[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of East Goshen 8-22-1995 by Ord. No. 110. Amendments noted where applicable.]
For purposes of this chapter, the terms used herein are defined as follows. Throughout this chapter, reference to the singular shall include the plural and the masculine shall include the feminine.
LOT
A lot, tract or parcel of ground located in the Township in any zoning district classified as a residential zoning district by Chapter 240, Zoning, that abuts one or more occupied dwelling units, regardless of whether the lot is vacant or improved with a building or structure.
OWNER
The person, firm, partnership, corporation or other legal entity holding legal title to a lot or other real property, as the same is recorded in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP
East Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.
WILDFLOWER MEADOW
A naturally occurring or man-made vegetated landscape dominated by wildflowers which are allowed to go to seed and which is mowed annually, preferably in the fall.
[Added 3-18-2003 by Ord. No. 129-D-03]
Between May 1 and September 30 of each calendar year, the owner of each lot shall mow the lot as often as is necessary to keep all grass, weeds and vegetation growing on the lot to a height of six inches or less.
[Amended 3-18-2003 by Ord. No. 129-D-03]
The following plants are determined to be noxious weeds and shall be removed by the owner from each lot as often as necessary to prohibit their growth: ragweed, poison ivy, poison oak, marijuana, must or nodding thistle, Canada thistle, bull or spear thistle, jimsonweed, mile-a-minute, Kudzu vine, shattercane, Johnson grass, purple loose strife, multi-flora rose, garlic mustard, Japanese stilt grass, common reed (Phragmites), Japanese knotweed, autumn olive shrub and all honeysuckle (except native species).
The owner of every tract or parcel of real property located within the Township not classified as a lot as defined in this chapter or exempted by § 96-5 of this chapter shall mow his property at least twice each calendar year, as follows: once between May 1 and June 10 and once between July 1 and September 30.
[Amended 3-18-2003 by Ord. No. 129-D-03; 7-5-2005 by Ord. No. 129-C-05]
A. 
The requirements specified in §§ 96-2 and 96-4 of this chapter shall not apply to the following:
(1) 
Trees, whether coniferous or deciduous;
(2) 
Shrubs;
(3) 
Flower beds or gardens;
(4) 
Vegetables and vegetable gardens;
(5) 
Wildflower meadows;
(6) 
Wetlands, woodlands and forested areas;
(7) 
Areas within 35 feet of a stream or pond;
(8) 
Land actively cultivated in crop production or engaged in farming or animal husbandry; and
(9) 
Open space owned by the Township.
B. 
The Board of Supervisors shall have the authority to establish additional rules and regulations from time to time by resolution to establish standards to assist the Code Enforcement Officer in identifying whether or not any of the above-stated exceptions apply.
[Added 10-4-2011 by Ord. No. 129-J-11]
Any grass, weeds or other prohibited vegetation permitted to grow upon any property in the Township in violation of this chapter is hereby declared to be a public nuisance which is detrimental to the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of East Goshen Township.
[Amended 5-7-1996 by Ord. No. 112; 3-4-1997 by Ord. No. 117]
Any person who violates or permits the violation of any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding brought before a District Justice under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense, and shall be subject to the payment of a fine of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment in the county prison for term of not more than 30 days. Each section of this chapter violated shall constitute a separate offense, and each day or portion thereof in which a violation of this chapter is found to exist shall constitute a separate offense each of which violations shall be punishable by a separate fine imposed by the District Justice of not less than $100 and not more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution, or upon default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment in the county prison for a term of not more than 30 days. All fines and penalties collected for the violation of this chapter shall be paid to the Township Treasurer.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 8, which immediately followed this section and set forth further penalty provisions, was repealed 12-1-1998 by Ord. No. 129.