[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Whitpain 4-10-1972 by Ord. No. 83. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Shade Tree Commission — See Ch. 53.
Garbage, rubbish and refuse — See Ch. 93.
[Amended 8-16-2022 by Ord. No. 399; 10-18-2022 by Ord. No. 404]
A. 
General regulation. It shall constitute a public nuisance for any person, firm or corporation, being the owner or occupant of premises situate in Whitpain Township, to permit the growth or accumulation of Canada thistle, chicory, succory, blue daisies, weeds, grasses or other noxious or objectionable vegetation on said premises in excess of 12 inches in height. Notwithstanding the foregoing prohibition, the following areas shall be exempt from such cutting or trimming requirements, except that Canada thistle, chicory, succory, blue daisies, weeds or other noxious or objectionable vegetation shall be so controlled in such areas: land actively cultivated for crop production, land actively utilized as pasture or meadows, natural landscape (as defined by § 155-6 of this chapter), and non-noxious grasses planted for some useful or ornamental purpose.
(1) 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BAMBOO
Any monopodial (running) bamboo of the tribe "bambuseae," including, but not limited to, the genus Phyllostachys, and Pseudosasa as well as the common bamboo, golden bamboo, and arrow bamboo. Bamboo shall also be considered to include native bamboo (arundinaria gigantea).
BAMBOO OWNER
Any property owner or resident who has planted and/or grows bamboo, or maintains bamboo on their property, or permits bamboo to grow or remain on the property even if the bamboo has spread from an adjoining property. Any owner of or resident at property on which bamboo is found will be considered a bamboo owner, except any property owner or resident who:
(a) 
Did not plant or grow or cause bamboo to be planted or grown on their property; and
(b) 
Has provided satisfactory proof to the Township that, within a reasonable amount of time after discovering the encroachment of bamboo onto the property from an adjoining neighbor, they advised the owner of such property of their objection to the encroachment of bamboo; and
(c) 
Has initiated steps for the removal of the bamboo from their property.
(2) 
Prohibited acts. It is hereby unlawful for any person, firm or corporation, being an owner of any improved or unimproved lot, to permit bamboo to be planted or grown on the lot, or to spread to an adjoining lot, it being the intent to prohibit bamboo within the Township, except as provided herein. Bamboo found growing on a property shall constitute presumptive evidence that bamboo was planted and/or grown by and/or with the consent of the bamboo owner. Bamboo is hereby considered a noxious or objectionable vegetation unless grown under the conditions of this Subsection B.
(3) 
Regulation of bamboo. The following special regulations pertain to the planting and maintenance of bamboo.
(a) 
Any bamboo that has been planted or otherwise permitted to grow on a lot within the Township prior to the effective date of this section may remain on such property subject to compliance with this section.
[1] 
Bamboo shall not be planted, maintained, or otherwise permitted to exist within 40 feet of the edge of the pavement or traveled portion of a public road in the Township, within 40 feet of the property line of any Township/public property, within 40 feet of any roadway, cartway, street, storm sewer, sanitary sewer and/or public water facilities within the Township, or within 25 feet of the property line of an adjoining or neighboring property; and
[2] 
The root system of such bamboo plants is entirely contained within an above-ground-level planter, barrel or other vessel of such design, material, and location as to entirely prevent the spread of growth of the bamboo plants' root system beyond the container in which it is planted. When growing in a container, as described herein, all bamboo plants shall be located, trimmed and maintained so that no part of the plant shall be closer than 40 feet of the edge of the pavement or traveled portion of a public road in the Township, 40 feet of the property line of any Township/public property, 40 feet of any roadway, cartway, street, storm sewer, sanitary sewer and/or public water facilities within the Township, or 25 feet of the property line of an adjoining or neighboring property.
[3] 
All other bamboo not in compliance with Subsection B(3)(a)[1] and [2] must be removed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Each bamboo owner shall be required to take such measures as are reasonably expected to prevent such bamboo from invading the setbacks set forth above. Such measures shall include but are not limited to, installation of sheathing comprised of metal or other material impenetrable by bamboo at a sufficient depth within the property line or lines where the running bamboo is planted or is growing to prevent such growth or encroachment prohibited herein. A bamboo owner shall further be responsible to ensure that any bamboo planted and/or growing on the property of the bamboo owner prior to the effective date of this chapter is maintained such that it does not encroach or grow upon any adjoining or neighboring property or properties, including all public property and public rights-of-way. If the Township determines that any such bamboo, or part thereof, has been allowed to encroach, grow upon, extend roots across, and/or extend branches, stalks and/or leaves over any public right-of-way and/or any private property not owned by and/or in the possession of the bamboo owner, the bamboo owner shall be required to comply with the provisions of Subsection B(3)(a)[1] and [2] above.
(b) 
Removal.
[1] 
In the event that bamboo growing on a bamboo owner's property invades or grows on adjoining or neighboring property that is owned or held on behalf of the Township, the Township will notify the bamboo owner in writing that the bamboo has invaded the Township property and that the bamboo owner is responsible for the removal of such running bamboo from the Township property. This notice shall be sent via certified mail, return receipt requested and by regular mail to the latest address of the bamboo owner on file with the Township and a copy of the notice shall also be posted at the bamboo owner's property.
[2] 
In the event that the bamboo owner does not remove or contract for the removal of the bamboo from the Township property, or does not make an arrangement agreeable to the Township for removal of such bamboo within 60 days from the date the Township first provided notice pursuant to the above, the Township, at its discretion, may remove or arrange for the removal of such bamboo from the Township property. The bamboo owner shall be liable and responsible to the Township for the cost incurred for removal of the bamboo from the Township property. Such costs may be assessed against the property of the bamboo owner.
[3] 
The Board of Supervisors may also pursue the remedies provided by §§ 155-4 and 155-5 of this chapter.
[4] 
This subsection shall not be deemed to alter or abrogate any rights at common law, or otherwise, that any persons, property owners, tenants, and/or other individuals, entities, and/or corporations may have to recover the cost of removal of any bamboo found on their own property that has encroached from a neighboring property.
(c) 
Replanting prohibited. Any bamboo either planted or caused to be planted or existing on a property prior to the effective date of this section may not be replanted or replaced once such running bamboo is or has become, for any reason, dead, destroyed, uprooted, or otherwise removed.
Whenever the Supervisors of Whitpain Township shall, in their discretion, consider the uncontrolled growth or accumulation of weeds, tall grasses or other obnoxious or objectionable vegetation on any premises as aforesaid to be prejudicial to the public health or to create a fire hazard, they may declare the same to be a public nuisance.
Whenever the Supervisors of Whitpain Township have declared the growth or accumulation of weeds, tall grasses, obnoxious or objectionable vegetation to constitute a public nuisance, they shall notify the owner or occupant of said premises to abate said nuisance within 10 days from the service of said notice. The service of such notice shall be made upon the owner or occupant of said premises either by certified mail or by delivering the same to such owner or occupant personally or by delivering such notice to and leaving it with any adult person in charge of said premises, or in case no such person is found upon said premises, by posting such notice upon said premises.
A. 
If the owner or occupant of premises as aforesaid whereon said public nuisance exists fails, neglects or refuses to comply with the order of the Supervisors of Whitpain Township for the abatement or removal thereof within 10 days of the giving of such notice, the Supervisors or their agents or employees may enter upon the premises to which such order relates and abate or remove such nuisance.
B. 
The expense incident to such abatement or removal or cutting of weeds or tall grasses shall be paid by the owner or occupant of such premises, and such expense as may be incurred by the township may be billed to such owner or occupant by the Supervisors, and in default of payment of such bill, a lien upon the lands on which the nuisance was maintained may be filed by said Supervisors in the name of Whitpain Township in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, within six months from the date of completion of the work of abatement or removal, subject to the same proceedings for entry and revival of judgment and execution as are provided by law for other municipal liens.
C. 
The Supervisors may also collect the cost of such abatement or removal by summary proceedings before a District Justice, which amount, when recovered, either by enforcement of the lien or by summary proceedings, shall be paid to the Township Treasurer, to be held and used for township purposes, but a final recovery of the amount in one proceeding shall be a bar to the institution of or further continuance of the other proceeding.
[Amended 5-19-1986 by Ord. No. 165; 1-2-1989 by Ord. No. 184; 8-16-2022 by Ord. No. 399]
Any person, firm or corporation failing to abate such nuisance in accordance with the requirements of any notice which may hereafter be given under the provisions of this article shall, in addition to being liable for the costs of removal and abatement, forfeit and pay a fine in the amount of not more than $600, together with costs for each such offense, to Whitpain Township, the same to be collected by summary proceedings before a District Justice or recovered the same as debts of like amount are now by law recoverable, and in default of the payment of such fine and costs, shall undergo an imprisonment of not more than 30 days in the Montgomery County Prison.
[Added 8-16-2022 by Ord. No. 399]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DEPARTMENT
The Department of Code Enforcement.
NATURAL LANDSCAPE
A meadow or other landscaping that includes herbaceous material as follows: a mixture of native grasses, native plants, and wildflowers that maintains a general overall height ranging from three to 12 inches and provides food, water, and cover for wildlife species, especially birds. Only native species, as listed in Appendix A of Chapter 53 of this Code, shall be used in natural landscapes.
A. 
Permit required. A natural landscape permit must be obtained from the Department by a property owner that desires to create a meadow or natural landscape, as exempt under § 155-1 of this chapter. For purposes of this article, all references and provisions applicable to natural landscape shall apply equally to meadows.
B. 
Location on property. On a residential property or commercial or industrial property less than three acres, a meadow or natural landscape may only be in the rear or side yard. Where a residential property or commercial or industrial property less than three acres is located on a corner lot, a meadow or natural landscape may be located in a front yard facing the street upon which the primary entrance to the property is not located, provided a mow strip of turf at least 10 feet wide shall be maintained at four to six inches along the right-of-way line. On a commercial or industrial property greater than three acres, a meadow or natural landscape may be located in a front yard, provided a mow strip of turf at least 20 feet wide shall be maintained at four to six inches around each side of the meadow.
The following information shall be provided with an application for a natural landscape permit:
A. 
The name and address of the applicant;
B. 
Proof of approval from a homeowners' association, if applicable;
C. 
A plan showing lot lines, public rights-of-way, buildings, and the location of the proposed natural landscape;
D. 
A general description of the vegetation and plant types to be used in the proposed natural landscape, including the Latin and common names of all species; and
E. 
A specific management and maintenance plan for the natural landscape that includes the following information:
(1) 
A planting diagram showing the location and mature height of all species of vegetation, arranged so as not to block the clear sight triangle or movement of the travelling public on any right-of-way;
(2) 
Detailed information on the upkeep of each species;
(3) 
Detailed information on mowing and edging of the area;
(4) 
Detailed information regarding bird feeders, if applicable;
(5) 
The estimated transitional period, if applicable; and
(6) 
The plan for elimination of any nonnative vegetation.
A. 
Permit issuance. The Department shall review the application and issue the natural landscape permit, unless:
(1) 
The application is incomplete;
(2) 
The management and maintenance plan is incomplete or inconsistent with the requirements of this article;
(3) 
The plan proposes use of nonnative grasses or plants, as listed in Appendix A of Chapter 53 of this Code; or
(4) 
The transitional period for the area to be landscaped is longer than three growing seasons.
B. 
Fees. Permit fees, as set by the Board of Supervisors, shall be assessed prior to issuance and be based on the size of the natural landscape area proposed.
C. 
Expiration. A natural landscape permit shall be valid for three years from the date of approval. After that time, a new natural landscape permit must be obtained from the Township.
D. 
Sign. The permit holder must obtain a sign indicating the presence of a meadow on the property from the Township, at permit holder's cost, and install said sign along the right-of-way line in close proximity to the location of the meadow or at another appropriate location along the right-of-way line.
E. 
Inspection.
(1) 
A natural landscape will be inspected by the Township to confirm that the maintenance plan is being followed and to report the need for maintenance adjustments or remediation (e.g., invasive species control) on the following schedule during the first two years:
(a) 
At the time of establishment; and
(b) 
Midsummer each year.
(2) 
The Department may regularly inspect any property holding a natural landscape permit.
A. 
Basis for revocation. A natural landscape permit may be revoked by the Department for any of the following reasons:
(1) 
Weeds are not removed;
(2) 
The vegetation is not being maintained at a height not exceeding 12 inches in areas located within 10 feet of a public street, sidewalk, trail, or alley;
(3) 
The vegetation is not being maintained at a height not exceeding approximately 12 inches in areas located within 10 feet of the property boundary where vegetation heights shall be four to six inches, unless the adjacent property owner has consented in writing and shared that notification with the Township;
(4) 
The vegetation is blocking the clear sight triangle or movement of the traveling public on any right-of-way;
(5) 
The property owner fails to maintain the natural landscape area in a manner consistent with the management and maintenance plan that was submitted with the permit application;
(6) 
Health or public safety concerns, including, but not limited to, a fire hazard;
(7) 
Substantial and unreasonable interference with the use and enjoyment of neighboring property; or
(8) 
Obstruction of a public right-of-way.
B. 
Revocation procedure. Revocation shall be provided by notice by first-class mail stating that the property must be in compliance within 30 days. Should that period pass without action by the permit holder, the Department shall:
(1) 
Revoke the natural landscape permit;
(2) 
Declare the property a public nuisance pursuant to this chapter;
(3) 
Remove all improperly maintained vegetation;
(4) 
Declare the property ineligible for a natural landscape permit for a period of two years, unless the property is sold; and
(5) 
Assess the property for all fees associated with inspection of the property and any removal of improperly maintained vegetation in accordance with assessment provisions detailed in § 155-4 of this chapter.