[Adopted 8-19-2003 by Ord. No. 2003-149]
This article shall be known and may be cited as "The Carroll Township Nuisance Ordinance."
The following terms shall be construed in this article to have the following meanings, except in those instances where the context clearly indicates otherwise:
PERSON
Any natural person or persons, partnership, association, corporation, firm, factitious name or any other individual or business entity or their agents.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
Any condition or premises which is unsafe or unsanitary or any condition that threatens the health, morals, safety, comfort, convenience, or welfare of a community or enjoyment of property.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
PUBLIC PLACE
Any public street, highway, road, alley, park, playground, public building or vacant lot.
The following activities or conditions are hereby declared to be nuisances when it is established that such activities or conditions are contrary to the health and welfare of the people of Carroll Township:
A. 
Accumulations of garbage, rubbish and/or trash (as those terms are commonly defined and understood) on private or public property.
B. 
Storage of abandoned or junked vehicle(s) on private or public property.
C. 
The carrying on of any offensive manufacture or business.
D. 
Maintaining or permitting the existence of any vegetative matter on or near any public thoroughfare which hinders or obscures the view of motorists of any road, thoroughfare, traffic device or sign.
E. 
Maintaining or permitting the existence of any dangerous structure on public or private grounds.
F. 
Any other activity or condition conducted or existing on public or private property which in law and in fact constitutes a public nuisance.
A. 
It is hereby declared to be unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having a present interest in any activities constituting a nuisance, or permitting the existence of any condition constituting a nuisance.
B. 
Each one day continuance of a violation of the provisions of this article shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
It shall be the duty of the Township Code Enforcement, or any other party or parties designated by the Board of Supervisors of Carroll Township, upon complaint of citizens and property owners or otherwise, to investigate an alleged nuisance and if a nuisance exists, to notify the person allegedly in violation of the following:
A. 
The belief of the Township that a nuisance exists for which that person is responsible;
B. 
A description of the location and nature of the alleged nuisance;
C. 
That the nuisance must be abated or removed by said person within 10 days of receipt of notice;
D. 
Each one-day continuance of a violation of the provisions of this article shall constitute a separate offense which will not require the Township to provide additional or subsequent notification of said violations;
E. 
Failure to comply with the directions of the Township may result in the abatement or removal of the nuisance by the Township or its authorized representative and the cost of said removal or abatement shall be assessed against the violator together with the additional amount of 10% of such cost, to be collected by summary proceedings or in the manner provided for the collection of municipal claims or by an action of assumpsit without the filing of a complaint. The imposition of such cost and additional amount may be in addition to any other penalty provided for in this article.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. In default of payment thereof, the defendant may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 90 days. Each day or portion thereof that such violation continues or is permitted to continue shall constitute a separate offense, and each section of this article that is violated shall also constitute a separate offense.
In the exercise of the powers herein conferred, the Board of Supervisors of Carroll Township may institute proceedings in courts of equity.