[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 1600; as amended by Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
The sound level of any operation (other than the operation of motor vehicles or other ground transportation facilities on public highways, operations involved in the construction or demolition of structures, emergency alarm signals or time signals) shall not exceed the decibel levels in the designated octave bands as stated below. The sound-pressure level shall be measured with a sound level meter and octave band analyzer that conform to specifications published by the American National Standards Institute. American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters, S1.4-1971, American National Standards Institute, Inc., New York, New York and the American Standard Specification for an Octave, Half Octave and Third Octave Band Filter Sets, S1.11-1966, R 1971, American National Standards Institute, Inc., New York, New York shall be used.
Sound-pressure levels shall be measured at the property line upon which the emission occurs. The maximum permissible sound-pressure levels for smooth and continuous noise shall be as follows. (All of the decibel levels stated below shall apply in each case.)
Frequency Band
(Cycles per Second)
Maximum Permitted Sound-Pressure Level
(Decibels)
20-75
60
75-150
54
150-300
47
300-600
41
600-1200
37
1200-2400
34
2400-4800
31
Above 4800
28
If the noise is not smooth and continuous or is radiated during sleeping hours, one or more of the corrections below shall be added to or subtracted from each of the decibel levels given above.
Type of Operation or Character of Noise
Corrections in Decibels
Noise occurs between the hours 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
-3
Noise occurs less than 5% of any one-hour period
+3
Noise is of periodic character (hum, scream, etc.) or is of impulsive character (hammering, etc.). (In the case of impulsive noise, the correction shall apply only to the average pressure during an impulse and impulse peaks shall not exceed the basic standards given above.)
-5
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 1601; as amended by Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
No smoke or other source of visible gray opacity greater than No. 1 on the Ringlemann Smoke Chart as published by the U.S. Bureau of Mines shall be emitted from any chimney, except that smoke of a shade not darker than No. 2 on the Ringlemann Chart may be emitted for not more than four minutes in any thirty-minute period.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 1602; as amended by Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
1. 
The emission of dust, dirt, fly ash, fumes, vapors or gases which can cause any damage to human health, to animals, to vegetation, or to property or which can cause any soiling or staining of persons or property at the point beyond the lot line of the use creating the emission is herewith prohibited.
2. 
No emission of liquid or solid particles from any chimney or other source shall exceed 3/10 grains per cubic foot of the carrying gas at any point beyond the lot line of the use creating the emission. For measurement of the amount of particles in gases resulting from combustion, standard correction shall be applied to a stack temperature of 500° F and 50% excess air in stack at full load.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 1603; as amended by Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
No use shall produce heat perceptible beyond its lot lines.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 1604; as amended by Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
1. 
No use shall emit odorous gases or other odorous matter in such quantities as to be offensive at any point on or beyond its lot lines. The guide for determining such quantities of offensive odors shall be the 50% response level of Table 1 (Odor Thresholds in Ar), "Research on Chemical Odors: Part 1 - Odor Thresholds for 53 Commercial Chemicals," October, 1968, Manufacturing Chemists Association, Inc., Washington, D.C.
2. 
Subsection 1 above shall not apply to odors normally created as part of an agricultural or horticultural use except that no animal waste produced off of the property shall be stockpiled unless processed to eliminate all offensive odors.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 1605; as amended by Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
No use shall produce a strong, dazzling light or a reflection of a strong, dazzling light beyond its lot lines. In general, lighting fixtures that shield the reflector or lens or any high brightness surface from viewing angles above 60° from horizontal shall be utilized.
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 1606; as amended by Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
No use shall cause earth vibrations or concussions in excess of the standards outlined below, with the exception of that vibration produced as a result of construction activity. The standards below are as set forth in the Table of Frequency Amplitude Relations. Vibration shall be expressed as displacement in inches and shall be measured with a standard three component measuring system which is a device for recording the intensity of any vibration in three mutually perpendicular directions.
Frequency of Ground Motion in Cycles per Second
Maximum Amplitude of Ground Motion in Inches, no more than
up to 10
0.0305
20
0.0153
30
0.0102
40
0.0076
50
0.0061
60
0.0051
[Ord. 5/26/1987, § 1607; as amended by Ord. 192, 4/18/2000; by Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
The following requirements shall apply to nonresidential land uses.
1. 
No liquids, solids or gases having a flash point less than 73° F (as specified in the National Fire Code Vols. 12 and 13, National Fire Protection Association) shall be stored in bulk above ground except tanks or drums of fuel having a maximum capacity of 3,000 gallons connected directly with energy devices or heating appliances located and operated on the same lot as the tanks or drums of fuel. This provision shall not apply to Use H10 in the Industrial District.
Capacity of Flammable Materials Permitted, Gallons[1]
Flash Point Closed Cup Tester
Aboveground
140° F or higher
10,000
74° F to 139° F
5,000
73° F or less, fuels connected to energy devices
3,000
[1]
When flammable gases are stored and measured in cubic feet, the quantities of cubic feet at standard temperature and pressure permitted shall not exceed 30 times the quantities listed above.
2. 
All outdoor storage facilities for fuel, raw materials and products and all fuel, raw materials and products stored outdoors shall be enclosed by a fence with a minimum height of seven feet. Such fence shall be chain link, stockade, picket (not exceeding three inch spacing), solid wood, building wall or such other material as may be acceptable to the Zoning Officer to carry out the intent of this Part.
3. 
No materials or wastes shall be deposited upon a lot in such form or manner that they may be transported off the lot by natural causes or forces, nor shall any substance which can contaminate a stream or watercourse or otherwise render such stream or watercourse undesirable as a source of water supply or recreation or which will destroy aquatic life be allowed to enter any stream or watercourse. Disposal of sewage, septage or sludge must meet the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
4. 
All materials or wastes which might cause fumes or dust, or which constitute a fire hazard or which may be edible or otherwise attractive to rodents or insects shall be stored outdoors only if enclosed in containers adequate to eliminate such hazards.
5. 
Radioactivity and Electrical Disturbance. There shall be no activity which emits dangerous or harmful radioactivity. There shall be no electrical disturbance adversely affecting the operation of any equipment beyond the property line of the creator of such disturbance.
[Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
General Regulation. It shall constitute a public nuisance for any person, firm or corporation, being the owner or occupant of premises situate in East Rockhill Township, to permit the growth or accumulation of any plant species or subspecies which is identified on the Pennsylvania Controlled Plant and Noxious Weed List.
[Ord. No. 303, 3/26/2024]
1. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to allow to exist on any premises in East Rockhill Township any public nuisance under this Part.
2. 
Any Township law enforcement officer, Zoning Officer or other person designated by the Board of Supervisors may issue an order requiring the abatement of any nuisance in violation of this Part.
3. 
The following procedures and penalties are prescribed for enforcement of this Part.
A. 
Warnings. If it is determined that a nuisance exists under this Part, the Township, in its discretion, may issue a written warning to the property owner and to any person responsible. Any such warning, if issued, shall contain a time to abate said nuisance and identify the property in question.
B. 
Offenses. If it is determined that a public nuisance under this Part shall have been caused or permitted by any person after the time allowed for a correction under any issuance of a warning, any person affected thereby, and/or the Township may file a nontraffic citation against the property owner and against such person causing or permitting a public nuisance.
C. 
Any person or business entity who shall violate any of the provisions of this Part shall, upon summary conviction thereof, be punishable by a minimum fine of not less than $500 and a maximum fine of not more than $1,000, plus costs of prosecution. Each violation of any of the provisions of this Part shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense, and when a violation continues beyond the time limit set forth in the abatement order, shall be deemed to be a separate and distinct offense. When a second and/or subsequent violation is committed by the same person or entity within any twelve-month period, the fine shall be double the amount of the previous fine up to a maximum fine of $1,000 for each separate and distinct offense.
D. 
Injunctions. In addition, any person affected thereby may file legal or equitable actions in court to abate or enjoin violations of this Part. In its discretion, the Township may proceed to filing for equitable relief without exhausting the other enforcement mechanisms provided for herein.
E. 
Other Remedies. Nothing in this Part shall be construed to impair any cause of action or legal remedy thereof, of any person or the public for injury or damage arising from violation of any other statute, regulation, or ordinance.