[Added by Ord. No. 17-2017, 6-13-2017]
This article is adopted to control the planting, cultivating or growing of bamboo in the Township of Teaneck and to require barriers to prevent the spread of existing bamboo into other areas of the Township.
(a) 
Subject to certain exemptions set forth in this article, no persons, or other property owners or tenants, shall plant, cultivate, or cause to grow any bamboo on any lot or parcel of ground in the Township of Teaneck, subject to the following exceptions:
(1) 
The root system of such bamboo plant is entirely contained within an above-ground-level planter, barrel, or other vessel of such design, material, and location as to entirely prevent the spread of growth of the bamboo plant's root system beyond the container in which it is planted; or
(2) 
The root system is contained within a properly constructed and maintained barrier system.
(b) 
Whether planted or growing in a container, as described herein, all bamboo plants shall be located, trimmed and maintained so that no part of the plant shall be closer than 10 feet to any property line.
This article shall not apply to any landowner or possessor who, prior to the effective date of this article, has planted or caused to grow any bamboo on any property within the Township limits unless the Code Enforcement Officer determines, on his own or upon complaint from any abutting or nearby property owner, that any portion of such bamboo has been allowed to grow upon, extend roots across, or extend branches, stalks or leaves over any public way or any private property not owned by or in the possession of such landowner or any possessor of said land.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II)]
Whenever a complaint is received by the Township regarding the encroachment of any bamboo plant or root, or whenever the Township, on its own observations and inspections, determines that there is an encroachment of bamboo plants or roots onto the property of another landowner, or tenant in possession of the property, or both, the Township shall cause notice to be served and the following actions to occur:
(a) 
The notice shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, properly addressed and with sufficient postage, and also by first-class mail. Notice by certified mail shall be deemed complete on the date of personal delivery, or the date the certified mail is marked refused or unclaimed or otherwise undeliverable by the United States Post Office when the first-class mail was not returned.
(b) 
The notice shall specify the nature of the violation.
(c) 
The notice shall state that the violation must be corrected within 30 days from the date of the received or returned mailing.
(d) 
The notice shall state specifically what must be done by the responsible party to correct the violation.
(a) 
Any person determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to have violated this article shall be subject to pay a fine of $100 per violation. A separate violation shall occur for each thirty-day period during which the violation exists after the date for removal as set forth in the notice which was sent to the violator and received by the violator. Each thirty-day period of a continuing violation shall constitute a separate offense for which an additional fine can be levied.
(b) 
If the violation is not remedied within the time set forth in the aforesaid notice, the Township is hereby authorized to remove or have removed any encroaching bamboo and to take all reasonable steps to eradicate the regrowth of the bamboo on the public rights-of-way, including sidewalks, and to restore such land to its normal condition prior to such removal and eradication.
(c) 
The cost of the corrective action together with any civil penalties, legal fees and other costs shall be recoverable from the responsible party.