City Code, ExplainedBetaPardon our dust while we build this out — expect some changes along the way.

This chapter sets rules for property upkeep and neighborhood quality of life in Pottsville, covering trash and rubbish storage, littering, junked or nuisance vehicles, animal waste, weeds, snow/ice removal, swimming pools, vending, and tenant/permit registration.

Who this affects

Property owners, tenants, landlords, and businesses in Pottsville — anyone responsible for a property or structure, since violations can be ticketed to owners, occupants, or the individual responsible.

Key rules

• Exterior property and building interiors must be kept free of accumulated waste, trash, rubbish, debris, or garbage.
• Appliances or furniture (ranges, refrigerators, TVs, mattresses, sofas, etc.) cannot be stored or displayed outside for sale or other reasons, except during temporary removal or maintenance.
• Discarded refrigerators and similar equipment must have their doors removed before storage or disposal.
• Hazardous materials must be stored per fire/building codes and at least 10 feet from the public right-of-way.
• Waste/trash containers must be durable, watertight, covered, kept out of view from the public right-of-way, and only set out the night before scheduled pickup, returned by the next daybreak.
• Dumping or littering on public or private property is prohibited.
• Unregistered, uninspected, inoperative, unlicensed, junked, or nuisance vehicles cannot be stored on premises not designated for that use; vehicle painting outside an approved spray booth is prohibited; for-profit vehicle repair is not allowed in residential districts.
• Advertising material cannot be placed on public property or on private property without the owner's written approval.
• Animals cannot run at large or make unreasonable noise; owners must clean up pet waste daily on their own property and immediately elsewhere; dogs must be registered annually with proof of rabies vaccination, wear tags, and be leashed off-property; feeding or sheltering stray or wild animals is prohibited.
• Insect or vermin infestations must be reported to the Health Officer and abated without unnecessary delay.
• Weeds or plant growth over eight inches, and standing water that attracts insects or vermin, are prohibited.
• Snow and ice must be cleared from sidewalks within 12 hours of a snow/sleet/ice event, to within one foot of the curbline; shoveling snow or ice into streets or alleys is prohibited.
• Swimming pools must be kept in good repair, clean, and covered when not in use; pools holding 24+ inches of water require permits, inspections, and safeguards like fencing and locking gates.
• Changes to buildings in the Historical District must comply with HARB permits and regulations.
• Businesses, vending carts, food carts, and yard sales require proper permits and must comply with vending license terms.
• Potentially hazardous food (out-of-date, improperly stored, previously opened) cannot be stored or served.
• Adult tenants and occupants must be registered with the City Treasurer within 10 days of moving in; landlords and tenants are both responsible for ensuring this.
• Work on buildings or structures requires a permit where required by the Zoning Ordinance; temporary dumpsters need a permit; signs/billboards need approval; contractors need a business license and proof of insurance.
• Accessory structures (detached garages, fences, walls) must be kept structurally sound and in good repair.

Penalties

Violation tickets: $50 for a first offense, $100 for a second offense of the same violation, $150 for a third, and a citation for a fourth and subsequent offense of the same violation. Citations carry a fine of not less than $300 and not more than $1,000 per offense, or imprisonment of up to 90 days, or both. Each day a violation continues may count as a separate offense. If a ticket isn't paid or appealed within 30 days, it goes to a collection agency. The City may also abate violations itself (charging $60/hour per worker plus materials with a 20% surcharge) or direct a contractor to do so (with a 30% processing fee added to the contractor's bill), and unpaid amounts can become a lien on the property after 45 days.

Notable and archaic details

• The City can perform abatement work itself at a stated rate of $60 per hour per worker, plus a 20% surcharge on materials.
• A person can appeal a violation ticket to the City Administrator within 15 calendar days, but the appeal must be accompanied by the fine amount.
• Residents are prohibited from feeding, sheltering, or otherwise interacting with outdoor animals, wildlife, or suspected strays.