[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Swatara 9-10-1954 by Ord. No. 82 (Ch. 10, Part 3, of the 1990 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Municipal claims — See Ch. 125.
Code enforcement — See Ch. 128.
Health and sanitation — See Ch. 169.
Subdivision and land development — See Ch. 253.
Trees — See Ch. 266.
Zoning — See Ch. 295.
No person, firm or corporation owning or occupying any property within the Township of Swatara shall permit any grass or weeds or any vegetation whatsoever, not edible or planted for some useful or ornamental purposes, to grow or remain upon such premises so as to exceed a growth of six inches or to throw off any unpleasant or noxious odor or to conceal any filthy deposit or to create or produce pollen. Any grass, weeds or other vegetation growing upon any premises in the Township in violation of this chapter is hereby declared to be a nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, cleanliness and comfort of the inhabitants of the Township.
The owner of any premises, as to vacant premises or premises occupied by the owner and the occupant thereof, in 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 in violation of the provisions of § 165-1 of this chapter.
[Amended 4-11-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-1; 9-10-1997 by Ord. No. 1997-5]
A. 
The Board of Township Commissioners, or any officer or employee of the Township designated thereby for the purpose, is hereby authorized to give notice by personal service or by registered mail, to the owner or occupant, as the case may be, of any premises whereon grass, weeds or other vegetation is growing or remaining in violation of the provisions of this chapter, directing and requiring such occupant to remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds, or vegetation so as to conform to the requirements of this chapter within five days after issuance of said notice.
B. 
In the case such premises are unoccupied and the owner thereof cannot be found, then such notice may be served by posting a copy thereof in at least two conspicuous places on said premises for a period of five days.
[Amended 9-10-1997 by Ord. No. 1997-5]
In the case any person, firm or corporation shall neglect, fail or refuse to comply with such notice, the Township or its agents may remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation, and the cost thereof together with any additional penalty authorized by law, may be collected by the Township from such person, firm or corporation in the manner provided by law. Attorneys' fees shall be added to the amount of costs collected as provided above pursuant to Chapter 125, Article I, of the Swatara Township Code of Ordinances.
[Amended 4-14-1976 by Ord. No. 1976-4; 4-11-1990 by Ord. No. 1990-1]
Any person, firm or corporation who or which shall violate any provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $30 nor more than $600 and costs of prosecution, or, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to undergo imprisonment for not more than 30 days; provided, each day's continued violation of any provision of this chapter, after notice thereof, shall constitute a separate violation and shall be punishable as such.