[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Perkasie 9-6-2013 by Ord. No. 966.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Garbage, rubbish and refuse — See Ch. 96.
Littering — See Ch. 108.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 135.
Snow and ice removal — See Ch. 152.
Trees — See Ch. 175.
[1]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 65, Brush, Grass and Weeds, adopted 12-16-1985 as Ch. 65 of the 1965 Code, as amended.
Notwithstanding the remainder of this section, no person, firm or corporation owning or occupying any property within the Borough of Perkasie 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 12 inches or to throw off any unpleasant or noxious odor or to conceal any filthy deposit or to create or produce seed. Any grass, weeds or other vegetation growing upon any premises in the Borough in violation of any of the provisions of this section is hereby declared to be a nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, cleanliness and comfort of the inhabitants of the Borough.
The owner of any premises, as to vacant premises or premises occupied by the owner, and the occupant thereof, in the 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 and violations of the provisions of § 65-1.
The growing or maintaining of any bamboo species, including, but not limited to Bambusa, Phyllostachys, and Pseudosasa including Common Bamboo, Golden Bamboo and Arrow Bamboo, and other similar invasive species ("bamboo"), in such a manner that the bamboo spreads, invades, or grows on an adjoining or neighboring property. Any property owner or resident who has planted or maintains bamboo ("bamboo property owner") shall be required to take such measures that are reasonably expected to prevent such bamboo from invading or growing onto adjoining or neighboring properties. Such measures shall include, but not be limited to, installation of sheathing comprised of metal or other material impenetrable by bamboo at sufficient depth within the property line or lines where the running bamboo is planted or growing to prevent the growth or encroachment upon adjoining or neighboring property by the bamboo.
A. 
The Borough Council or any officer or employee of the Borough designated thereby for the purpose is hereby authorized to give notice, by personal service or by United States mail, to the property owner, bamboo property owner, or occupant thereof, as the case may be, of any brush, grass, plants, weeds, bamboo or other vegetation growing in violation or remaining in violation of the provisions of this Chapter 65, directing and requiring such person or entity to remove, trim, and/or cut such grass, bamboo, weeds or vegetation so as to conform to the requirements of the chapter within five days after issuance of such notice.
B. 
In the case of any person, firm, or corporation that shall neglect, fail or refuse to comply with such notice within the period of time stated therein, the Borough authorities may direct or engage the appropriate Borough employees or other persons to remove, trim, cut or destroy such grass, weeds, bamboo, or vegetation, and the cost thereof, together with reasonable attorney's fees and an administrative fee of 10% of such expense, which shall constitute a lien upon the property and may be collected as provided by law for the collection of municipal lien claims.
A. 
Violations of this chapter shall be punishable as set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, Violations and Penalties.
B. 
Each day's continuing violation shall constitute a separate offense, and noticed to the offender shall not be necessary in order to constitute an offense.
A. 
In the event that bamboo growing on a bamboo property owner's property invades or grows on adjoining or neighboring property that is owned or held on behalf of the Borough, the Borough shall notify the bamboo property owner that the bamboo that bamboo property owner had planted or caused to plant and permitted to grow on their property has invaded Borough property and that the bamboo property owners are responsible for the removal of such bamboo from the Borough property. This notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and by regular mail to the latest address of the bamboo property owner on file with the Borough and a copy of the notice shall also be left in a conspicuous location on the bamboo property owner's property in the Borough.
B. 
In the event that the bamboo property owner does not remove or contact for the removal of said bamboo from the Borough property, or does not make an arrangement with the Borough for removal of such bamboo within 30 days from the date the Borough first deposited the notice as provided herein above with the United States Postal Service, then the Borough, at its discretion, may remove or arrange for the removal of such bamboo from the Borough property. The bamboo property owner shall be liable and responsible to the Borough for the Borough's costs in removing the bamboo from the Borough Property. Such costs may be assessed against the property of the bamboo property owner as a municipal lien.
C. 
In the event that the Borough is compelled to remove or contract for the removal of bamboo, as herein provided above, neither the Borough nor its employees shall have any liability for damages or other claims to the bamboo property owner by reason of the removal of such bamboo. In the event such removal entails or causes damage to the flora or other property of a person other than the property of the bamboo property owner, the bamboo property owner in violation of this chapter shall be responsible for any and all such damages.
Whenever the requirements of this chapter are in conflict with other requirements of the ordinances of the Borough of Perkasie, the most restrictive, or those imposing the higher standards, shall govern.
The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any section, clause, sentence, part or provision hereof shall be held illegal, invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision of the court shall not affect or impair any of the remaining sections, clauses, sentences, parts or provisions of this chapter. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Perkasie Borough Council that this chapter would have been adopted if such illegal, invalid or unconstitutional section, clause, sentence, part or provision had not been included herein.