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Township of Chestnuthill, PA
Monroe County
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As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
AGRICULTURAL OPERATION
The use of any parcel of land containing five or more acres for economic gain in the raising of agricultural products or livestock. It includes necessary structures within the limits of the parcel and the storage of equipment necessary for production.
ANTIQUE VEHICLE
Any vehicle 25 years or older which has been restored to good operating and road-worthy condition. (See definition of "good operating and road-worthy condition.")
ASHES
Residue from fire used for cooking and for heating buildings, or from other burning.
ATTRACTIVE PUBLIC NUISANCE
A condition of property which may reasonably be construed to be a source of danger to the persons who may reside or otherwise be on the premises, or who may, by reason of something which may be expected to attract them, come to the premises.
AUTO REPAIR GARAGE
An area where repairs, improvements and installation of parts and accessories for motor vehicles and/or boats are conducted that involves work that is more intense in character than work permitted under the definition of "auto service station." An auto repair garage shall include, but not be limited to, a use that involves any of the following work: major mechanical or body work, straightening of body parts, painting, welding or rebuilding of transmissions.
AUTO SERVICE STATION
An area where gasoline is dispensed into motor vehicles, and where no repairs are conducted, except work that may be conducted that is closely similar in character to the following: sale and installation of oil, lubricants, batteries and belts and similar accessories and safety and emission inspections, and sale of prepackaged propane.
BUILDING
Any structure having a roof supported by fully enclosed exterior weight-bearing walls and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of any individual, animal, process, equipment, services, goods or materials of any kind or nature, including, but not limited to, dwellings, dwelling units, mobile homes, garages, barns, stables, sheds, plants, factories, warehouses and similar structures.
COLLECTOR VEHICLE
Any vehicle of limited manufactured production from the present through 24 years old, in good operating and road-worthy condition. (See definition of "good operating and road-worthy condition.")
CONTRACTING BUSINESS
An active, ongoing business legally operating which involves the performance of services related to the construction of buildings, erection of structures, the preparation of the land for buildings and structures, the installation of community facilities, such as roads, water systems and sewage disposal systems, or the provision of transportation services.
DANGEROUS PREMISES
Any building, structure or property which has any or all of the following defects:
A. 
Any structure which, exclusive of the foundation, shows damage or deterioration to 33% of the supporting member or members, or damage or deterioration to 50% of the nonsupporting enclosing or outside walls or coverings as determined in accord with Article VII.
B. 
Any structure which has improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs or in which the same are overloaded, or which has insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
C. 
Any structure which has been damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as to be dangerous to life, safety, or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the public.
D. 
Any structure which is so damaged, dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary, vermin infested or which so utterly fails to provide the amenities essential to decent living that it is unfit for human habitation, or is likely to cause sickness or disease, so as to work injury to the health, safety or general welfare of those living therein.
E. 
Any structure which has parts which are so inadequately attached that they may fall and injure occupants, property or members of the public.
F. 
Any structure used for a residential dwelling or human occupancy, excluding accessory structures, which lacks illumination, ventilation and/or sanitation facilities or because of another condition is unsafe, unsanitary, or dangerous to the health, safety, or general welfare of the occupants or the public.
G. 
Any building, structure or property which because of its location or due to an accumulation of garbage or rubbish is unsanitary, or otherwise dangerous, to the health or safety of the occupants or the public.
H. 
Any building, structure or property which can be construed as an attractive public nuisance.
DWELLING
Any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
DWELLING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants.
EMERGENCY CASE
A violation which poses an imminent threat to the public health, safety or welfare and which requires immediate action to eliminate such imminent threat.
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The individual(s), agency or firm appointed by the Chestnuthill Township Board of Supervisors to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
EXTERMINATE
To control and eradicate insects, rodents or other pests by eliminating their harborage places, removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food, poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping, or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods.
GARBAGE
Animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
GOOD OPERATING AND ROAD-WORTHY CONDITION
A vehicle having both a current and valid registration and current and valid inspection sticker as required by the motor vehicle laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or if lacking a registration and/or inspection sticker, is in full and complete working order and condition, but for not having said current registration and inspection sticker could be safely and legally operated on a public roadway. Registrations and inspections which have been expired for less than 60 days shall be considered current for the purposes of this definition.
JUNK
Any discarded, unusable, scrap or abandoned man-made or man-processed material or articles, such as the following types: metal, furniture, appliances, motor vehicle parts, aircraft, glass, plastics, machinery, equipment, containers and building materials. "Junk" shall not include solid waste temporarily stored in an appropriate container that is routinely awaiting imminent collection and proper disposal, toxic substances, yard waste, or items clearly awaiting imminent recycling at an appropriate location.
JUNK VEHICLE
Includes any vehicle or trailer, not in a good operating and road-worthy condition, that meets any or all of the following conditions:
A. 
Cannot be moved under its own power, in regards to a vehicle designed to move under its own power, other than a vehicle clearly needing only minor repairs.
B. 
Cannot be towed, in regards to a trailer designed to be towed.
C. 
Has been demolished beyond repair.
D. 
Has been separated from its axles, engine, body or chassis.
E. 
Includes only the axle, engine, body parts and/or chassis, separated from the remainder of the vehicle.
JUNKYARD
A. 
Land or a structure used for the collection, storage, dismantling, processing and/or sale, other than within a completely enclosed building, of material of one or more of the following types:
(1) 
Junk covering more than 1% of the lot area.
(2) 
Two or more junk and/or unregistered vehicles that are partly or fully visible from an exterior lot line, dwelling and/or public street. This shall not apply to such vehicles stored as part of a lawfully permitted auto repair garage within the requirements of Chapter 119, Zoning, Township Code.
(3) 
One or more mobile/manufactured homes that are not in a habitable condition.
B. 
Junk stored within a completely enclosed building for business purposes shall be considered a warehouse.
C. 
A junkyard specifically shall include but not be limited to a metal scrap yard or auto salvage yard.
LOT
A designated parcel, tract or area of land, regardless of size, established by a plat or other legal means, and intended for transfer of ownership, use, lease or improvements or for development, regardless of how or if it is conveyed.
NUISANCE
Any unreasonable, unwarrantable or unlawful course of conduct or use of private or public property which causes or may cause injury, damage, hurt, inconvenience, interference, or discomfort to others in the legitimate use and enjoyment of their rights of person or property.
OCCUPANT
The person owning, leasing, renting, occupying or having charge, care, custody or control of any premises in Chestnuthill Township.
ON-SITE UTILITY VEHICLE
Any junk or unregistered vehicle used on a specific property for plowing snow, hauling fire wood, moving goods or equipment, and other similar property maintenance or operational activities.
OUTSIDE STORAGE
Not contained in a building fully enclosed with completed walls and roof.
OWNER
The person who, alone or jointly or severally with others is the owner of record of the premises as filed with the Monroe County Recorder of Deeds. In the case where an owner is represented by an agent, including but not limited to a manager, executor, executrix, administrator, administratix, or guardian of the estate of the owner, such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter and with rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he were the owner.
PERSON
An individual, trustee, executor, other fiduciary, corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization or other legal entity.
PROPERTY
A piece, parcel, lot or tract of land.
RUBBISH
Combustible and noncombustible waste materials including but not limited to, garbage, junk, residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke, and other combustible material, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass crockery and dust, and similar materials.
SCREENED
Not visible from any adjoining or neighboring property, any public or private road right-of-way, or any other premises, and which is accomplished by fencing, topography, berms, natural and planted vegetation or other means approved by the Township.
TOWNSHIP
The Township of Chestnuthill, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
TOWNSHIP CODE
The Code of the Township of Chestnuthill, Monroe County, Pennsylvania.
UNREGISTERED VEHICLE
Any motor vehicle or trailer that does not display a license plate with a current registration sticker and does not have a valid state safety inspection sticker. This term shall not apply to vehicles (such as licensed antique cars) for which state regulations do not require an inspection sticker. The term also shall not include motor vehicles displaying a license and inspection stickers that have each expired less than 60 days prior to the first inspection and notice under this chapter.
VEHICLE
Any device in, upon or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway or upon any land, including, but not limited to, automobiles, trucks, vans, buses, utility trailers, tractors, truck tractors, recreational vehicles, motor homes, travel trailers, motorcycles, machinery, trailers, farm machinery and implements, and other wheeled equipment; boats; and aircraft.
VEHICLE or EQUIPMENT REPAIR/TOWING OPERATION
An establishment, operating in accord with the Township requirements, engaged in the service and/or repair of vehicles, including but not limited to, auto body shops, repair garages, truck repair garages, towing companies and agriculture equipment repair.
VEGETATION
Any grass, weed, vegetable, crop, shrub, or other plant.
VERMIN INFESTED
The presence, within or upon a premises, of any insects, rodents or other pests which constitute a public nuisance.
WASTE or GARBAGE
Any garbage, refuse, industrial, lunchroom or office waste or other material including solid, liquid, semi-solid or contained gaseous material, resulting from the operation of residential, municipal, commercial or institutional establishments and from community activities. The term shall also include any garbage, refuse, other discarded material or other waste, including solid, liquid, semi-solid or containing gaseous materials resulting from industrial and mining operations, local facilities or any other by-product or effluent from an industrial, mining or agricultural water supply treatment facility, wastewater treatment facility or air pollution control facility or any other material defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as solid, liquid, municipal, medical, industrial, toxic or hazardous waste.