City Code, ExplainedBetaPardon our dust while we build this out — expect some changes along the way.

This chapter requires landowners to cut or destroy noxious weeds growing on their property, and sets out how the City enforces that requirement.

Who this affects

Anyone who owns, possesses, or is responsible for managing or maintaining land or a lot in the city — they must control noxious weeds on that property or face fines and the cost of City-ordered removal.

Key rules

• Landowners and those responsible for a property must cut or destroy noxious weeds growing higher than eight inches, and prevent them from flowering, going to seed, or having their seed ripen.
• "Noxious weeds" means weeds designated as harmful by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
• The Health Officer enforces the chapter and gives notice to property owners.
• After receiving the first notice in a calendar year, a person has seven days to cut, destroy, and remove the noxious weeds.
• If a person fails to comply within seven days of notice, the Health Officer may have the weeds cut, destroyed, and removed, and the cost becomes a lien on the property from the date of cutting.
• Any further violations within the same calendar year after the first notice result in penalties.

Penalties

Any person violating the chapter shall be fined not more than $1,000 and, in default of payment of fine and costs, be imprisoned not more than 90 days.

Notable and archaic details

• The chapter dates to 1966 but was amended as recently as March 2025 to update its definitions.