Bristol Township, PA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Chapter 134, Nuisances, was adopted by the Board of Commissioners (now Township Council) of Bristol Township on 9-18-1985 as Ord. No. 1103, and § 134-2 was most recently amended on 11-20-2025 by Ord. No. 2025-04. Section 134-2 C lists, among the enumerated nuisances, filthy, littered or trash-covered cellars, house yards, barnyards, stable yards, factory yards, vacant areas in rears of stores, vacant lots, houses, buildings or premises. The section applies to any public or private property, and its list is expressly not conclusive, limiting or restrictive. Other items on the same list reach vacant land as well: § 134-2 A treats grass and/or weeds growing in excess of a height of 10 inches as a nuisance, subsection K covers any accumulation of stagnant water, and subsection M covers unsightly or malodorous accumulations of junk, garbage, broken glass, used tires and discarded building material.

The enforcement path runs through notice. Under § 134-4, the Managing Director or another designated Township officer gives written notice to the owner or occupant, or to the person causing the nuisance. Under § 134-5, the notice orders abatement within a stated reasonable time of not less than 10 days, or alternatively a request for a hearing within 10 days after receipt, and it warns that a citation will be issued through the office of the District Justice if the nuisance is not abated within 10 days of receipt.

If the nuisance remains 30 days after a District Justice finds a violation, § 134-8 requires a notice of intent that the Township will charge all costs of abatement plus a penalty of 10%, and the Township then abates it. If access is refused, the Township can seek an administrative search warrant from a Magisterial District Court. Under § 134-9, the costs become a lien against the property, bearing interest at the legal rate.