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Code
Enforcement Department
The major
categories of duties and responsibilities of the Greenville
Code Enforcement Department can be summarized as follows:
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The
Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC) – The
borough’s code officials perform plan reviews and
inspections of all building projects that fall under the
purview of the recently adopted and state mandated
building code. In order to universally and consistently
protect the health, safety, and welfare of all its
residents, the state, in 2004, adopted a code with
minimum building requirements. Local municipalities may
enact stricter requirements with the state’s
permission. The state mandates that code officials be
certified or registered and receive regular training.
George Pangas and Dale Wilson perform these duties for
the borough through the building permit process.
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Greenville Property Maintenance Codes and Ordinances
– Over the years, borough council has enacted ordinances
which set standards for the maintenance of properties
within the borough. The maintenance items include, but
are not limited to, high grass, garbage and
accumulations, abandoned vehicles, sidewalks, and
substandard building conditions. The borough also
regulates the erection of signs in both residential and
commercial areas. Code enforcement gladly receives
complaints (by phone, mail or in-person) about
properties that are in violation. We follow-up with an
inspection and if the complaint is valid, we issue a
violation notice. When property owners do not comply,
we file a criminal complaint with the district justice
and schedule a hearing. We encourage tenants who
believe they are occupying a dwelling unit in a
substandard condition to contact code enforcement for an
inspection.
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Borough
Permits – In addition to the state mandated UCC
permits, code enforcement issues permits for
construction that does not fall under the UCC, for
demolition of buildings, for the erection of signs, and
for certain activities that fall under the zoning
ordinance. If someone is unsure as to whether an
upcoming project requires a permit, please don’t ask a
contractor, friend, relative, or the person sitting
nearby - just call the code office.
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Zoning
Ordinance – Zoning regulates land use which includes
the permitted principle and accessory uses for the
property, lot size, building area and height, and
setback requirements. Zoning issues are taken into
consideration during the permit process. Zoning is
critical to some activities and can be complicated so
please call the code office for help. The Zoning
Ordinance documentation can be found
here, and the Zoning Map
here.
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General
Assistance and CDBG Delivery – The code office
offers general advice on building or repair projects,
code or zoning questions, and neighborhood issues.
Remember we are not lawyers, engineers, or psychiatrists
but the guidance is free and some would say well worth
it. The staff of code enforcement also assists in the
delivery of Community Development Block Grant eligible
projects to the low-moderate income families in the
borough.
QUESTIONS
& ANSWERS
(Q) What
projects require a permit?
(A)
Well, it
is easier to list the items that do not
require a permit. A permit is NOT required
for the following, provided the work does not violate a law
or ordinance.
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Sidewalks
and driveways that are less than 30 inches above grade.
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Exterior/interior painting, tiling, carpeting, flooring,
cabinets, countertops, finish work.
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Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep.
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Residential
swings and playground equipment.
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Window
awnings that do not project more than 54 inches from the
exterior wall.
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Replacement
of code complaint glass in a window or door.
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Installation
of replacement windows/doors in the existing rough
opening. Windows in bedrooms may not be reduced
below code requirements.
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Replacement
of less than 25% of the total roof area.
Replacement of an accessory structure roof regardless of
area.
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Replacement
of existing siding or adding siding to a structure that
is already sided.
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Replacement
of deck or porch decking/flooring. Replacement of
structural framework requires a permit.
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Installation
of insulation.
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Replacement
of gutters and downspouts.
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Replacement
of a switch, receptacle, or lighting fixture on a
circuit of 20 amps/150 volts or less.
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Replacement/installation of electrical/gas appliances,
communications equipment, door bells, and battery
powered smoke detectors.
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Replacement
of parts that do not alter the equipment or make it
unsafe.
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Installation
of portable appliances.
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Replacement
of fixtures, faucets, and of equivalent water heaters,
repairing of leaks and worn parts, and clearing of
stoppages.
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Replacement
of mechanical equipment with an equivalent type and
furnaces of the same fuel source and chimney
requirements. Repair/replacement of ductwork.
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Cutting the
grass, pruning bushes, and retrieving the mail.
(Q) How
does one get a permit?
(A) Call
the code office for an appointment, fill out the
application, pay the fee, do the work, and call for the
appropriate inspections.
(Q) I’m
really mad at code enforcement. Will yelling at the code
secretary, making rude and nasty comments to her, help my
case?
(A) No, not at
all. Save your pent up wrath for the code officials.
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