[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984; as amended by Ord. 313, 7/11/1990; and by Ord. 566, 2/27/2013, § III]
1. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association, corporation or other entity to open, occupy or break the surface of the ground within the boundary of any public highway, roadway, alley, sidewalk, footpath or other public right-of-way, except for the purposes set forth in Subsection 2 hereof and after first having obtained a permit to do so from the Code Enforcement Department. See also § 21-114, Subsection 1.
2. 
The Code Enforcement Department may issue a permit authorizing the opening, excavation or occupation of areas within the boundary of any public highway, roadway, alley, sidewalk, footpath or other public right-of-way only for the following purposes:
A. 
Laying, repairing, replacing or connecting public water or sewer pipes, drains or conduits undertaken by the Bucks County Municipal Water and Sewer Authority or by any other entity with the prior approval and under the express direction of the Township.
B. 
Laying, repairing, replacing or connecting pipes, drains or conduits of public utilities or other public service companies.
C. 
Setting, planting, replacing or removing telephone or telegraph poles, streetlights or traffic control signs.
D. 
Laying, constructing, installing, repairing or replacing driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, except where the Code Enforcement Department shall determine that no permit is required for such activity pursuant to § 21-111.
E. 
Constructing or installing mailboxes.
3. 
No permit shall be issued to perform an opening or excavation of any Township highway, roadway, alley or other public right-of-way that was constructed, reconstructed or resurfaced fewer than three years prior to application for a permit under this Part, unless the applicant agrees in writing to overlay or pave the surface of the public right-of-way, from curb to curb and intersection to intersection, to the satisfaction of the Township. The Township may grant an exception to this section in the case of an emergency in which the exigencies of public health or safety require such an exception.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
Before such permit is issued and said work is begun, a written application on a blank form to be furnished for that purpose by the Zoning/Code Enforcement Director must be filed with the Code Enforcement Department, setting forth the purpose for which the said highway, road, street, avenue, lane, alley, sidewalk or footpath is to be opened, excavated or occupied and the location of the said proposed work, and in such application the applicant shall agree to assume all liability for all or any damages to person or property accruing to the public or to the said Township which may or might result from the opening, excavation or occupying of said highway, road, street, avenue, lane, alley, sidewalk or footpath.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
Whenever the exigencies of public health or safety require that immediate repairs be made and the procurement of a permit prior to the commencement of the work is impracticable, it shall be lawful for the work to be begun without a permit, provided that an application for said permit is filed and the proper fee paid within 48 hours from the time when the emergency arose, and, provided further, that any person(s) and/or corporation beginning said work under the provisions of this section shall do so subject to the conditions and obligations imposed by this Part upon any person(s) and/or corporation opening or excavating public highways, etc., as though an application for a permit had been filed.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
1. 
Before the issuance of a permit, the applicant shall make payment to the Township in sums set forth by resolution of the Board of Supervisors for the following:
A. 
For openings or excavations in any highway, road, street, avenue, alley, sidewalk or footpath.
B. 
For openings or breaks in improved sidewalks and for breaking the surface of any improved curb for the purpose of building any driveway across the same or for any other purpose.
C. 
For the erection, setting or planting of any pole in the public right-of-way.
D. 
For the occupancy of a highway, avenue, street or sidewalk with building or other materials.
(1) 
No such permit shall authorize the occupying of more than one-third of the width of the roadway between curbs, nor shall the occupied area exceed in extent the dimensions of the frontage of the premises about to be built upon or repaired, except that when no objection is made by the adjoining property owners and the space is not to be used for storage of materials other than those to be used in construction, the permittee shall be permitted to occupy an additional 30 feet on each side of the building frontage for which the permit is granted.
(2) 
Provision shall be made by the applicant for such a permit for maintaining at all times a clear and unobstructed passage along the sidewalk at least six feet in width and a free passage for water in the gutter.
(3) 
No building or other materials or other obstruction shall at any time be placed in the highway within 25 feet of any fire hydrant.
(4) 
All the materials or other obstructions occupying the highway shall be removed prior to the expiration of the time for which the permit was issued or for which it was renewed.
2. 
If, in the course of reviewing an application, the Zoning/Code Enforcement Director determines that additional inspection work shall be required by either the Township Engineer or Public Works Superintendent, an inspection deposit may be required to cover any and all additional costs related to the inspection of the work covered by the permit. Any such funds remaining with the Township after the work has been certified complete by the Code Enforcement Department shall be released to the applicant.
3. 
No permit provided for under the provisions of this section shall be issued until the applicant shall first file with the Code Enforcement Department a certificate showing that he carries public liability insurance in the limits of at least $25,000 and $50,000 and property damage insurance in the amount of at least $5,000.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
1. 
Permits shall be issued by the Zoning/Code Enforcement Director and shall not be operative for more than 60 days from the date of issue. Permits may be renewed for a like period upon payment of a renewal fee as established by the Board of Supervisors by resolution.
2. 
The permit shall at all times be kept in the possession of a competent person actually engaged in the work and, upon demand, shall be exhibited to any police officer or properly authorized employee of the Township, County or State.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
All measurements required to be made in applying the above fees shall be made by the Code Enforcement Department and shall include any enlargement of openings which may be required to be made as an incident of the repair of such paving or to restore the same to its former condition.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
No highway, road, street, avenue, lane, alley, sidewalk or footpath shall be tunneled except where special written permission therefor shall have been granted by the Township Engineer.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984; as amended by Ord. 566, 2/27/2013, § IV]
1. 
All breaks or openings shall be refilled by the applicant for the permit, to the approval of the Department of Public Works, without raising the surface of the highway, road, street, avenue, lane, alley, sidewalk or footpath, due allowance being made for the structure being placed in the trench. All refilling must be done with suitable materials thoroughly compacted by puddling or hard tamping in uniform layers not exceeding six inches in depth and all surplus dirt must be removed from the job.
2. 
Materials used in backfilling, temporary and/or permanent paving shall conform to Township specifications promulgated by the Township Engineer and Public Works Superintendent and available at the Code Enforcement Department. (See Appendix 22-A, Chapter 22, Subdivision and Land Development).
3. 
Permanent paving shall be constructed, weather permitting, 60 days after the installation of the temporary paving. If, within one year after the installation of the permanent paving, defects appear therein resulting from defective backfilling by the applicant, the applicant shall reimburse the Township for the cost of all necessary repairs to the permanent paving.
4. 
Each person issued a permit shall submit to the Township, not later than 30 days after completion of the permitted construction (or any part thereof, if required by the Township), two paper copies and one electronic copy of as-built map or maps and engineering specifications as set forth by the Township depicting and certifying the location of the facilities constructed. Such engineering specifications and electronic and paper maps shall be submitted in a format and include the information required by the Township. If the maps are not provided electronically in the required format, then the person shall reimburse the Township for the cost of converting paper maps into electronic form or the cost of converting electronic maps in another format into the required format.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
All materials, openings or excavations made or obstructions created under such permits must be properly marked from sunset to sunrise by red lights so placed as to indicate, from the roadway in both directions, the exact location and limits of said work or obstruction, and at all times must be properly guarded.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984; as amended by Ord. 313, 7/11/1990]
The filing of an application by a public utility, public service company or the Bucks County Municipal Water and Sewer Authority and the issuance of a permit for activities permitted under this Part shall constitute an agreement on the part of said applicant that it will at any time thereafter, upon notice from the Department of Public Works, at its own expense, make such change in location or construction of the concerned facilities as may be required by the Township.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
1. 
Sidewalks, curbs and gutters shall not be placed or replaced within the boundaries of any public highway, road, street, avenue, lane or alley in the Township of Northampton by any owner, person, firm, association or corporation without first obtaining from the Code Enforcement Department a permit for such purpose, which shall be fully set forth in written application showing such purpose and assuming all liability for all and any damage which might result from the performance of such work; except where repairs to existing sidewalks, curbs or gutters involve no change in line or grade and where no new stakes for lines and grades are required to be set, there shall be no need of any permit.
2. 
For giving or defining grades or lines for the placing or replacing of sidewalk, curb or gutter within the boundaries of any public highway, road, street, avenue, lane or alley, a charge, payable to the Township, will be made in accordance with standard rates adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
3. 
The Township Engineer, with approval of the Township Manager, is hereby empowered to give or define grades or lines for the placing or replacing of sidewalk, curb and gutter within the boundaries of any public highway, road, street, avenue, lane or alley within said Township, and no act on the part of any other official or employee shall bind the Township or make it liable therefor.
4. 
The Township Engineer, after making the necessary survey, shall, with the approval of the Township Manager, fix the lines and grades of sidewalk, curb and gutter proposed to be placed or replaced in conformity with the lines and grades fixed by this Board, and no sidewalk, curb and gutter shall be placed or replaced except after a permit is thus obtained and after the Township Engineer shall have given the line and grade.
5. 
Property owners and their contractors or agents shall protect the public by proper guards and lights against any danger or injury while the highway is open in the work of placing or replacing sidewalk, curb and gutter or any matter pertaining thereto, including the guarding against injury by materials that may be placed in the highway for that purpose.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
1. 
The owner or owners of any lot, parcel, tract of land or premises fronting or abutting on an affected public street, road or avenue within the Township of Northampton upon which a grade has heretofore or hereafter been established shall, upon receipt of 60 days' written notice from the Township, at their respective costs and expense, begin to construct, repair and maintain the curbing and/or sidewalk or footwalk in front of and along the property owned by them or on the part of said public street, road or avenue abutting their respective properties.
2. 
The notice shall be sent by registered mail by the Township Manager to the last known address of the individual or individuals, association or corporation in whose name the title to the lot, parcel or tract of land or premises appears on public record to be owned, and if such registered mail is returned unclaimed, then and in that event such notice shall be given by posting one copy of the same on the land or premises involved.
3. 
Upon failure of any owner or owners to comply with the provisions of this Part and to commence the construction of said curbing, sidewalk or footwalk or repair and maintain the same within 60 days after the mailing of said notice and to complete fully such construction, repair and maintenance within 60 days after the date of said notice, the Township of Northampton shall enter upon said premises and construct, pave, repair or maintain the curbing, sidewalk or footwalk and enter the cost thereof, together with 10% additional, as a lien against the said lot, parcel, tract of land or premises.
4. 
All curbing, sidewalk or footwalk construction or repair shall be performed in accordance with specifications referenced in § 21-118 of this Part.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
No permit fee paid under this Part shall be considered to be in lieu of any annual license fee now required to be paid or which may at any time be required to be paid by ordinance of the Township of Northampton.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984; as amended by Ord. 567, 11/12/2013]
1. 
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to erect, set up, place or maintain any gasoline pump, oil tank or other obstructions, including, but not limited to, dumpsters, trailers, pods or other similar obstructions that are deemed a hazard, or to plant any trees, shrubbery or similar obstruction within the boundaries of any public highway, road, street, avenue, lane, alley, sidewalk or footpath in the Township of Northampton.
2. 
Trees and hedges overhanging the sidewalk and/or roadway shall be trimmed to provide clear passage of not less than 12 feet above the sidewalk or roadway. In addition, all obstructions at intersections that create visibility problems, as determined by the Code Enforcement Officer or Police Department, shall be removed.
3. 
Any such obstruction shall be removed promptly by the property owner whenever notice to remove such obstruction is given by the Zoning/Code Enforcement Director and/or the Police Department. If the owner fails to comply with such notice, the Township may remove the obstruction and charge the cost thereof to the owner.
4. 
No commercial vehicle may be parked on a Township street except for service and delivery to said residence. A commercial vehicle shall be defined as any means of conveyance as defined as such in the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 102, as amended: bus, combination, farm vehicle, limousine, semitrailer, special mobile equipment, taxi, trailer, truck and wrecker, or similar vehicle, which exceeds 22 feet in length and/or 12,000 pounds.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
Every lane and entrance road connecting with any public highway, street, road or avenue of the Township of Northampton shall be so constructed or altered that the water and surface drainage shall not be blocked or diverted from the course of the gutter and that the surface drainage from such lane or entrance road shall flow into the gutter of said public highway, road, street or avenue and not upon the roadbed thereof.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
1. 
No paper, trash, rubbish, ashes, junk, waste or discarded materials of any kind shall be thrown, deposited or dumped in any ravine, ditch or gutter or any highway, road, street, avenue, lane, alley, sidewalk or footpath in the Township of Northampton, nor in any public place or private property, vacant or occupied, within the limits of said Township.
2. 
No leaves, grass, weeds, hedges or tree trimmings shall be burned within the boundaries of any public highway, nor shall any fire be made which will cause damage to the highway or street paving.
3. 
Nothing in this Part shall be construed to prohibit municipal dumps maintained by the Township of Northampton or a reasonable accumulation of rubbish on private property by the owner thereof; provided, however, that such rubbish shall be kept in tightly covered metal containers.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association or corporation to close any public highway, road, street, avenue, lane or alley in the Township of Northampton unless and until a permit for this purpose has been obtained from the Township Manager.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984]
Standard specifications for highway improvements shall be designated and approved by the Township Engineer and shall be in accordance with those specifications found in the Appendix 22-A of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance [Chapter 22], as amended.
[Ord. 213, 5/9/1984; as amended by Ord. 285, 2/22/1989; by Ord. 561, 4/25/2012; and by Ord. 572, 9/17/2014]
1. 
In the event of a violation of this Part, any police officer of the Township of Northampton may present to the owner, tenant or occupant a notice indicating the nature of the offense and bearing the statement that no prosecution shall be instituted for 48 hours hereafter if, during said forty-eight-hour period, the offender shall voluntarily appear at the office of the Police Department of the Township of Northampton, 50 Township Road, Richboro, Pennsylvania 18954, and voluntarily enter a plea of guilty and pay a penalty of $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second offense, and $75 for the third offense to the Township. In the event such persons fail to comply with such notice, the offense will thereafter be prosecuted and the penalty collected in a manner prescribed by existing laws.
2. 
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of 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.