[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Butler 11-1-1965 as Ch. X, Part 3, of the 1965 Code; amended in its entirety 7-6-2009 by Ord. No. 842. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Solid waste — See Ch. 231.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 871]
A. 
In no event shall any person, firm, entity or corporation owning or occupying any developed lot within the Township of Butler permit any grass or weeds not edible or planted for useful or ornamental purposes to grow or remain upon such premises so as to exceed a height of 18 inches. In such case, and irrespective of the time of year, such owner shall cut, mow or remove the grass and/or weeds.
B. 
For purposes of this chapter, "grass" and "weeds" shall not include grasses, weeds or other plants that are planted for useful purposes, ornamental purposes, agricultural purposes or erosion control or plants growing in heavily wooded areas or on steep hillsides.
The owner of any lot within the Township of Butler shall be responsible and held responsible for removing, trimming, cutting or mowing all grass, weeds or other vegetation growing or remaining upon such lot in violation of this chapter.
[Amended 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 871]
The Zoning Officer, or his or her authorized representative, is hereby authorized to give written notice to the owner of any developed lot whereon grass, weeds or other vegetation is growing or remaining in violation of the provisions of § 127-1 of this chapter, directing and requiring such owner to remove, trim, mow or cut such grass, weeds or other vegetation, so as to conform to the requirements of this chapter, within 10 days after issuance of such notice. The Zoning Officer, or his or her authorized representative, shall provide such written notice, and such notice shall be deemed properly served if a copy thereof is delivered personally; sent by certified or first-class mail addressed to the last known address; or if the notice is returned showing that the letter was not delivered, a copy thereof shall be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises affected by such notice.
Any person, firm, entity or corporation who or which shall violate or fail, neglect or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 and costs of prosecution and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, shall be subject to imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 30 days. Each and every day that compliance with this chapter is not obtained shall constitute a separate and distinct offense under this chapter and shall be subject to separate and distinct penalties, and additional notices to the offender after the first notice of the offense shall not be necessary in order to constitute an additional offense.
[Added 12-17-2012 by Ord. No. 871]
Upon failure of the owner to cut or destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution as set forth in § 127-4 and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized agent having authority from Butler Township shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.