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Code Enforcement FAQs

What is an ordinance?

An ordinance is a Municipal statute or regulation. Simply put it is a local law.

Example: Dogs must be on a leash in Northampton Township and you can not burn leaves on your premises without a permit.

Ordinances are here for the benefit of the Township as a whole, so be aware of them and abide by them.

How are ordinances initiated?

Any resident in Northampton Township is able to suggest that an ordinance be enacted. The suggestion should then be submitted to the Assistant Manager or the Township Manager. It is then forwarded to the Planning Commission for their recommendations. The Planning Commission then passes it to the Board of Supervisors who have the final vote on it.

How can you stay informed of them?

Before an ordinance can be voted on, it must be advertised in the legal section of the local newspaper. The second way is through the local Municipal cable channel #23. This channel displays a bulletin board which lists the agendas of upcoming board and commission meetings. The third way is to come to the Administration Building at:

55 Township Road
Richboro, PA 18954
(215) 357-6800

Finally, the fourth way is to attend the township Planning Commission Meetings which are held on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 8:00pm, the Board of Supervisors meetings which are held on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 8:00pm, and the Zoning Hearing Board Meetings which are held on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7:30pm.

What are the consequences of violating ordinances?

If you were to be found guilty of violating an ordinance you may be subject to the penalty as small as a non-traffic citation or as severe as a $1,000 dollar fine.

Are there any other types of ordinances?

Zoning Code is another type of ordinance which pertains to the use of land in Northampton. You may not use your land in any manner other than in accordance with the provisions of the Zoning Code. Some of the most common codes are the R-1, R-2, R-3, & R-5 districts which are residential and the A-R districts which are agricultural and residential. Then there are the commercial districts, C-2, & C-3 and the I-P zones which denote institutional and public property districts. There are also zoning codes for Professional Office, P-O and Planned Industrial/Office, I-1. The Environmental zoning code is E-P.

The Codes and their meanings are:

• P-O - Professional Office
• E-P - Environmental Protection
• A-R - Agricultural - Residential
• R-1 - Single - Family, 40,000 Square Foot Lot
• R-2 - Single -Family 20,000 Square Foot
• PUBLIC - Water and Sewer
• R-3 - Multi - Family
• R-5 - Mobile Home
• C-2 - General Commercial / Office
• C-3 - Planned Commercial
• I-1 - Planned Industrial / Office
• I-P - Institutional / Public
• REC - Recreation

Township Tidbits

Is your deck safe? Look for some of the warning signs.

If you see any of these warning signs you should consider repairing, retrofitting, or rebuilding your deck.

Decks built 12-15 years ago, or longer may be susceptible to excessive deterioration, wear, and fatigue. This should be checked out by using the services of a reputable and knowledgeable contractor, or, engineer.

Some of the signs:
Missing connections. A deck should be constructed using nails, screws, bolts, and metal connectors. Deck construction materials, hardware, and, requirements have vastly improved over the last decade. Factors such as exposure to the elements, lack of maintenance, leaking flashings around windows and doors above the deck, and even around the deck itself could make your deck unsafe. Look for missing or loose connections, corrosion, rot and cracks.

The forces that act on a deck are people and objects, such as furniture, and Mother Nature, like wind and snow.

Gravity loads- this is the weight of people, objects, snow, or ice.

Lateral loads- these are the back and forth motion (horizontal) caused by people walking or running and leaning on the railing. Wind and earthquakes can cause lateral movement.

Uplift loads- these are caused by wind flowing under the deck creating a lifting effect. People standing on the overhang portion of some decks create upwards pressure on the connection at the house.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SIMPSON STRONG-TIE COMPANY.

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