Unless otherwise provided by law or in this chapter, no building or structure shall be constructed, erected or extended and no building, structure or land shall be used or occupied except for purposes permitted herein.
In cases where any building or structure is erected, constructed, reconstructed, altered, repaired, converted or maintained or any building, structure or land is used in violation of this chapter, the Zoning Officer may institute in the name of the Borough any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent such unlawful construction, erection, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use; to restrain, correct or abate such violation; to prevent the occupancy of said building, structure or land; or to prevent any illegal act, conduct, business or use in or about such premises. The rights and remedies provided in this chapter are cumulative and are in addition to all other remedies provided by law.
A. 
If it appears to the Borough that a violation of any zoning ordinance enacted under this act[1] or prior enabling laws has occurred, the Borough shall initiate enforcement proceedings by sending an enforcement notice as provided in this section.
[Added 8-4-1993 by Ord. No. 1509]
[1]
Editor's Note: "This act" refers to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, 53 P.S. § 10101 et seq.
B. 
The enforcement notice shall be sent to the owner of record of the parcel on which the violation has occurred, to any person who has filed a written request to receive enforcement notices regarding that parcel, and to any other person requested in writing by the owner of record.
[Added 8-4-1993 by Ord. No. 1509]
C. 
An enforcement notice shall state at least the following:
[Added 8-4-1993 by Ord. No. 1509]
(1) 
The name of the owner of record and any other person against whom the Borough intends to take action.
(2) 
The location of the property in question.
(3) 
The specific violation with a description of the requirements which have not been met, citing in each instance the applicable provisions of this chapter.
(4) 
The date before which the steps for compliance must be commenced and the date before which the steps must be completed.
(5) 
That the recipient of the notice has the right to appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board within a prescribed period of time in accordance with procedures set forth in this chapter.
(6) 
That failure to comply with the notice within the time specified, unless extended by appeal to the Zoning Hearing Board, constitutes a violation, with possible sanctions clearly described.
A. 
Judgments, costs and fees.
[Amended 8-4-1993 by Ord. No. 1509]
(1) 
For any and every violation of the provisions of this chapter, the owner, general agent or contractor of a building or premises where such a violation has been committed or shall exist, the owner, general agent, contractor, lessee or tenant of any part of a building or premises in which part such violations have been committed or shall exist, or the general agent, architect, builder, contractor or any other person who knowingly commits, takes part or assists in any such violation or who maintains any buildings or premises in which any such violations shall exist shall, upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced by the Borough, pay a judgment of not more than $500 plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, incurred by the Borough as a result thereof. No judgment shall commence or be imposed, levied or payable until the date of the determination of a violation by the Magisterial District Judge. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment, the Borough may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable rules of civil procedure. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation, unless the Magisterial District Judge determining that there has been a violation further determines that there was a good-faith basis for the person, partnership or corporation violating the chapter to have believed that there was no such violation, in which event there shall be deemed to have been only one such violation until the fifth day following the date of the determination of a violation by the Magisterial District Judge, and thereafter each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation. All judgments, costs and reasonable attorney's fees collected for the violation of zoning ordinances shall be paid over to the Borough.
(2) 
The Court of Common Pleas, upon petition, may grant an order of stay, upon cause shown, tolling the per diem fine pending a final adjudication of the violation and judgment.
(3) 
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed or interpreted to grant to any person or entity other than the Borough of Lansdale the right to commence any action or enforcement pursuant to this section.
B. 
Such fines and penalties may be collected by suit or summary proceeding brought in the name of the Borough before any Magisterial District Judge.
C. 
Whenever any such person specified in Subsection A above shall have been notified by the Zoning Officer, in writing, that he is violating this chapter, such person shall commence correction of all violations within 10 days after notice and correct all violations within 30 days of notice. If corrections are not commenced within 10 days or completed within 30 days, each day that a violation continues shall be considered a separate offense punishable by the like fine or penalty.
D. 
Written notice of a violation shall not be considered a prerequisite to conviction for violation of this chapter.
E. 
Notwithstanding any contrary provision, nothing contained herein shall limit the right of the Borough of Lansdale to pursue any other legal or equitable remedy as may be provided by law.