Township of Mount Laurel, NJ Article I Prohibition of Brush, Weeds and Debris

[Adopted 11-7-1983 by Ord. No. 1983-33]

§ 65-1 Restrictions.

It shall be unlawful for any owner or owners, occupant or occupants, tenant or tenants of any lot or tract of land situate within the Township of Mount Laurel to permit or maintain on any such lot or tract of land any brush, weeds, dead or dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growth, filth, garbage, trash and debris injurious to the public health, safety and general welfare or where the same shall tend to create a fire hazard. This chapter shall not be construed to apply to those lands under cultivation or otherwise being utilized for the production of crops or otherwise being utilized for agricultural purposes.

§ 65-2 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 10-1-1984 by Ord. No. 1984-33]

Any owner or owners, occupant or occupants, tenant or tenants who shall neglect to cut and remove or otherwise destroy such brush, weeds, dead or dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growth, filth, garbage, trash and debris as directed by this article shall, upon conviction before the Judge of the Municipal Court of the Township of Mount Laurel, be subject, for each offense, to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

§ 65-3 Failure to remove; assessment of costs.

Upon the failure of any owner or owners, occupant or occupants, tenant or tenants to cut and remove or otherwise destroy such brush, weeds, dead or dying trees, stumps, roots, obnoxious growth, filth, garbage, trash and debris within 10 days after notice to remove the same has been received from said Township of Mount Laurel, which notice may be effected by personal service or by mail, registered return receipt requested, said township shall cause the same to be removed under the direction of the Director of the Department of Public Works of said township. The notice shall be prepared and forwarded by the Township Clerk upon the direction of the Director. Said Director shall certify the cost thereof to the Township Council which shall examine the certificate and, if found correct, shall cause the cost as shown thereon to be charged against said land and premises, and the cost shall be added to and become and form part of the taxes next to be assessed and levied upon the land, the same to bear interest at the same rate as taxes, and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and in the same manner as taxes.

§ 65-4 Nonrestriction of right to collect costs.

The imposition and collection of the fine imposed by this article shall not constitute any bar to the right of the Township of Mount Laurel to collect the cost, as certified, for the removal of such growths, in the manner herein authorized.