“Over 90% of Pennsylvania’s 2,562 municipalities have elected to administer and enforce the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) locally, using their own employees or via certified third party agencies (private code enforcement agencies) that they have retained. In these municipalities, the Department has no code enforcement authority, except where the municipality lacks the services of a person certified as an ‘Accessibility Inspector/Plans Examiner.’
“If a municipality has ‘opted out,’ the Department is responsible for all commercial code enforcement in that municipality. The Department also has sole jurisdiction for all elevators and all state-owned buildings, no matter where they are located.
“Certified third party agencies hired by property owners (or their contractors) enforce the residential requirements of the UCC in all opt-out municipalities.
“This link will open a table that lists all of Pennsylvania’s 2,562 municipalities, by county, and their status under the Uniform Construction Code (UCC).
“Opt-ins are those municipalities that have elected to enforce the UCC. Opt-outs are those that have relinquished all UCC enforcement authority to either the Department of Labor & Industry (for non-residential buildings and structures) or certified third-party agencies (hired by the property owner for residential code enforcement).
“If an opt-in municipality carried over changes to the UCC (these must equal or exceed the requirements found in the UCC and must have been in a locally enacted building code ordinance as of July 1, 1999), the word Amendments will appear in the column headed PRE July 1, 1999 Amendments. Since the Department of Labor & Industry had no review and approval authority over this matter, we have no record as to what these changes may be. Customers will have to contact the municipal that has amendments, to determine what these changes may be.
“To facilitate customer contacts with local code enforcement programs, this table includes the name and phone number for the person serving as the ‘Building Code Official.’ Local enforcing jurisdictions are required to provide this name and contact information in a timely manner. Some fail to do so, even though the Department may make repeated attempts to secure this information. Thus, from time to time there may be municipalities on this list that lack this contact information.”
This Columbia Borough Ordinance requires a zoning permit to be issued prior to the start of any of a number of activities inlcuding “erection, construction, movement, placement or expansion of a structure, building or sign.”
A Building and Electrical Code Services Specialist that principally serves Municipal and Power Company Code Inspection needs.
Here’s the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry’s reference about “Complaints about Municipal and Third Party Agency Officials.”
Standard of Proof
In “he said, she said” situations, “You can’t just think you have a case, you must be able to prove it. Evidence can take several forms such as documents, sound and video recordings and witness statements (written statements about what the witness saw or heard). Evidence can also be given through oral statements (testimony) made at court by witnesses.”
Preponderance of the evidence (most civil cases) — preponderance of the evidence generally means that a party will win if she can show that it is more likely than not that her contention is true.
Pattern and practice
Has someone systematically engaged in discriminatory activities? Also that such engagement in discriminatory activities was especially by means of policies and procedures. Typically, this may include inconsistent application of codes or discrimination. Could behavior indicate patterns of actions or routine practices. It’s possible that executive or official complicity may be drawn from a consistent failure to respond to complaints or implement corrective responses.
“Improper secret agreement between two or more entities, to defraud or deprive others of their property or rightful share, or to otherwise indulge in a forbidden, illegal, or illegitimate activity.”
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Sounds like good sound advice.
Wonder how Casper feels about this?
How about Pooh?
Bob, There u go again, drawing me a non borough resident into a “debate” about your beloved town’s “rights & wrongs.” U ask how I feel about this situation, he it is. There r many ordinances made for whatever reason on the “books” some good some not so good. As they come to the surface or become “more public” they need to be reviewed, are they still practical and worthwhile, if not eliminate them. Seems mondane enough, don’t make it more complicated than it is.Bob on many occasions u stated how you love Columbia, keep the spirit & continue to support your love of a great town. Your passion is to be envied.
Have a great day, our weather in the state where I reside is beautiful, hope the same for your borough.
Casper