§ 12413 — Regulation of division fences, party walls and foundations

(a) Authority.--

(1) Subject to the provisions of and regulations adopted pursuant to the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act and other applicable law, council may provide regulations for party walls and division fences, the foundations of buildings and entering upon the land or lands, lot or lots, of any person within the city at all reasonable hours by its duly appointed city engineer or building inspectors in order to enforce the regulations and set out foundations.

(2) Council may prescribe reasonable fees for the service of city officers in the inspection and regulation of party walls, division fences and foundations and may enforce the payment of the fees.

(3) Council may provide fines or penalties for violations of an ordinance enacted pursuant to this section.

(b) Specifications.--

(1) In setting out foundations and regulating party walls as to breadth and thickness, the city shall require the foundations to be laid equally upon the lands of the persons between whom the party wall is to be made.

(2) The cost of the foundation and party wall shall be divided proportionately among the property owners sharing the wall. The property owners shall either share the expense when the foundation is laid and the party wall is erected or when the subsequent building is erected if all buildings are not erected at the same time.