Borough of Sellersville, PA Chapter 147 Trees

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Sellersville 8-10-1970 by Ord. No. 396. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Park and Recreation Board — See Ch. 26.

Brush, grass and weeds — See Ch. 55.

Parks and recreation areas — See Ch. 94.

Protection of public property — See Ch. 106.

Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 130.

§ 147-1 Nonconforming trees to be removed.

The owner of every property fronting upon or alongside of any of the streets in the Borough of Sellersville is hereby required to remove any tree or branch thereof or any shrubbery or other vegetation which overhangs any such sidewalk at a height of less than 10 feet of clearance above said sidewalk and shall remove any tree or branch thereof or any shrubbery or other vegetation that obstructs in any way the entire width of said sidewalk to a height of 10 feet.

§ 147-2 Duty of owner.

The owner of any premises abutting any sidewalk, vacant premises or premises occupied shall remove or cause to be removed, trim or cut all trees or branches thereof or any shrubbery or other vegetation growing or remaining upon such premises in violation of the provisions of the first section of this chapter.

§ 147-3 Notice; removal by Borough.

The Borough Council or any officer or employee of the Borough designated thereby for the purpose is hereby authorized to give notice, by personal service or by United States mail, to the owner of any premises whereon a violation of the provisions of § 147-1 and/or 147-2 of this chapter exist, directing and requiring such owner to remove, trim or cut such tree, branch, shrubbery or vegetation so as to conform to the requirements of this chapter within five days after issuance of such notice. In case any property owner shall neglect, fail or refuse to comply with such notice within the period of time stated therein, the Borough authorities may correct such violation, and the cost thereof, together with any additional penalty authorized by the law, may be collected by the Borough from said owner of the premises in the manner provided by law. The minimum charge for the cost of correcting such a violation by Borough authorities shall be $25.

§ 147-4 Violations and penalties.

[Amended 7-7-1997 by Ord. No. 604; 10-12-2015 by Ord. No. 703]

This chapter shall be enforced by a criminal action in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. A person convicted of violating this chapter shall be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $1,000 per violation, plus court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Borough of Sellersville, or to imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. Violations of more than one provision of this chapter shall constitute separate violations. Each day that a violation of any provision of this chapter continues or occurs shall constitute a separate violation.