Borough of East Pittsburgh, PA Article III Vegetative Growth

[Adopted 12-8-1990 by Ord. No. 757 (Ch. 28, Art. IV, of the 1980 Code of Ordinances)]

§ 264-9 Vegetative growth declared nuisance under certain conditions.

No person, firm or corporation, owning or occupying any property within the Borough of East Pittsburgh shall permit any grass or 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 10 inches, or to throw off any unpleasant or noxious odor, or to conceal any filthy deposit, or create or produce pollen. Any grass, weeds or other vegetation growing upon any premises in the Borough in violation of any of the provisions of this section is hereby declared to be a nuisance and detrimental to the health, safety, cleanliness and comfort of the habitants of the Borough.

§ 264-10 Responsibility for removing, cutting or trimming.

The owner of any premises, as to vacant premises, multiple residential or multiple commercial premises or premises occupied by the owner, and the occupant thereof in case of premises occupied by other than the owner thereof, shall remove, trim or cut all grass, weeds or other vegetation growing or remaining upon such premises in violation of the provisions of § 264-9 of this article.

§ 264-11 Notice to remove, trim or cut; Borough may do work and collect cost and additional amount.

The Council, or any officer or employee of the Borough designated thereby for the purpose, is hereby authorized to give notice, by personal service or by United States Mail, to the owner or occupant, as the case may be, of any premises whereof grass, weeds or other vegetation is growing or remaining in violation of the provisions of § 264-9 of this article, directing and requiring such occupant to remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation so as to conform to the requirements of this article, within 10 days after issuance of such notice. Whenever, in the judgment of the enforcement officer of the Borough, it shall appear to be impracticable to give notice as above provided, either because the owner or occupant cannot readily be found or because a search for the owner or occupant would entail unreasonable delay, the Council, or any officer or employee of the Borough designated thereby for that purpose, may give notice by posting conspicuously on the property where such nuisance exists a notice or order directing and requiring that such nuisance be abated within 10 days. In case any person, firm or corporation shall neglect, fail or refuse to comply with such notice within the period of time stated therein, the Council may order the removal, trimming or cutting of such grass, weeds or vegetation, and the cost thereof, together with a penalty of 10% of the cost thereof, shall be collected by the Borough from such person, firm or corporation in the manner provided by law.

§ 264-12 Violations and penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation who or which shall violate or fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $300, and costs of prosecution, provided each day's violation shall constitute a separate offense, and notice to the offender shall not be necessary in order to constitute an offense.