[Ord. 2231, 4/8/2014, § 1]
1. 
The Council finds that graffiti is a public nuisance and destructive of the rights and values of property owners as well as the entire community. Unless the Borough acts to remove graffiti from public and private property, the graffiti tends to remain. Other properties then become the target of graffiti, and entire neighborhoods are affected and become less desirable places in which to be, all to the detriment of the Borough.
2. 
The Borough Council intends, through the adoption of this Part, to provide additional enforcement tools to protect public and private property from acts of graffiti, vandalism and defacement. The Council does not intend for this Part to conflict with any existing antigraffiti and criminal state laws, and to the extent such conflict may exist, state law shall supersede this Part.
[Ord. 2231, 4/8/2014, § 1]
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context.
BOROUGH
The Borough of Phoenixville.
BUILDING
Any structure used for commercial, business or residential purposes and any structure appurtenant to said use, including, but not limited to, garages, fences, retaining walls, or facades.
DEFACE
To cover, mark, write on, paint, color or otherwise mar, disfigure or draw whatsoever on any private or public property of any nature without the express advance consent of the owner.
GRAFFITI
Any unauthorized inscription, word, figure, mark, design, painting or other defacement that is written, marked, etched, scratched, sprayed, drawn, painted, or engraved on or otherwise affixed to any surface of public or private property by any graffiti implement to the extent that the graffiti was not authorized in advance by the owner of the property. This definition shall not be construed to prohibit easily removable chalk markings on the public sidewalks and streets.
GRAFFITI IMPLEMENT
Any aerosol paint container, a broad-tipped marker, gum label, paint stick or graffiti stick, etching equipment, brush or any other device capable of scarring or leaving a visible mark on any natural or man-made surface.
OWNER
The owner of record of the property.
PERSON
Includes any human being, clubs, corporation, partnership, authority, company, municipality, unincorporated association, special improvement district, fire company, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any other entity able to sue or be sued.
PROPERTY
Any real property and appurtenances, whether public or private property.
PUBLIC PLACE
Any place to which the public has access, including but not limited to a public street, road, thoroughfare, sidewalk, bridge, alley, plaza, park, recreation or shopping area, public transportation facility, vehicle used for public transportation, parking lot or any other parking, public building, structure or any municipal parking signs, etc., or area.
[Ord. 2231, 4/8/2014, § 1]
The following acts are prohibited.
1. 
Defacement. It shall be unlawful for any person to apply graffiti or aid in the application of graffiti to any natural or man-made surface on any Borough-owned property or building or, without the advance express consent of the owner or occupant, on any non-Borough-owned property or building. This prohibition shall not apply to easily removable (water soluble) chalk markings on public sidewalks or streets.
2. 
Nuisance. The existence of graffiti on public or private property in violation of this Part is expressly declared to be a public nuisance and therefore is subject to removal and abatement provisions specified in this Part. It is the duty of the owner of the property or building to which the graffiti has been applied to at all times keep the property clear of graffiti.
[Ord. 2231, 4/8/2014, § 1]
1. 
Removal by the perpetrator. Any person applying graffiti on public or private property shall have the duty to remove the graffiti within 24 hours after written notice by the Borough. A copy of the written notice shall also be sent to the property owner.
A. 
The notice shall contain the following information:
(1) 
The street address and legal description of the property sufficient for identification of the property;
(2) 
Contact information for the property owner;
(3) 
A statement that the property is a potential graffiti nuisance property with a concise description of the conditions leading to the finding and a statement of the Code sections the potential graffiti nuisance violates;
(4) 
A statement that the graffiti must be removed within 24 hours after receipt of the notice and that if the graffiti is not abated within that time, the Borough may declare the property a public nuisance, subject to abatement procedures.
(5) 
An information sheet identifying any graffiti removal assistance programs available through the Borough and private graffiti removal contractors.
B. 
Such removal shall be done in a manner prescribed by the Borough Manager, Director of Public Works, Youth Aid Panel and/or the Beautification Committee. Any person applying graffiti shall be responsible for the removal or for the payment of the removal by the Public Works Department. Failure of any person to remove graffiti or pay for the removal shall constitute a violation of this Part.
2. 
Removal by the property owner. If graffiti is not removed by the perpetrator, graffiti shall be removed by the property owner pursuant to the following provisions:
A. 
It is unlawful for any person who is the owner to permit property that is defaced with graffiti to remain defaced for a period of 15 days after service by first class mail of notice of the defacement by the Borough. The notice shall contain the following information:
(1) 
The street address and legal description of the property sufficient for identification of the property;
(2) 
A statement that the property is a potential graffiti nuisance property with a concise description of the conditions leading to the finding and a statement of the Code sections the potential graffiti nuisance violates;
(3) 
A statement that the graffiti must be removed within 15 days after receipt of the notice and that if the graffiti is not abated within that time, the Borough will declare the property a public nuisance, subject to abatement procedures.
(4) 
An information sheet identifying any graffiti removal assistance programs available through the Borough and private graffiti removal contractors.
B. 
The removal requirements above shall not apply if the property owner can demonstrate that:
(1) 
The property owner or responsible party lacks the financial ability to remove the defacing graffiti and the Borough is willing, at its sole discretion, to utilize public funds for the removal; or
(2) 
The property owner has an active program for the removal of graffiti and has scheduled the removal of the graffiti as part of that program, in which case it shall be unlawful to permit such property to remain defaced with graffiti for a period of 15 days after service by first class mail of notice of the defacement.
3. 
Removal by the Borough.
A. 
Whenever the Borough is notified and determines that graffiti is located on publicly or privately owned property viewable from a public or quasi-public place, the Borough may, but is not obligated to, authorize the use of public funds for the removal of the graffiti. It shall not authorize or undertake to provide for the painting or repair of any area greater than that where the graffiti is affixed, unless the Borough Manager, or the designee of the Borough Manager, determines in writing that a more extensive area is required to be repainted or repaired in order to avoid an aesthetic disfigurement to the neighborhood or community or unless the property owner agrees in writing to pay for the costs of repainting or repairing the more extensive area.
B. 
Prior to entering upon private property or property owned by a public entity other than the Borough for the purpose of graffiti removal the Borough shall possess a court order permitting the entry and abatement or shall secure the consent of the property owner and a release of the Borough from liability for property damage or personal injury.
C. 
If the property owner or responsible party fails to remove the offending graffiti within the time specified by this Part, or if the Borough has requested consent to remove or paint over the offending graffiti and the property owner has refused consent for entry on terms acceptable to the Borough and consistent with the terms of this Section, the Borough shall commence abatement and cost recovery proceedings for the graffiti removal according to the provisions specified below.
[Ord. 2231, 4/8/2014, § 1]
1. 
Whenever a condition constituting a potential graffiti nuisance is verified to exist and the perpetrator and/or property owner fails to take steps to abate the nuisance after written notice or if the perpetrator and/or owner cannot be found or fails to respond to efforts to contact him, the Borough or its designee shall cause a written notice to be served upon the perpetrator, owner and/or the property where the nuisance is located in one of the following ways:
A. 
By certified mail, return receipt request to the last known address of the perpetrator and/or owner;
B. 
By making personal delivery of the notice to the perpetrator and/or owner;
C. 
By posting a copy of the notice upon the front door of the property (owner only);
D. 
By handing a copy of the notice at the residence of the perpetrator and/or owner to an adult resident; or
E. 
By publishing a copy of the notice in a local paper of general circulation within Phoenixville Borough, Chester County, Pennsylvania, once a week for three consecutive weeks.
2. 
Such notice shall set forth in what respects such condition constitutes a nuisance, the section of the Code which sets forth the violation, and what abatement is necessary and required by the Borough. Such notice shall require the owner and/or perpetrator to abate the nuisance in accordance with the terms thereof within no more than 15 calendar days of the date of the notice, all material to be supplied and work done at the owner's and/or perpetrator's expense.
3. 
Any person who, after delivery, posting or publication of notice, fails to completely comply with the terms of the notice shall be determined to be in violation of this Part, and the Borough may initiate a civil enforcement proceeding before a magisterial district judge. The civil enforcement proceeding shall be initiated by complaint or by such other means as may be provided by law. Upon conviction thereof before a magisterial district judge, the person shall pay civil penalties not to exceed $600 per violation, plus costs of prosecution, including reasonable attorney's fees. Each day or portion of a day that a violation of this Part continues shall constitute a separate offense.
4. 
In addition to or instead of invoking the penalties set forth in this Part, the Borough or persons authorized by the Borough may, in the event of any continued violations of this Part, enter upon the property and remove, repair, alter, or otherwise abate any nuisance on such property. The Borough may collect the costs of such removal or abatement, including reasonable attorney's fees, together with a penalty of 10% of any costs, from the owner of the property. The actual costs of such removal or abatement, together with the penalties, costs and reasonable attorney's fees, shall be a lien upon such property and may be enforced against the property and recovered by the Borough in the manner prescribed for the levying and collecting of municipal liens under appropriate law.
5. 
The Borough may, in addition to any civil or criminal remedy, initiate a complaint at law or in equity to compel the owner to comply with the terms of any notice of violation, or seek any other appropriate relief, including, but not limited to, an injunction, from any court of competent jurisdiction.
6. 
In addition to proceedings specified in this Part, perpetrators may be subject to additional criminal penalties under state law. In such an event, the Borough may obtain names of such perpetrators in criminal enforcement proceedings in order to enforce the civil provisions of this Part.