[Ord. 17, 6/10/1969, § 1]
1. The following words and phrases as used in this Part shall have the
meanings hereby respectively ascribed thereto:
OCCUPIED PREMISES
Premises upon which any person, partnership, association
or corporation resides or maintains a place of business.
PERSON
Any natural person, partnership, association or corporation.
WEEDS
Any Canadian or Russian thistle, chickory, burdock, nettle,
poison ivy, sumac, goldenrod, wild lettuce, wild mustard, wild parsley,
ragweed, milkweed or any other plant or vegetation whatsoever, not
edible or planted for an ornamental or agricultural purpose.
2. In this Part the singular shall include the plural and the masculine
shall include the feminine and the neuter.
[Ord. 17, 6/10/1969, § 2; as amended by Ord. 186, 12/8/2015]
Every person owning or occupying any premises within the Township
of Ralpho (whose property line is within 200 feet of an occupied premises),
and upon which premises any grass or weeds in excess of eight inches
shall grow, shall cut or remove such grass or weeds or cause the same
to be cut or removed at all times; provided, however, that grass or
grain shall be permitted to be grown in excess of eight inches for
purposes of cutting and harvesting the same or for other agricultural
purposes. In the case of vacant premises or premises occupied by the
owner, the owner shall be responsible. In the case where the premises
is occupied by someone other than the owner, the occupant shall comply
with the requirements of this section; and in default of the occupant
being responsible, the owner shall comply.
[Ord. 17, 6/10/1969, § 3; as amended by Ord. 119,
4/14/1998]
The Code Enforcement Officer, upon direction of the Board of
Supervisors, shall give written notice, by personal service or by
certified mail, and, if he has no residence within the Township, by
delivering the same in like manner to the person in charge of said
property, or posting the notice upon the premises, directing and requiring
such owner or occupant, as the case may be, to cut or remove all such
grass or weeds, so as to conform to the requirements of § 202
of this Part within seven days after giving notice by personal service
or by depositing the same in the United States Mail addressed to the
last known residence of said owner or occupant, or after posting the
premises. In case any person shall neglect, fail or refuse to comply
with such notice, within the period of time state therein, the Board
of Supervisors may have the grass or weeds cut at the cost of the
property owner and may file a lien therefor against the property or
collect the costs thereof from the property owner in an action of
assumpsit brought in the name of the Township.
[Ord. 17, 6/10/1969, § 4; as amended by Ord. 112,
6/11/1996, §§ 1,2; and by Ord. 119, 4/14/1998]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a district justice in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary
offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall
be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and,
in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues
or each Section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated
shall constitute a separate offense.