Pottstown's Property Maintenance: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles property maintenance a little differently. In Pottstown, Pennsylvania, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Property Blight

Pottstown's five-member Blighted Property Review Committee, created under Chapter 1 Part 9 Article E, can certify any property in the Borough as blighted, order the owner to eliminate the conditions, and work with the Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority toward acquisition, including eminent domain, if the owner does not comply within the notice period.

Key details: Committee size: 5 members. Appeal window: 15 days after notice. Governing statute: Urban Development Act, P.L. 91. Enforcement partner: Montgomery County Redevelopment Authority. Member term: Annual, ends December 31.

An owner served with a blight resolution under Section 945 has 15 days from the notice date to file a written appeal with the Committee, which triggers a hearing before the Committee. If the owner does not appeal or does not eliminate the certified conditions, Section 944 authorizes the Committee to proceed with the Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County toward acquisition of the property, up to and including eminent domain.

Compared to other cities, Pottstown takes a harder line on property blight. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Snow & Sidewalk Clearing

Pottstown gives property owners and single-unit tenants 12 hours of daylight after snow stops falling or ice forms to clear the abutting sidewalk under Section 212 of Chapter 21. The cleared path must run the sidewalk's full width if it's three feet or less, or at least three feet wide on wider walks, and the snow can't be pushed into the gutter or street.

Key details: Governing section: §212, Chapter 21, Streets and Sidewalks. Deadline: 12 daylight hours after snow/ice stops. Minimum path width: 3 feet (full width if narrower). Responsible party: Owner, or tenant of single-unit rental. Cost recovery: Removal cost plus 10% penalty.

Failure to clear snow or ice in time lets the Borough remove it and bill the responsible owner, occupant or tenant the cost plus a 10% penalty under Section 212(2), collected the same way as curbing and paving debts. Dumping cleared snow into the gutter or roadway is a separate violation subject to the Part 2 general penalty in Section 215: $5 to $600 plus costs of prosecution.

The Bottom Line

Pottstown's property maintenance rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Pottstown is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Pottstown's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.