[Adopted 7-12-1971 as Ch. 82 of the 1971 Code]
From and after the passage of this article,
it shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation owning, renting
or having a present interest in any real estate in the Township of
Marple to permit grass, weeds, hedges, briars, straw or any other
objectionable vegetation which is not edible by humans to grow, accumulate
or remain on the premises owned, leased or occupied by him, it, them
or any of them, in the Township of Marple. This article shall not
be construed to prohibit vegetation planted for some useful or ornamental
purposes, but shall apply wherein such vegetation, by being unkept
or untrimmed, has lost its useful or ornamental purpose.
All such grass, weeds, hedges, briars, straw
or any other objectionable vegetation, including vegetation planted
for or intended to be used for ornamental purposes after the same
have lost their ornamental or useful purposes by reason of having
been unkept or untrimmed, are hereby declared to be nuisances and
detrimental to the health and safety and comfort of the inhabitants
of the Township.
[Amended 6-12-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-10]
All such grass, weeds, straw or other vegetation
which reaches a height of 8 inches and hedges, briars or any other
growth planted for or intended to be used for ornamental purposes,
after the same have lost their ornamental or useful purposes by reason
of having been unkept or untrimmed, shall be cut and removed by the
owner, lessee or occupant within seven days' written notice to the
owner or agent, if the address is known, or posting notice upon the
premises. No more than one notice per growing season will be necessary
or required for the Township of Marple to comply with this section.
[Amended 6-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-4; 10-10-2011 by Ord. No.
2011-10]
The storage, dumping or placing of tree limbs,
yard waste, vegetable matter, building materials, construction equipment
or similar materials within the front, side or rear yard setbacks
of any property is prohibited. Any permitted storage of such material
must be shielded from view of all neighboring properties and from
the public way.
[Amended 11-14-1988 by Ord. No. 88-21;
amended 6-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2011-4]
Compost piles shall comply with the following
regulations:
A.
Piles must
be shielded from view of all neighboring properties and from the public
way.
B.
Piles must
be kept free from animal matter such as meat, oil and fat, unshredded
vegetable garbage, offensive odors and rodents.
C.
Piles and
compost area shall only be located within the rear or side yard of
a property.
D.
Piles and
compost area shall comply with the required setbacks for accessory
structures within the applicable zoning district.
E.
Piles must
only be used from season to season to comply with this article.
[Added 4-11-1977 by Ord. No. 77-4; amended 9-14-1987 by Ord. No.
87-18]
These regulations shall include developed or
undeveloped tracts or plots of ground under the following guidelines:
A.
Any premises, vacant or improved lots or open lots
in a residential area shall be required to have grass, weeds and growth
cut, being 75 feet from any residential property line, and kept at
a height of eight inches or less.
B.
For any part of such plot or tract of ground that
abuts a public or private street or highway, that abutting area shall
be subject to the regulations of this article and shall be maintained
for a distance of 25 feet from the cartway line.
C.
Any noxious weeds that are regulated by Pennsylvania
state laws must be eradicated, regardless of any footage or height
requirement.
D.
These premises, vacant or improved lots or open lots
shall be free of insects and pests that are considered hazardous by
local, state and federal code.
E.
Any grass, trees, hedges or other growth shall not
obstruct any traffic signs or hinder proper lighting of any sidewalk
or highway in the Township.
F.
These regulations shall not apply to any parkland
owned or operated by Marple Township.
[Added 4-11-1977 by Ord. No. 77-4; amended 9-14-1987 by Ord. No.
87-18; 6-12-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-10]
The Code Enforcement Department shall notify
the owner(s) of a violation. Removal or correction of the problem
shall be within seven days of the notification of violation. Noxious
weeds, upon the determination of the Code Enforcement Department,
may require immediate removal. Any person, firm or corporation violating
this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be punishable by a fine
of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and in default
of payment of such fine and costs by imprisonment for not more than
30 days. Each day's failure to comply with any such provision shall
constitute a separate violation.
