[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of
West Hanover 1-20-1986 as Ch. 10, Part 1, of the 1986 Code. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Property maintenance — See Ch. 148.
This chapter is passed for the protection of the health, safety and
general welfare of the property of and the inhabitants of West Hanover Township.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
That property of an individual, firm, partnership or corporation
which is actively used or devoted to agricultural pursuits, without regard
to the zoning district in which said property is located.
All useless, uncultivated plants and vegetation, brush or equivalent
wild or undesirable growth.
No weeds shall be permitted to grow to a height in excess of 12 inches
on any premises or property within the Township of West Hanover and, regardless
of height, no weeds growing on said premises or property shall be permitted
to go to seed. This prohibition shall not be applicable to premises or property
which constitute an agricultural area.
It shall be the responsibility of the owner of record of any premises
or property within West Hanover Township to comply with the requirements and
prohibitions set forth in this chapter. If the owner or owners of record of
any such premises or property cannot be determined or cannot be found, then
the occupier of said premises or property shall be responsible for such compliance.
If such premises or property are not occupied, and if the owner of record
is not known or cannot be found, then the person or persons shown as the owner
or owners of the premises or property as reflected in the records of the office
of Tax Assessment of Dauphin County shall be responsible for compliance with
the provisions of this chapter.
Upon discovery of a violation of the terms of this chapter, the Code
Enforcement Officer or his designee shall, at his election, personally notify,
or by regular mail notify, any such owner of premises or property within West
Hanover Township of his or their violation of this chapter and shall require
the removal, mowing or destruction of the weeds within 10 days from the date
of notification. Failure to comply with the terms of such notification, and
continued maintenance of weeds in violation of this chapter, shall constitute
a nuisance and, after the expiration of 10 days from the date of notice, West
Hanover Township may cause the removal, mowing or destruction of the weeds
constituting said nuisance and may collect the costs thereof, together with
a penalty of 10% of such costs in the manner provided by law for the collection
of municipal liens, or may maintain an action of assumpsit to recover the
same, or may seek relief by an action in equity.
[Amended 5-1-1989 by Ord.
No. 1989-4]
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 $1,000. Every day that a violation of this chapter continues shall
constitute a separate offense. It is further provided that, upon judgment
against any person by summary conviction, or by proceedings by summons on
default of the payment of the fine or penalty imposed and the costs, the defendant
may be sentenced and committed to the county prison for a period not exceeding
30 days.
