PUBLIC NOTICE
BOROUGH OF FORD CITY
Ford City Borough Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 4:00 p.m., at the Ford City Borough Municipal Building, 1000 4th Avenue, Ford City, PA 16226, for general purposes and to consider the adoption of, and if appropriate enact, a codification, compilation and revision of the ordinances of Ford City Borough, including certain new provisions, amended provisions and repealed provisions. The titles below contain the text of the body of all general administrative and regulatory ordinances of the Borough, aside from the Borough’s Zoning Ordinance which will remain in full force and effect as a stand-alone ordinance, organized as follows, omitted Chapters are reserved.
TITLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE III: ADMINISTRATION
TITLE V PUBLIC WORKS:
TITLE IX: GENERAL REGUALTIONS
TITLE XI: BUSINESS REGULATIONS
TITLE XIII: GENERAL OFFENSES
TITLE XV: LAND USAGE
TABLE OF SPECIAL ORDINANCES
PARALLEL REFERENCES
INDEX
A complete true and correct copy of the proposed ordinance and codification is on file and may be examined by the public at the Ford City Borough Building, 1000 4th Avenue, Ford City, PA 16226, during the hours of: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. A copy of the proposed ordinance is also available for inspection at the Armstrong County Law Library, Armstrong County Courthouse, 500 Market Street, Kittanning, PA 16201.
Proposed Adoption Ordinance
Explanation of the Updated Code of Ordinances
Purpose of the Code Update
The Borough recently completed a comprehensive update to its Code of Ordinances following a formal legal and editorial review conducted as part of the codification process. That review identified numerous issues that had accumulated over many decades, including outdated laws, inconsistent terminology, obsolete boards and programs, legally vulnerable provisions, and references to offices, authorities, and statutes that no longer exist.
The Borough last codified it’s Ordinances in 1971 and has not codified since. The goal of this update was not to increase regulation, but to ensure the Borough’s ordinances are clear, accurate, enforceable, constitutional, and reflective of how the Borough actually operates today.
1. Removal of obsolete and inactive provisions
Over time, ordinances were added to the Code without older or superseded sections being removed. As a result, the Code contained chapters and provisions that were no longer used, no longer legal, or were handled today by other entities.
As part of this update, the Borough removed:
- Defunct boards, commissions, advisory committees, and authorities that no longer operate.
- Parks, programs, and regulatory structures that no longer exist.
- Taxes and abatements that are no longer collected or authorized.
- Utility and public works inspection provisions that are no longer applicable.
- Entire chapters regulating activities that are now governed exclusively by state law or zoning.
Removing these sections reduces confusion, avoids conflicting interpretations, and ensures residents are not subject to rules that no longer apply.
2. Correction of authority, titles, and enforcement responsibility
The editorial review identified widespread inconsistencies in how authority was assigned throughout the Code. Some provisions referenced officials or bodies that no longer exist, while others assigned permitting or enforcement authority in conflicting ways.
To address this, the Borough:
- Standardized references to Borough Council as the governing body.
- Clarified enforcement authority by consistently identifying the Borough Manager, Borough Code Enforcement Officer, Public Works Director, and the police agency authorized to serve the Borough.
- Removed outdated references to the Mayor exercising permitting or enforcement authority where those duties are no longer assigned by law.
- Eliminated references to a Board of Health and reassigned applicable enforcement functions to the Code Enforcement Officer.
These changes improve accountability and transparency by clearly identifying who is responsible for decisions and enforcement actions.
3. Removal of outdated and legally vulnerable criminal-style offenses
Some provisions in the former Code dated back more than a century and raised constitutional concerns under modern court rulings. The editorial report specifically flagged sections that were vague, duplicative of state law, or legally unenforceable.
As a result, the Borough removed entire chapters and sections addressing matters such as loitering, suspicious persons, vagrancy-type offenses, begging, masked faces, intoxication, and similar criminal-style provisions. These issues are now addressed through state law or modern, narrowly tailored regulations.
This protects residents from improper enforcement and reduces legal risk to the Borough.
4. Standardization of penalties and modernization of fees
The prior Code contained dozens of different fine amounts and penalty structures, many of which were decades old and inconsistent across chapters.
The updated Code:
- Adopts standardized summary offense language throughout.
- Clearly defines enforcement procedures and available remedies.
- Moves permit fees, inspection fees, and similar charges out of the ordinance text and authorizes Borough Council to set those amounts by resolution.
This approach allows fees to be adjusted transparently over time without repeatedly amending the Code, while ensuring consistency and fairness across departments.
5. Updates to statutory references and adopted codes
Many sections of the former Code referenced repealed statutes, outdated numbering, or legacy building and safety codes that are no longer maintained.
The Borough:
- Corrected or removed outdated statutory references.
- Confirmed adoption of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code.
- Removed unnecessary or conflicting legacy code adoptions.
- Retained only those building and property maintenance provisions that remain relevant.
These changes ensure the Code aligns with current state law and avoids internal conflicts.
6. Improvements to utility, public works, and infrastructure regulation
The editorial review identified utility provisions that did not fully meet modern due-process standards. The Borough updated these sections to ensure proper notice and an opportunity to address or dispute issues before enforcement action.
In addition, the Borough added and strengthened comprehensive street excavation and right-of-way regulations, including:
- Clear permit types and application requirements.
- Modern insurance, bonding, and performance guarantee standards.
- Detailed restoration requirements for streets, sidewalks, and brick roadways.
- Clear inspection and enforcement authority.
These provisions protect Borough infrastructure while providing clear expectations for residents, contractors, and utilities.
7. New and strengthened regulatory provisions
In addition to cleanup and corrections, the Borough intentionally added or strengthened several areas of regulation where gaps previously existed.
These include:
Farm animals and backyard hens
Previous code ONLY regulated swine. The Code now clearly regulates farm animals Borough-wide. Livestock and agricultural animals are prohibited, while a limited number of hens are permitted under strict, enforceable conditions. The Code establishes clear limits, setback requirements, sanitation standards, nuisance controls, inspection authority, and an explicit prohibition on roosters. This balances individual interests with neighborhood quality of life and public health.
Fireworks
Previous code entirely prohibited fireworks for any purpose in the Borough. The Code adopts modern fireworks regulations that prohibit private use of aerial fireworks while allowing Borough-approved displays for special events. These provisions require licensed operators, insurance, safety planning, and Borough approval, ensuring fireworks displays are safe, controlled, and appropriate.
Nuisance enforcement
Nuisance definitions were expanded and clarified to address odors, waste accumulation, vermin, runoff, unsafe conditions, and similar impacts. The Code makes clear that technical compliance with one section does not excuse nuisance conditions that affect neighboring properties.
Enforcement clarity
Throughout the Code, enforcement authority is clearly delegated, eliminating uncertainty about who may inspect properties, issue notices, approve permits, or initiate enforcement actions.
In plain terms
This update was about cleaning up decades of accumulated issues while strengthening the Code where it truly matters. The Borough removed obsolete and unenforceable provisions, corrected legal deficiencies, clarified authority, and added modern, carefully tailored regulations to protect public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life.
The result is a Code of Ordinances that is shorter, clearer, more consistent, and legally stronger, making it easier for residents to understand and for the Borough to administer fairly.
You can review the entire proposed code here: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/fordcitypa/latest/fordcity_pa/0-0-0-2
