[Ord. 2013-01, 7/10/2013]
This part shall be known as the "Shrewsbury Township Weed and
Noxious Vegetation Control Ordinance."
[Ord. 2013-01, 7/10/2013]
It is hereby declared that the purpose and intent of this Part
is to promote the general health, welfare, and safety of the residents
of Shrewsbury Township, York County, Pennsylvania, by requiring the
removal, trimming, or cutting of a lot so as to control the spread
of pollen, the spread of noxious weed seed, the maintenance of a pleasing,
aesthetic environment, and the control of rodents and other vectors.
[Ord. 2013-01, 7/10/2013]
(Reserved)
[Ord. 2013-01, 7/10/2013]
The Shrewsbury Township Board of Supervisors finds as a fact
that the unrestrained growth of grass, weeds, and other noxious vegetation
(excluding woodland) is a nuisance in the Township.
[Ord. 2013-01, 7/10/2013]
Each owner of a lot, whether occupied by the owner or not, shall
keep such lot mowed trimmed, or cut so that grass, weeds, or other
noxious vegetation does not exceed eight inches in height. This removal,
trimming, or cutting requirement shall not apply to woodlands, trees,
shrubbery, maintained flower beds or gardens, vegetables and maintained
vegetable gardens, wild flower gardens or meadows, wetlands, areas
within 15 feet of a watercourse, pond, or lake, and land actively
cultivated for crop production or actively utilized as pasture. Areas
of a lot which consist of a critical environmental area, as delineated
in Article 13 of the Shrewsbury Township Zoning Ordinance (as may
be amended), are excluded from the requirements of this Part, except
that noxious weeds shall be controlled within those areas.
[Ord. 2013-01, 7/10/2013]
Any officer or employee of the Township designated thereby for
such purpose is hereby authorized to give notice by regular mail to
the owner of a lot for a violation of the terms of this Part, directing
and requiring such owner to remove, trim, or cut such grass, weeds,
or noxious vegetation so as to conform to the requirements of this
Part within seven days after issuance of such notice. For purposes
of this Part, "notice" means written notice given by the Township
to a lot owner one time during a growing season.
[Ord. 2013-01, 7/10/2013]
In the event the owner of a lot, whether occupied by the owner or not, shall fail to remove, trim, or cut such lot as required by § 10-105 of this Part, the Township, or its designated contractor, shall have the right to enter onto such lot for the purpose of performing the removal, trimming, or cutting as required by this Part, with liability to the owner of such lot for any damages which may occur to the property of such owner. The cost of such entry and removal, trimming, or cutting, together with a penalty of 10% of the amount thereof, shall be paid by the owner of the lot in question within 10 days from the date of notification thereof, and upon failure to pay the same, such costs and penalty shall be entered as liens against the lot in question, together with reasonable attorneys' fees as provided under law.
[Ord. 2013-01, 7/10/2013]
Any owner of a lot who shall fail to remove, trim, or cut as
required by this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought
before a Magisterial District Judge 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.
