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Supervisors debate weed rules and 'naturalized areas' as township considers updating property maintenance code
Summary
Board discussed adopting the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code with changes for local enforcement, a proposed 200‑foot weed rule (12‑inch limit), and exemptions for cultivated gardens and naturalized areas; members asked staff to refine definitions and enforcement approach.
Lower Frederick supervisors spent substantial time on Sept. 23 discussing updates to the township’s property maintenance code, including how to treat weeds, naturalized meadows and lot-size thresholds.
Staff proposed adopting the 2024 version of the International Property Maintenance Code and tailoring administrative and appeals sections to Pennsylvania law. The draft includes a provision that premises within 200 feet of a habitable structure must be maintained free of weeds exceeding 12 inches, while expressly exempting agricultural crops, managed meadows, riparian buffers and cultivated gardens. The Solicitor stressed the draft attempts to balance neighbors’ health and safety with reasonable flexibility: "Generally speaking, the changes made here are more with the administration and applicability of it than the actual substance," the Solicitor said.
Residents and supervisors questioned the 200‑foot radius and whether the rule should apply differently to front yards, backyards or properties of different sizes. Warren Jacobs urged the board to clarify definitions, saying, "I hope you really think hard about this definition thing. Cultivated and naturalized are like the opposite of each other." Several board members proposed limiting some requirements to lots under one acre or to properties inside developments where neighbors are closer, rather than applying the 200‑foot rule everywhere.
Enforcement was described as complaint‑driven rather than proactive patrols; the Solicitor and staff said code enforcement will typically investigate only meaningful complaints, and that the township intends to give property owners multiple notices before pursuing court action. The transcript records the board asking staff to produce clearer, enforceable definitions of "naturalized area," "cultivated," and "vermin" before the next review.
Next step: staff will draft clearer definitions and consider narrowing the 200‑foot approach (options included 100 feet, limiting to main structure proximity, or restricting the rule to parcels below a size threshold) and bring a refined draft back at a future work session.
