Simone Lawson
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a house is deemed condemned when it is found to be unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, or unlawful. A Code Enforcement Officer is responsible for evaluating and determining whether a house falls under any of these categories. If a house is deemed unsafe, it means that it poses a danger to the life, health, property, or safety of its occupants or the public. This could be due to fire hazards, unsafe equipment, structural instability, or faulty construction, among other factors. An unlawful structure is one that is occupied by more people than permitted by law or was erected, altered, or occupied contrary to the law. If a structure is vacant and unfit for human habitation, the Code Enforcement Officer will post a placard of condemnation and order it to be closed to prevent it from becoming an attractive nuisance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Unsafe structure | Dangerous to life, health, property, or safety of the public or occupants of the structure |
| Unsafe structure | Does not provide minimum safeguards to protect or warn occupants in the event of a fire |
| Unsafe structure | Contains unsafe equipment |
| Unsafe structure | Is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe, or of faulty construction |
| Unsafe structure | Has an unstable foundation that could cause partial or complete collapse |
| Unsafe equipment | Includes any boiler, heating equipment, elevator, moving stairway, electrical wiring, flammable liquid containers, or other equipment on the premises or within the structure |
| Unsafe equipment | Is in such disrepair or condition that it is a hazard to life or health |
| Unlawful structure | Occupied by more persons than permitted by law |
| Unlawful structure | Erected, altered, or occupied contrary to law |
| Vacant structure | Unfit for human habitation and occupancy |
| Vacant structure | Not in danger of structural collapse |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Unsafe structures
Philadelphia's Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) is responsible for ensuring the safety of buildings and structures in the city. When a property is deemed unsafe, L&I has the authority to issue a condemnation, which means that the property is considered uninhabitable and must be vacated.
There are several factors that can lead to a house being condemned in Philadelphia, PA. These include:
Structural damage: This includes issues such as cracked or buckling walls
Benjamin Franklin's Influence on the Constitution
You may want to see also
Unfit for human occupancy
In Philadelphia, PA, a house is deemed "unfit for human occupancy" and condemned when it is found to be unsafe or unlawful, or when it is vacant and unfit for human habitation.
An unsafe structure is one that is considered dangerous to the life, health, property, or safety of the public or its occupants. This could be due to inadequate safeguards in the event of a fire, unsafe equipment, damage, decay, dilapidation, structural instability, or faulty construction. If a structure is deemed unsafe, a Code Enforcement Officer is authorised to order the occupants to vacate the premises.
An unlawful structure is one that is occupied by more people than permitted by law or was erected, altered, or occupied contrary to law. If a structure is deemed unlawful, the Code Enforcement Officer will post a placard of condemnation and order the structure to be closed to prevent it from becoming an attractive nuisance.
Vacant structures that are unfit for human habitation but not in danger of structural collapse are also subject to condemnation. In such cases, the Code Enforcement Officer will post a placard of condemnation and order the owner to secure the premises. If the owner fails to do so within the specified time, the Code Enforcement Officer will arrange for the premises to be secured through a public agency or private contractors, with the cost charged to the real estate as a lien.
Texas Constitution's Fragmented Executive: Why So Broken?
You may want to see also
Unlawful structures
In Philadelphia, PA, a dwelling will be designated as "Unfit for Human Habitation" by a code official if it is unsanitary, vermin-infested, lacking in required facilities or equipment, or is in a state of disrepair that poses a health or safety hazard to its occupants.
An unsafe structure is one that is deemed dangerous to the life, health, property, or safety of the public or its occupants. This can be due to inadequate means of egress facilities, fire hazards, illegal or improper occupancy, inadequate maintenance, or structural issues such as faulty construction or an unstable foundation, which could lead to partial or complete collapse.
In the case of imminent danger, such as the collapse of a structure, the code official is authorised to order occupants to vacate the premises and post notices prohibiting occupancy. It is unlawful for anyone to enter such a structure except for the purpose of making necessary repairs or demolishing it.
Stay-at-Home Orders: Violating Our Constitutional Rights?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Vacant structures
A vacant property in Philadelphia, PA, can be condemned if it falls under the category of a 'nuisance property'. The City of Philadelphia defines a nuisance property as one that is vacant and open to trespass, with conditions that are detrimental to the public health, safety, and welfare of the community. This includes vacant structures that are
Civil Liberties: Our Constitutional Rights Explained
You may want to see also
Imminent danger
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a house may be condemned if it is deemed unsafe, unfit for human occupancy, or unlawful. An unsafe structure is one that is dangerous to the life, health, property, or safety of the public or the occupants of the structure. This could be due to a lack of minimum safeguards in the event of a fire, unsafe equipment, damage, decay, or faulty construction.
An unlawful structure is one that is occupied by more people than permitted by law or was erected, altered, or occupied contrary to law. If a structure is vacant and unfit for human habitation, the Code Enforcement Officer can post a placard of condemnation and order it to be closed to prevent it from becoming an attractive nuisance. If the owner fails to comply, the officer will arrange for the premises to be closed through a public agency or private persons, with the cost charged against the real estate.
Overall, the decision to condemn a house in Philadelphia, PA, is based on ensuring the safety and well-being of the occupants and the public, addressing unsafe or unlawful structures, and taking necessary steps to mitigate imminent dangers.
Understanding Hostile Work Environments in Oklahoma
You may want to see also
