(a) Property maintenance code.-- (1) Notwithstanding the primacy of the Uniform Construction Code, the board of commissioners may pass a property maintenance code ordinance in either of the following manners: (i) Pass, as the property maintenance code ordinance, a standard or nationally recognized property maintenance code, with alterations. (ii) Incorporate by reference, into the property maintenance code ordinance, a standard or nationally recognized property maintenance code, or an alteration of the code, published and printed in book form. An incorporated code need not be recorded in or attached to the ordinance book but shall be deemed legally recorded if the incorporating property maintenance code ordinance is recorded, with an accompanying notation stating where the full text of the incorporated code is filed. (2) The property maintenance ordinance may provide for reasonable property fines and penalties for violations. (3) Notice of consideration of the property maintenance code ordinance must be published to summarize its contents and to identify locations within the township where copies may be examined and obtained. Notice under this paragraph must be published once in one newspaper of general circulation at least one week and not more than three weeks prior to the presentation of the proposed property maintenance code ordinance to the board of commissioners. (4) At least three copies of the property maintenance code ordinance shall be made available for public inspection and use during business hours and available to an interested party at cost or without charge. (5) The procedure under this subsection applies to an amendment or repeal of the property maintenance code ordinance. (b) Property maintenance inspectors.-- (1) The board of commissioners may appoint property maintenance inspectors. (2) A property maintenance inspector may enter upon and inspect property, subject to constitutional standards, at reasonable hours and in a reasonable manner for the administration and enforcement of the property maintenance code ordinance under subsection (a)(1). A fee payable to a property maintenance inspector under the property maintenance code ordinance shall be promptly remitted to the township treasurer for the use of the township. (c) Legal actions.-- In addition to the penalties provided by the property maintenance code ordinance, the township may institute an action in law or equity to enjoin or prevent a violation of the property maintenance code ordinance. (d) Construction.-- The powers of a township under this section are in addition to the powers under: (1) the act of November 26, 2008 (P.L.1672, No.135), known as the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act; (2) 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 61 (relating to neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization); and (3) 68 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 (relating to land banks).
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