Electronic and mechanical amusement devices can provide affordable fun for business and restaurant patrons. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous proprietors use these games to engage in illegal gambling. To prevent unlawful gaming from increasing crime and other social ailments in our community, Brentwood Borough requires strict licensing of all amusement devices. Business owners must complete the form below to register all jukeboxes, pool tables, sporting game tables (foosball, air hockey, mini basketball games, etc.), video games, mechanical and electronic games of skill (claw machines, shooting galleries, skee-ball, etc.), and simulated casino games. The annual license fee is $200 per pool table or sporting game table and $600 for any other amusement device.

One of Brentwood’s greatest assets is its attractive and well-maintained housing stock. However, like every older community, our municipality is not immune to the creeping specter of blight. The presence of just one uncut lawn or trash-ridden porch can send an entire block into a downward spiral of decay. Even relatively minor infractions, such as placing trash at the curb before the designated collection time or allowing overgrown hedges to infringe upon the sidewalk, can reflect negatively on our community to visitors. Additionally, some property maintenance issues, such as cracked retaining walls or dilapidated accessory structures, can pose severe hazards to neighboring properties or passersby.

Brentwood Borough takes seriously its duty to provide stringent and uniform enforcement of all property codes. The actions of our office improve the aesthetic appeal of the community, which serves to raise property values for current homeowners while concurrently increasing the attractiveness of the Borough to individuals who are in the market for a new home or storefront. The Department of Building Inspection/Code Enforcement works to enhance resident quality-of-life by removing eyesores and abating property nuisances. Strict code enforcement also functions as a mechanism by which to hold accountable those landlords who chose to defer basic property maintenance.

For a list of answers to frequently asked questions about our property codes, view the PDF document below. By following our simple rules and responding promptly to violation notices, residents can show pride in their community and can demonstrate their commitment to preserving its charming, neighborly character for future generations.

The Home Improvement Consumer Protector Act mandates that any firm that performs renovation or maintenance on an existing residential structure must apply for a license from the State of Pennsylvania. Exceptions are only provided for “handymen” who perform less than $5000 in total work per year and large building supply retailers (i.e. Lowes, Home Depot, Sears) that offer home installation service. Electricians, plumbers, roofers, pavers, HVAC installers, and other general contracting and labor companies must verify their registration prior to obtaining a building permit from the Borough. To register your business or to find out if the contractor that you’ve hired has procured the necessary license, visit the Attorney General's website.

To prevent accidents that impact worker safety and damage the property of Borough residents, all contractors are also required to carry liability insurance. The Department of Building Inspection/Code Enforcement requests that applicants present proof insurance along with their building permit form.

The Department of Building Inspection/Code Enforcement is tasked with the regulation of fireworks sales on our municipality. Licensed retailers of Pennsylvania-legal fireworks may erect a temporary tent in which to sell their goods on private commercial property at the cost of $100 per day. Interested dealers should complete our standard Application for a Uniform Construction Permit, which can be found above. When submitting this form to our department, please also include the following items: a copy of the lease agreement with the owner of the property on which the tent will be constructed, a copy of your company’s Certificate of Flame Retardace, proof of liability and workman’s compensation insurance, and an inventory of the products that will be sold at your stand.

Brentwood Borough residents are required to follow Allegheny County Health Department guidelines concerning campfires, grills, barbeque pits, outdoor fireplaces, and similar recreational burning activities and devices. These fires may be no greater than three (3) feet in diameter and must be located at least fifteen (15) feet from the nearest building. Only clean, dry wood may be utilized to fuel the fire; the burning of discarded wooden materials or trash of any kind is prohibited. Recreational fires must be attended at all times. Our office will issue notices of violation to residents who fail to prevent smoke from infringing upon neighboring properties or the public street.

Are you interested in purchasing a home in our attractive and welcoming community? Prior to closing, the Department of Building/Code Enforcement will require several pieces of documentation. The transaction process is initiated when our office receives a request from the applicable closing company for an occupancy permit, a dye test certification, a sewer lateral certification, and a municipal lien letter, as well as all applicable fees. The cost for the inspection is $50 per unit for a residential structure or $100 per unit for a commercial building; a $50 processing charge is attached to each of the latter three items. The total fee for the sale of a single family home is $200. The closing company must submit these funds along with a completed application for an occupancy permit.

Brentwood Borough mandates that the current owner of the property commissions a dye test at cost from a registered master plumber. This simple assessment is used to detect illegal stormwater connections to the sanitary sewer system. Plumbers must use the Dye Test Report form found below to record the results of the test.   As of May 2014, Brentwood Borough also requires a sewer lateral camera inspection to be performed as a condition of every sale.  For questions about this program, consult the FAQ document below.  The plumber must submit a DVD copy of the inspection video to our office.  All final determinations related to required repairs will be made by Department of Building/Code Enforcement.

The Building Code Official must also conduct a quick-but-thorough examination of the premises to ensure that no critical health or safety violations are present. The inspection checklist can be found below for relator or purchaser reference. If any deficiencies are noted, the prospective buyer will be required to sign the checklist and consent to a re-inspection to verify that all repairs have been completed.  Finally, the department will issue a document that outlines any liens that have been filed against the property for delinquent sewage or outstanding property maintenance bills. Please note that all liens must be satisfied before the date of closing.

Brentwood is fortunate to that, as the community has aged, its neighborhoods have remained stable and vibrant. Our Borough stridently uses every available tool to ensure that we retain this high quality-of-life for future generations of residents. In the spirit of this value, Brentwood Borough Council has adopted a vacant property registration ordinance to mitigate the negative impact of homes that unoccupied and in which maintenance has been deferred. Structures that are required to be registered under this initative, such as those that are subject to foreclosure action by a lender, are typically sold and rehabilitated after a relatively short period of time. However, despite their rarity within the community, these properties are a significant source of code enforcement complaints.  Through this new program, the Borough will work to prevent these negative outcomes by performing a closer evaluation of property conditions while concurrently opening a line of communication with the party that is responsibile for management of the site.

Property registration is required for buildings that have not been occupied for at least 60 days under certain circumstances. If a building is vacant because it is actively being marketed for sale or lease, it is exempted from registration for as long as the site remains free of code violations. Consequently, if you are an owner-occupant who moves out of the Borough or a landlord who is between tenants, there is no mandate to enroll, providing that you do not permit the site to become a nuisance by failing to perform routine maintenance. Exemptions are also available for buildings that are under renovation and for which a building permit has been issued, as well as those homes that are vacated because the owner temporarily resides at an alternative address for a portion of the year (e.g. "snowbirding"). If the structure does not adhere to these criteria, then the property owner must submit a registration statement and a corresponding fee. If the subject property is a single-family home, then a charge of $125 will be assessed; the rate for multi-family and commercial buildings is set at $250. Any property owner who does not reside in Allegheny County must designate an individual who lives within this jurisdiction as its responsible agent. The owner or agent must contact the department within 30 days of registration to conduct an inspection.

To register a vacant property, please complete the form below.