[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Greene as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-26-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-5]
A. 
Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 1529 of the Second Class Township Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Act of May 1, 1933, (P.L. 103, No. 69) as reenacted and amended on November 9, 1995, (P.L. 350, No. 60), it is hereby declared to be a public nuisance threatening the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Greene Township for any person, firm or corporation owning or occupying any property in a residential development, as hereinafter defined, to permit any grass or other vegetative material to grow or remain upon such premises, or upon a grass plot along a road or street, so as to exceed a height above 12 inches.
B. 
For purposes of this article, a "residential development" shall include only those areas in which there is a building lot density of one or more lots per acre. In those areas, the owner/occupant shall remove, trim or cut all grass, weeds or other vegetative material growing within the area set aside by the individual lot owner as lawn area, or in the event of vacant lots, the whole lot area, which are growing in excess of 12 inches in height.
[Amended 8-11-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-4]
There shall be specifically exempted from the requirements of this article the following areas:
A. 
Wetlands. Areas that under normal circumstances have hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils and wetland hydrology.
B. 
Wetland hydrology. Permanent or periodic inundation or prolonged soil saturation sufficient to create an aerobic condition in the soil.
C. 
Normal farming operations. The customary and generally accepted activities, practices and procedures that farmers adopt, use or engage in year-after-year in the production and preparation for market of crops, livestock and livestock products and in the production and harvesting of agricultural, agronomic, horticultural, silvercultural and aquacultural crops and commodities.
D. 
Riparian buffer. An area of vegetation that is maintained along the shore of a water body to protect stream channels and banks. Buffers can reduce the pollutants entering a stream, lake or pond by trapping, filtering and converting sediments, nutrients and other chemicals in runoff from surrounding lands.
E. 
Forested riparian buffer or streamside forests. Riparian buffers with a functional forest ecosystem. Forested buffers are the most beneficial type of buffer because they provide water quality and ecological benefits, including food, cover and protection from temperature changes for fish and wildlife.
F. 
Land in agricultural production. Lands used for the production for commercial purposes of crops, livestock and livestock products.
G. 
Crops, livestock and livestock products. Include but are not limited to:
(1) 
Field crops, including corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, hay, potatoes and dry beans.
(2) 
Fruits, including apples, peaches, grapes, cherries and berries.
(3) 
Vegetables, including tomatoes, snap beans, cabbage, carrots, beets, onions and mushrooms.
(4) 
Horticultural specialties, including nursery stock, ornamental shrubs, ornamental trees and flowers.
(5) 
Livestock and livestock products, including cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, horses, poultry, fur-bearing animals, milk, eggs and furs.
(6) 
Timber, wood, and other wood products derived from trees.
(7) 
Aquatic plants and animals and their by-products.
H. 
Parks and open space. Any and all public parks, recreational areas and facilities and open space lands, whether under the jurisdiction of federal, state or local agencies including private conservation/preservation organizations.
I. 
Wooded areas. All areas that are predominantly wooded.
J. 
Governmental programs. Any federal, state or local programs which require the unimpaired growth of plants during a majority of all of the growing season.
K. 
Educational programs. Any areas designated for educational studies.
L. 
Home vegetable gardens. Vegetable gardens cultivated on residential properties.
M. 
Forests. A tract of wooded land characterized by dense tree growth and underbrush.
N. 
Ornamental/flower gardens.
O. 
Residual of subdivided tract. The residual or parent tract from which a subdivision or land development was created.
The owner of any premises described in § 63-1 to which the exceptions itemized in § 63-2 do not apply shall remove, trim or cut all grass, weeds or other vegetative material growing in excess of 12 inches.
The Board of Supervisors of Greene Township is hereby authorized to give notice, by personal service or mail, to the owner of any premises whereon grass, weeds or other vegetation as referenced above is growing or remaining in violation of § 63-1 above directing and requiring such owner to remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or other vegetation so as to conform to the requirements of this article within five days after the issuance of said notice. In case any person, firm or corporation shall neglect, fail or refuse to comply with such notice within the period of time stated herein, the Greene Township Board of Supervisors shall have the authority to remove, trim or cut such grass, weeds or vegetation and the costs thereof, together with 15% added as administration expenses may be collected from such person, firm or corporation in the manner provided by law.
[Amended 7-9-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-5]
In addition to the provisions of § 63-4 next above, if the owner, after receiving due notice as provided in § 63-4 of this article, refuses or fails to comply with the terms thereof, he shall be guilty of a violation of this article and shall, upon being found liable therefore in a summary proceeding before a district justice pay a fine of up to $1,000 plus the costs of prosecution for each violation. Each day a violation continues after the owner has been found guilty by a district justice shall constitute a separate offense for which additional fines and costs may be levied.