Bristol Township, PA Rental Inspections: Inspection Programs (2026)

The rental inspection program in Bristol Township runs through the annual license in § 120-10I. A person who rents a house, apartment, multifamily dwelling or room for residence, other than a motel or hotel, obtains an annual license from the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections. The license fee and the fee for any additional inspections required under Chapter 120 are set by resolution or ordinance of Township Council. A certificate of approval is then issued for each licensed rental unit on a determination that the unit meets Chapter 120 and all other appropriate regulatory ordinances of the Township.

The certificate does not last: it becomes invalid when the unit becomes vacant or on notice of revocation from the Director of the Office of Licenses, Zoning and Inspections or the Housing Official, and it is reissued only after inspection and a determination that the unit is fit for occupancy. Annual inspections are not made until the registration fee is paid. Two certifications must be provided before the rental inspection and occupancy: a heater certification from a Pennsylvania licensed HVAC professional (§ 120-10D) and, for a unit with a working chimney, certification by a licensed professional (§ 120-10J).

If a chimney is not in service or not certified, the owner must take the necessary action to prevent its use by the occupants. Recovery houses face four quarterly inspections every year under § 120-10K, and if the owner or manager refuses the Building Official access, the Building Official can declare the property unsafe, unfit for human occupancy or an imminent danger under the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (§ 120-11C). Inspections also happen outside the license cycle: § 120-11A authorizes surveys of an area when undue lapse of time has passed since the last official inspection.