[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Norristown:
Art. I, 12-5-1989 as Ord. No. 89-22. Section 295-6 amended at time of adoption
of Code; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I. Other amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 12-5-1989 as Ord.
No. 89-22]
As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
When a tree, because of its growth and/or location, creates a danger
to the general public, pedestrians, motor vehicle traffic or properties; or
When a tree, because of its damaged and/or diseased condition, creates
a danger to the general public, pedestrians, motor vehicle traffic or properties.
Includes any natural person, partnership, association, firm or corporation.
Every owner of property in the borough shall be required to keep limbs
and branches of all trees growing upon such property or along the street,
sidewalk, curb or alley abutting such property trimmed so that such limbs
or branches or the foliage growing thereon shall have a clearance of at least
eight (8) feet above the surface of the sidewalk or at least fourteen (14)
feet above the surface of the roadway, street or alley.
A.
Upon notice from a borough code enforcement official to trim and maintain trees as described in § 295-2 of this Article, the real property owner shall, within twenty (20) days of such notice, trim and maintain the trees. Any person failing to comply with such notice within the time limit shall be guilty of a violation of this Article.
B.
Upon the failure of the property owner to trim and maintain
the trees, the borough shall have the authority to cause the work required
to be done by borough personnel or to contract with third parties and to collect
for the cost of such work, plus ten percent (10%), from the property owner.
The amount due the borough for such work shall become a lien against the real
estate where the tree is located.
It shall be the responsibility of the real property owner to remove
all dangerous trees located on his or her property and along the streets,
alleys or sidewalks abutting such property.
A.
Upon notice from the borough code enforcement official
to remove the dangerous tree, the real property owner shall, within thirty
(30) days of such notice, remove the dangerous tree. Any person failing to
comply with such notice within the time limit shall be guilty of a violation
of this Article.
B.
Upon default of the property owner to remove the dangerous
tree, the borough shall have the authority to remove the dangerous tree by
borough personnel or to contract with third parties and to collect for the
cost of such work, plus ten percent (10%), from the property owner. The amount
due the borough for such work shall become a lien against the real property
where the tree is located.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Article shall,
upon conviction thereof before a District Justice, be sentenced to pay a fine
of not more than six hundred dollars ($600.), plus costs of prosecution, and
to undergo imprisonment for thirty (30) days for default in the payment of
such fine.
