City of Lower Burrell, PA Chapter 174 Grass, Weeds or Vegetation

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Lower Burrell 5-19-1961 by Ord. No. 12-1961. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 174-1 Nuisance declared.

[Amended 5-18-1977 by Ord. No. 7-1977; 9-13-1993 by Ord. No. 12-1993]

A. No person, firm or corporation, owning or occupying any property shall permit any grass, weeds or any vegetation whatsoever to obstruct the view of any driver entering, exiting or traveling upon any City street.

B. No person, firm or corporation, owning or occupying any property shall permit any grass or weeds or any vegetation whatsoever, not edible or planted for some useful or ornamental purpose, to grow or remain upon such premises so as to exceed a height of 10 inches or to throw off any unpleasant or noxious odor or to conceal any filthy deposit or to create or produce pollen. Any grass, weeds or other vegetation growing upon any premises in violation of any provision of this section is hereby declared to be a nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, cleanliness and comfort of the inhabitants of the City.

§ 174-2 Owners to remove.

The owner of any premises, as to vacant premises or premises occupied by the owner, and the occupant thereof, in case of premises occupied by other than the owner thereof, shall remove, trim or cut all grass, weeds or other vegetation growing or remaining upon such premises in violation of the provisions of § 174-1.

§ 174-3 City action.

[Amended 9-12-1993 by Ord. No. 12-1993]

A. The Council or any officer or employee of the City designated thereby for this purpose is hereby authorized to issue an immediate citation for violation of this chapter.

B. In addition, after notice, the City may remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation, and the cost thereof, together with a penalty of 10% of the cost thereof shall be collected by the City from such person, firm or corporation, in the manner provided by law, after notice is given to correct the violation. The City or any officer or employee of the City designated thereby for this purpose is authorized to give the notice, by personal service or by United States mail, to the owner/occupant, as the case may be, of any premises whereon grass, weeds or other vegetation is growing or remaining in violation of the provisions of § 174-1 of this chapter, directing and requiring such owner or occupant to remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation, so as to conform to the requirements of this chapter, within five days after issuance of such notice.

C. Whenever, in the judgment of the City, or any officer or employee of the City designated thereby for this purpose, it shall appear to be impracticable to give notices provided above, either because the owner or occupant cannot readily be found or because a search for the owner/occupant would entail unreasonable delay, or because the owner or occupant had been previously cited in the same for year for violation of § 174-1, the City or any officer or employee or the City designated thereby for that purpose, may give notice by posting conspicuously on the property, a notice or order directing and requiring conformance to the requirements of this chapter.

§ 174-4 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 9-13-1993 by Ord. No. 12-1993[1]]

Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $600 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 30 days. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).