Common Violations
Weeds and Grass
Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of 10 inches. Noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and, vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens. Upon failure of the owner or agent having charge of a property to cut and destroy weeds after service of a notice of violation, they shall be subject to prosecution in accordance with Section 106.3 and as prescribed by the authority having jurisdiction. Upon failure to comply with the notice of violation, any duly authorized employee of the jurisdiction or contractor hired by the jurisdiction shall be authorized to enter upon the property in violation and cut and destroy the weeds growing thereon, and the costs of such removal shall be paid by the owner or agent responsible for the property.
Residential Burning Regulations
All outdoor burning or fires shall be limited to burning of twigs and yard waste during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and shall not be located closer than 50 feet to any structure or 30 feet to any property line. Garbage, newspaper or paper products, rubber, tires, paint, animal waste, plastics, diapers, toxic materials or any other solid waste is prohibited from being burned at any time (Check the Township’s garbage and recycling guidelines and programs available through Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling for alternatives to disposing of these types of materials)
Outdoor fireplaces, grills, fire pits, and stone rings used exclusively for recreational purposes and/or for food preparation are exempt from these regulations provided the activity is conducted not closer than 15 feet to any property line.
Fires shall be controlled in a safe manner and have a water supply attended by an individual or an equal extinguishing agent throughout the duration of the burning.
Commercial Burning Regulations
All outdoor burning or fires at commercial properties shall be limited to between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on such dates and at such specific times as designated and authorized by the Fire Code Inspector and/or Code Enforcement Officer and shall not be located closer than 50 feet to any structure or 30 feet to any property line. Garbage, newspaper or paper products, rubber, tires, paint, animal waste, plastics, diapers, toxic materials or any other solid waste is prohibited from being burned at any time (Check the Township’s garbage and recycling guidelines and programs available through Westmoreland Cleanways and Recycling for alternatives to disposing of these types of materials)
Fires shall be controlled in a safe manner and have a water supply attended by an individual or an equal extinguishing agent throughout the duration of the burning.
Hempfield Township reserves the right to deny any and all permits for outdoor burning or fires at commercial properties.
Unsafe structures
An unsafe structure is one that is found to be dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or the occupants of the structure by not providing minimum safeguards to protect or warn occupants in the event of fire, or because such structure contains unsafe equipment or is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation, that partial or complete collapse is possible.
Accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
Exterior property and premises, and the interior of every structure shall be free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.
Junk Vehicles Prohibited
The Code of the Township of Hempfield strictly prohibits junk vehicles:Junk vehicles are unregistered, uninsured and/or uninspected motor vehicle(s) parked, kept or stored on any property or on any public or private roadway.No vehicle shall at any time be parked, kept or stored in a state of major disassembly, disrepair or in the process of being stripped or dismantled; provided, however, that an exception is granted to a vehicle which is undergoing a major overhaul, including bodywork, provided that such work is performed inside a structure or similarly enclosed area designed and approved for such purposes.
Temporary signs and Signs in Right of way
Permits required. Unless specifically exempted, a permit must be obtained from the code official for the erection and maintenance of all signs erected or maintained within this jurisdiction and in accordance with other ordinances of this jurisdiction. Exemptions from the necessity of securing a permit, however, shall not be construed to relieve the owner of the sign involved from responsibility for its erection and maintenance in a safe manner and in a manner in accordance with all the other provisions of this chapter.