Pottstown, PA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Correction window
- 60 days after transfer
- Single-family requirement
- Fire extinguisher, GFCI outlets, gas shutoffs
- Multifamily/rental
- Full code-compliance inspection
- Commercial/industrial
- Adds zoning and fire-code review
- Governing section
- § 113, Ch. 5 Part 4
Summary
Before a Pottstown dwelling changes hands, Section 113 requires a Property Transfer Use and Occupancy Certificate: a code-compliance inspection, a buyer notification of pending violations, and correction of any cited violations within 60 days. Multifamily and rental units face a fuller compliance inspection, and commercial or industrial buildings add zoning and fire-code review before a certificate issues.
Section 113. Property Transfer Use and Occupancy Certificate. Section 113.1. Single-Family Owner-Occupied Dwelling Requirements. Upon transfer of title to a new owner, or upon said building becoming vacant, no single-family dwelling shall be occupied, in whole or in part, until the issuance of a certificate by the Code Enforcement Officer. ... Section 113.2. Single-Family, Two-Family and Multifamily Dwelling Units. Upon transfer of title to a new owner, no single-family rental unit, no two-family dwelling and no multiple dwelling shall be occupied, in whole or in part, until the issuance of a property transfer certificate of occupancy by the Code Enforcement Officer that said structure conforms in all respects to the requirements of this code. ... Section 113.7. Residential Rental Units. All residential rental units shall require a biennial inspection for code compliance pursuant to the requirements of § 801 of Part 8 of Chapter 5 of the Pottstown Borough Code of Ordinances, as amended.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 5012545; v22 updated 2026-07-13; through 07-13-2026).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 5, Code Enforcement, Part 4, § 113, Property Transfer Use and Occupancy Certificate, added under Ordinance 2019 (April 10, 2006) and amended through Ordinance 2212 (May 9, 2022), sets a multi-stage process that varies by building type. 1), transfer of title or the building becoming vacant triggers a required inspection before reoccupancy, covering a kitchen fire extinguisher, ground-fault outlets in wet locations, shutoff valves on gas ranges, and a rear outlet on electric ranges; the old owner must disclose pending violations in writing, and the buyer has 60 days to correct them.
2) go through a fuller code-compliance inspection covering the entire structure, again with a 60-day correction window and a requirement to connect to public water if the unit still relies on an individual supply. 3) add a check against the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 27, and the Fire Prevention and Plumbing Codes on top of the property maintenance inspection. 11 requires an absentee landlord who lives outside Montgomery, Chester or Berks County to designate a local agent to receive Borough notices.
Violations & Fines
Failure to correct violations cited during a transfer inspection within the 60-day window subjects the responsible owner to the penalties in § PM106.4 of the adopted Property Maintenance Code. Occupying a dwelling, rental unit or commercial building before the required certificate issues is itself a violation the Code Enforcement Officer can act on, separate from any underlying property-condition citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an inspection before buying a house in Pottstown?
How long do I have to fix violations found during a Pottstown transfer inspection?
Does buying a rental property in Pottstown require anything beyond the transfer inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pottstown
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