[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of East Earl Township 4-8-1975 by Ord. No. 15 (Ch. 10, Part 1, of the 2001 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Nuisance properties — See Ch. 274.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 299.
No person owning or occupying any property within the Township shall permit any grass, weeds or any vegetation whatsoever, not edible or planted for some useful or ornamental purpose, to grow or remain upon such premises so as to exceed a height of six inches, to throw off any unpleasant or noxious odor, to conceal any filthy deposit or to create or produce pollen.
The growing of any grass, weeds or other vegetation upon any premises in the Township in violation of any of the provisions of § 236-1 is hereby declared to be unlawful and a nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, cleanliness and comfort of the inhabitants of the Township, and the same is hereby prohibited.
The owner of any premises, as to vacant premises or premises occupied by the owner, and the occupier thereof, in case premises are occupied by other than the owner of such premises, shall remove, trim or cut all grass, weeds or other vegetation growing or remaining upon such premises in violation of the provisions of § 236-1.
[Amended 11-13-2001 by Ord. No. 106]
The Supervisors are hereby authorized to give notice by personal service or by U.S. Mail to the owner or occupant, as the case may be, of any premises whereon grass, weeds or other vegetation are growing or remaining in violation of the provisions of § 236-1, directing and requiring such owner or occupant, as the case may be, to remove, trim or cut grass, weeds or vegetation so as to conform to the requirements of this section within 15 days of the service or mailing of such notice.
[Amended 11-13-2001 by Ord. No. 106]
In case any person shall neglect, fail or refuse to comply with the notice provided in § 236-4 within the period of time stated therein, the Supervisors are hereby authorized to cause such grass, weeds or vegetation to be removed, trimmed or cut, and there is hereby imposed a charge, in an amount as established from time to time by resolution of the Township Supervisors, plus the actual cost of the labor involved for each time the Supervisors shall cause such grass, weeds or vegetation to be removed, trimmed or cut. The owner or occupant, as the case may be, of the premises shall be billed after the work has been completed.
[Amended 11-13-2001 by Ord. No. 106]
Should any bill for the removal, trimming or cutting of any grass, weeds or vegetation be unpaid on or before November 1 of each year, a penalty of 25% shall be added to such bill, and the amount thereof may be recovered from the owner or occupant, as the case may be, by an action in assumpsit or entered as a lien against such property in accordance with existing provisions of law.
Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit the Township from instituting proceedings in courts of equity.
[Amended 11-13-2001 by Ord. No. 106]
Any person who shall violate or fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter, 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 chapter continues or each section of this chapter which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.