An amendment to the Salisbury Township code of ordinances concerning moving permits and rental property inspections is expected to be discussed by the township board of commissioners at the 7 p.m. Oct. 11 meeting in the municipal building, 2900 S. Pike Ave.

A first reading of the ordinance is expected at the Oct. 11 meeting.

A draft of the two-page moving permits amendment and the seven-page rental property inspections amendment was distributed and discussed during the Sept. 27 commissioners’ meeting workshop.

The proposed changes were presented at the July 26 township meeting workshop by Salisbury Township Lead Fire Inspector Dustin Grow; Salisbury Township Police Department Sgt. Donald Sabo Jr., who heads investigation, fire inspection and community policing; Salisbury Township MS4 Coordinator, Building Code Enforcement Officer, Assistant Zoning Officer and Building Inspector Sandy Nicolo, and Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles.

“This is a key issue for us,” Stiles said at the July 26 workshop, emphasizing, “This is the way to address quality of life issues.”

Salisbury Township solicitor Atty. John W. Ashley reviewed and prepared the amendments.

“We want landlords to regulate their properties,” Township Manager Cathy Bonaskiewich said at the Sept. 27 workshop. “We want to make sure their properties are kept up to code.”

A change in a tenant would trigger a property inspection. The tenant is responsible for obtaining a moving permit.

“How are we going to police that?” board of commissioners Vice President Debra Brinton asked.

“The landlord has to make sure they notify the tenant,” Bonaskiewich said.

According to a copy of the draft ordinance of Chapter 11 Housing Part 1 Moving Permits obtained by The Press:

“Application for moving permit shall be made to the township secretary, or his desginee, on forms supplied by the township secretary.”

The draft ordinance sets the fee for a moving permit at $10. It was $1.

The draft ordinance sets forth the penalty for not obaining a moving permit:

“Any person violating any term or provision of this Part 1 [Moving Permits] shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $300 or to undergo imprisonment for a period of not more than 30 days, or both.”

The draft ordinance adds Part 2, Rental Property Inspections, to Chapter 11 of the Housing ordinances.

The draft ordinance includes facilities for the elderly in its definition of rental properties, as stated:

“Rental properties may be either commercial, storage, industrial, residential or vacation property and may also include properties under lease purchase agreements as well as residential assisted-living facilities with permanent live-in quarters as licensed as such by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; including providing meals, supervision and services for four or more elderly persons, or other persons needing such care.”

Landlords must obtain a rental registration certificate, states the draft ordinance:

“All owners of any rental property located within Salisbury Township must register all units with the township on an annual basis and must obtain a rental registration certificate issued by the township.”

The draft ordinance states an inspection of rental properties and certificate of occupance is required:

“All rental properties shall be inspected to assure compliance with the minimum maintenance requirements and standards for such properties as set forth in this ordinance. Such inspection shall occur each time the property is vacated following a change of tenancy and prior to a new tenant taking possession of or occupying the premises.”

The draft ordinance details the duties and responsibilities of rental property owners.

Also, there’s approximately one page listing minimum rental property maintenance standards.

Rental property registration fees, to be paid prior to Sept. 30 for Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, are set forth in the draft ordinance as follows:

Rental properties of one to 20 units: $20 per unit,

Rental properties of 21 to 51 units: $500 flat fee, and

Rental properties of 51 or more units: $750 flat fee.

The inspection fee is $50 and a re-inspection fee is $25 per re-inspection until code compliance is achieved, states the draft ordinance.

Penalties for violating the rental property inspections, according to the draft ordinance, are:

First violation: A fine up to $300, or 30 days imprisonment, or both,

Second violation: A fine up to $500, or 60 days imprisonment, or both, and

Third and each subsequent violation: A fine up to $1,000, or 90 days imprisonment, or both.

Appeals can be made to the Salisbury Township Building Code Board of Appeals, states the draft ordinance.

The ordinance is to take effect 60 days after it is adopted.