools, both above-ground and in-ground. A building permit is required prior to any installation of pools that fall under the regulations. Failure to comply with these regulations may end up costing you a court order to tear down the pool.
Montgomery Borough has adopted the 2006 International Building
Code as its building code. In addition, Montgomery has adopted
the 2003 International Property Maintenance Code as the code
for all existing structures. These codes are available to the
public to view at the Borough Office during regular business
hours.
The Codes Enforcement/Zoning Officer is Walter J. Bohner. His
office hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8
AM until 11 AM, and Thursday evenings from 4 PM until 6 PM. His
direct office phone number is 570-547-6919.
Mr. Bohner is a Certified Building Code Official through the
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and is licensed
to perform Residential Inspections (License # 001090). Commercial construction is
considered any construction or use other than two family dwellings
or any construction or use over three stories in height. Mr. Bohner is also authorized to do electrical inspections that are required by PPL for the installation of new services, or upgrading of existing services. This eliminates residents from having to obtain a third party inspection agency to inspect an upgrade to an existing electrical service, or to install a new electrical service. Call Mr. Bohner at 547-6919 to schedule this inspection. Fees for this inspection vary depending on the type of installation.
All commercial construction is inspected through the Borough’s
third party agency. This is “McTish, Kunkel & Associates,
1050 Broad Street, Suite 2, Montoursville, PA 17754. Phone number – 570-368-3040.
All construction, regardless whether it is “commercial” or “residential” must
first obtain a Zoning Permit prior to a building permit. The
Borough Zoning Officer issues all zoning permits.
Once the Zoning Permit is obtained, an application for a building
permit is required and approved before any work may begin. Residential
Building Permits are issued by the Codes Enforcement Officer
at the Borough Office. Commercial Building Permits are issued
by the Codes Enforcement Officer at the Borough Office only AFTER
plan reviews and approvals are received from the Third Party
Agency.
Fees greatly vary for different types of construction. In addition
to the building permit fee, inspection fees may also be levied
depending on the construction.
Not all construction requires a building permit. If you are
planning a project, you are advised to call the Codes Enforcement
Officer before you begin to see if any permits are required for
the type of project you have in mind. There have been many changes
in recent years to the building code. The Building Code Official
is trained and certified to understand these changes.
The Code Enforcement Officer also enforces the Borough Ordinances
and handles resident complaints concerning accumulation of trash,
abandoned vehicles, high grass and weeds, as well as many other
types of complaints. Some Ordinances all residents should be
aware of are:
• The Maximum permitted height of grass and weeds is
eight inches.
• All trash must be contained in an approved container and removed
on a regular basis. No accumulation of trash or debris
is permitted in any district of the Borough.
• All vehicles, whether on public or private property, must contain
a current registration sticker AND a current inspection
sticker. If a vehicle does not have both of these it is considered an
abandoned vehicle and a vehicle nuisance. Certain exceptions
do apply, such as Antique vehicles and Public Safety vehicles.
A vehicle that is not currently licensed and inspected
is required to be kept in an enclosed space, such as a garage. Temporary
Vehicle Storage Permits may be issued in certain cases.
Contact the Borough Code Enforcement Officer for further details.
• All rental properties must have a valid Certificate of Occupancy
Permit prior to the dwelling being occupied. The Code Enforcement
Officer will inspect the rental unit when it becomes vacant
and will issue a Certificate of Occupancy Permit. This must be done
each time the dwelling becomes vacant. The fee for this
inspection is $25. Failure to have a valid Occupancy Permit prior to renting
and occupying a dwelling will result in fines and the dwelling
ordered vacated.
• All properties being sold must have a current Occupancy Permit
prior to the new owner occupying the dwelling. This inspection
is also done by the Code Enforcement Officer. The inspection
may be scheduled by either the seller before the sale,
or the new buyer after the sale. However, the dwelling must not be occupied
by the new owner until the Occupancy Permit is issued.
It is recommended that the seller obtain this permit prior to the closing.
Although this is not a requirement, it is beneficial to
the sale if the Occupancy Permit is already received. Should the inspection
take place after the closing, the new owner is responsible
for any violations found during the inspection. The fee for this
inspection is $25.
Burning of paper, dry brush, grass or leaves, is permitted as long as it is burned within an enclosed salamander, wire basket or masonry enclosure. Burning hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7 o'clock AM until 7 o'clock PM. No burning is permitted on Sundays. No burning is permitted within ten (10) feet of any building or within ten (10) feet of any property line, alley line or street line. It is also illegal to burn garbage, vegetable waste, rubber, plastics, furniture, glass, metals, crockery, car products or any other material which will create nauseous or noxious fumes, smoke, toxic chemicals or excessive fly ash. Charcoal or wood fires kindled for the purpose of outside barbecues shall be permitted.
MONTGOMERY MINOR'S CURFEW ORDINANCE
Montgomery does have a curfew for minor children under 18 years of age. Under the Montgomery Borough Code of Odinances, Chapter X, Part 6, Section 102, the curfew for minor children under 18 years of age is 10PM to 6 AM on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 10:30PM - 6 AM on Friday and Saturday. There are a few exceptions to this Ordinance. The excpetions are:
1. If the minor is with a parent
2. If the minor is on the way home from an errand
3. Employment
4. Emergency
5. On the sidewalk on the parent property, or on the neighbors sidewalk, as long as the neighbor does not complain about the minor being on the property.
6. Any school or religious activity
7. Excercising the First Amendment Rights
8. If the minor is married, or has been married.
To obtain a complete copy of the ordinance, stop by the Borough Office.
These are just a few of the Ordinances that every resident should
be aware of. The complete Montgomery Borough Code of Ordinances
is available for anyone to view at the Borough Office during
regular business hours.
The Code Enforcement/Zoning Officer is there to protect you
and is available to answer any questions you may have. Feel free
to contact him at any time at 547-6919. If he is not in the office when you
call, please leave a voice mail message and he will return your
call. You may also email him at wbohner2@comcast.net
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