Please see the following which summarizes the boarding Ordinance for the Borough of Norristown, PA. Please contact our offices for a copy of the ordinance.

Norristown General Laws, Chapter 122, is summarized as follows.

Any time a building is boarded, either by decision of the owner or occupant or at the direction of the borough officials, an application for a boarding permit must be submitted along with a $100 application fee. If the borough boards a building of its own accord, the owner must file an application within ten days of notice of boarding.

The Building Inspector is required to inspect the premises to determine that:

• the building is structurally sound and does not present a hazard;
• the electrical, heating, plumbing, water and sewage systems are properly working;
• the building is baited for rodents and exterminated for insects;
• the boarding materials are painted to a similar color to match the surrounding brick, stucco, wood or other surrounding materials;
• the work and materials meet the standards of the BOCA Nation Existing Structures Code or other requirements as set forth in other borough ordinances.
  

After completion of the inspection, the borough will advise the owner of required repairs, if any, to make the building secure for boarding and enclosing. After the required repairs have been made, a permit to board may be issued.

A building may be boarded for six months from the date of application. The Building
Inspector may grant one six-month extension but only in the following circumstances:

• the owner has a valid building permit and is actively rehabilitating the building;
• the owner has a valid agreement of sale with a perspective purchaser and the purchaser has a commitment of finance or mortgage from a responsible lender; or
• the owner has advertised the property for sale for the past three months.

Owners who do not meet the criteria for a boarding extension or who have exceeding the boarding time frames must pay an additional monthly reinspection fee of $100. Upon reinspection each month and payment of the fee, the original permit will be extended for an additional thirty days.

Violators of this Ordinance are subject to a fine of not less than $300 and not more than $600, or imprisonment for a term as set by the Magistrate, the District Justice or the Court of Common Pleas.