Title
Amending Chapter 3 of Subcode PM ("The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code") of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "General Requirements," to add provisions relating to bed bug infestation; adding Chapter 9-4500 of the Code, entitled "Responsibilities Concerning Bed Bug Infestations," to establish various requirements for landlords and tenants relating to bed bug infestation and to establish requirements related to bed bugs in connection with certain residential occupancies and the sale of residential property; all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has neighborhoods where more than 10% of households have been affected by bed bugs; and
WHEREAS, although numerous cities, including but not limited to New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Jersey City, Albany, and Hartford, have bed bug enforcement ordinances, the City of Philadelphia has no ordinance addressing the serious problem of bed bugs; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia does not have a department coordinating or recording bed bug complaints; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have issued a statement that bed bugs "are a pest of significant public health importance"; and
WHEREAS, Bed bugs may affect the ability of health care providers to serve patients living in affected households and institutions; and
WHEREAS, Bed bug infestations can lead to social stigmas, mental health duress, and isolation among those affected, now therefore,
SECTION 1. Bed Bugs are hereby declared to be a pest of significant public health importance and subject to remediation provisions.
SECTION 2. Subcode PM of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code ("The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code") is hereby amended as follows:
TITLE 4. THE PHILADELPHIA BUILDING CONSTRUCTION AND OCCUPANCY CODE
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SUBCODE "PM" (THE PHIL...
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