[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of Stowe 12-12-1949 by Ord. No.
A-373 (Ch. 10, Part 2, of the 1993 Code of Ordinances).
Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 9-16-2015 by Ord. No. 986; 7-14-2020 by Ord. No. 1028]
No person, firm, entity, corporation, or owner of property shall
permit grass, weed or other rank vegetation to grow higher than 10
inches on any owned, leased, or occupied property. It shall be the
owner's responsibility to maintain their property, including inside
and/or around any fenced in area.
[Amended 9-16-2015 by Ord. No. 986]
It shall be the duty of every person who shall hold title in
any capacity to, or have possession of, or be responsible for the
management or upkeep of, any land or lot of ground in the Township
of Stowe upon which any noxious weeds or grass as herein defined may
be growing to cut or destroy such noxious weeds or grass so as to
prevent such weeds or grass from flowering, or going to seed, and
the seed of the same from ripening. It shall be unlawful for any such
person to fail, neglect, or refuse to cut or destroy any such weeds
or grass growing as aforesaid in time to prevent the creating of a
health menace, and also to prevent them from flowering or going to
seed, in any event.
For the purpose and within the meaning of this chapter, "noxious
weeds" shall mean and include burdock, chicory, crabgrass, garlic
or wild onion, goldenrod, horse nettle, milkweed, morning glory, mullein,
perennial thistle, poison ivy, quackgrass, ragweed, sumac, wild carrot,
wild lettuce, wild mustard, wild parsnip, wild snapdragon and all
other weeds or growths which may become a menace to health by reason
of flying pollen.
[Amended 6-14-1976(8); 9-16-2015 by Ord. No. 986]
Any person, firm or corporation upon whose land (including side
yards, rear yards, front yards, and land that abuts an alley, street,
or roadway) there is any grass, weeds, or other vegetation more than
one foot in height, or upon whose lands there are any noxious weeds,
as herein defined, shall, within five days after notification by the
Board of Commissioners of Stowe Township, remove or cause to be removed
such grass, weeds, or other rank vegetation, including noxious weeds,
as herein defined.
[Amended by Ord. No. 6-14-1976(8)]
A.Â
In addition to the penalties herein provided, any person designated
by the Township Commissioners for the purpose may, after five days'
notice, enter upon any premises within the Township upon which any
noxious weeds, as herein defined, or any grass, weeds or other rank
vegetation more than one foot high may be growing to cut or destroy
such grass, weeds or other rank vegetation, including noxious weeds,
as herein defined, with Township employees and Township equipment,
and the costs and expenses thereof shall be filed as a lien against
such premises in accordance with the law governing filing of municipal
claims and liens for abatement of nuisances.
B.Â
The notice hereinabove required shall be served on the owner if he
be in possession of the premises, but if not in possession, then on
the lessee or agent in possession of the premises. If there be no
one in possession, such notice may be posted in a conspicuous part
of the premises or registered mail notice may be sent to the owner's
last known post office address.
[Amended by Ord. No. 6-14-1976(8), 11-9-1993 by Ord.
No. 760; 7-14-2020 by Ord. No. 1028]
A.Â
Any person,
firm, entity, corporation, or owner of property violating or failing
to comply with any provision of this chapter shall, upon summary conviction
thereof, be sentenced, for a first offense within the calendar year,
to pay a fine of not less than $75 and not more than $ 150 and, in
default of any payment of any fine or cost, be imprisoned in the county
jail for a period not exceeding 30 days.
B.Â
Upon conviction
for a second offense within the calendar year, such person shall be
sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $150 and not more than $300
and, in default of any payment of any fine or cost, be imprisoned
in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days.
C.Â
Upon conviction
for a third or subsequent offense within the calendar year, such person
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $300 and not more
than $500 and, in default of any payment of any fine or cost, be imprisoned
in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days.
