Part 1
Nuisances

A.    General Provisions

Code reviser’s note: As set out in Ord. 2017-04, Subpart A was repealed and replaced by the International Property Maintenance Code, adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Wolf Township on March 8, 2004.

B.    Vegetation Nuisance

§10-111 Definitions.

As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

Grass - various green plants with bladelike leaves usually densely grown and cultivated for lawns.

Noxious Plants - harmful distasteful or obnoxious plants, such as but not limited to, ragweed, goldenrod, Canadian thistle, milkweed, mustard, honeysuckle, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, jimson weed and burdock.

Person - an individual, firm, corporation, partnership, unincorporated association or municipality.

Weeds - growths of wild vegetation having little or no value.

(Ord. 89-06-12, 6/12/1989; as added by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011, §1)

§10-112 Vegetation as Nuisance.

No person, firm, partnership or corporation owning or having an interest in or occupying any real estate within the Township of Wolf, County of Lycoming, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, shall permit any grass or weeds or noxious plants whatsoever to grow or remain on such premises, including any portion of the premises occupied by a street or alley, so as to exceed a height of 6 inches. Specifically excluded from this restriction are plants that are edible, ornamental, or provide some useful purpose. Furthermore, in agricultural areas, an open area of land, especially one planted with crops or pastures, is exempt from the height restrictions of this section.

(Ord. 89-06-12, 6/12/1989, §1; as amended by Ord. 2004-1, 3/8/2004; by Ord. 2011-01, 1/3/2011, §1; and by Ord. 2017-04, 7/10/2017, Art. II)

§10-113 Duty of Owners and Occupants.

The owner of any such premises, whether occupied by the owner or not, and the occupant thereof in case of premises occupied by other than the owner thereof, shall remove, trim or cut all such vegetation growing or remaining upon such premises in violation of the provisions of this Part. Both the owner and the occupant in the case of premises occupied by other than the owner shall be responsible for the compliance with this Part.

(Ord. 89-06-12, 6/12/1989, §2)

§10-114 Notice of Violation; Abatement by Township; Cost.

In addition to the penalties as hereinafter imposed in this Part, this Board, or any officer or employee of the Township designated thereby for the purpose, is hereby authorized to give notice, by personal service or by United States mail to the owner of the occupant or either of them of a violation of the terms of this Part, directing and requiring such occupant or owner or both of them to remove, trim, spray or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation as to conform to the requirements of this Part within 5 days after issuance of such notice. If any such owner or occupant shall neglect or fail to comply with such notice within the period of time stated therein, the Township authorities may remove, spray, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation so as to comply with the provisions of this Part, and the reasonable cost thereof, together with any additional penalty authorized by law, may be collected by the Township from such owners or occupant as a penalty under the provisions of this Part or in any other manner provided by law. This right as herein vested in the Township shall be in addition to penalties prescribed by the provisions of this Part for the failure of the owner or occupant as aforesaid to comply with the terms of the ordinance.

(Ord. 89-06-12, 6/12/1989, §3)

§10-115 Exceptions.

Provided, however, that farmlands and wooded regions within the Township shall not come within the provisions of this Part.

(Ord. 89-06-12, 6/12/1989, §4)

§10-116 Violations and Penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a district justice 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. Notice to the offenders shall not be necessary in order to constitute a separate offense, nor shall notice to the offender be necessary to constitute an offense.

(Ord. 89-06-12, 6/12/1989, §5; as amended by Ord. 2004-1, 3/8/2004)