Title 73, TOWNSHIPS

A commissioner who votes in favor of or knowingly participates in the sale or lease of township real or personal property in violation of this chapter is subject to a surcharge to the extent of any loss or injury to the township as a result of the sale or lease.

The board of commissioners may make and adopt ordinances, bylaws, rules and regulations not inconsistent with or restrained by the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth as may be expedient or necessary for: (1) The proper management, care and control of the township and the …

The corporate power of a township of the first class shall be vested in a board of commissioners. The following apply: (1) In the exercise of specific powers involving the enactment of an ordinance, passage of a resolution or the making of a regulation, restriction or prohibition…

(a) Creation and compensation.--The board of commissioners may create an office, position or department that the board deems necessary for the good of government and interests of the township and may fix the compensation of appointed individuals. (b) Employees.--The board of comm…

The board of commissioners may establish, equip, maintain and define the duties of a police force.

The board of commissioners may provide for lockup facilities in the township for the temporary detention and confinement of individuals.

The board of commissioners may offer rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an individual guilty of a crime within the township.

The board of commissioners may, by ordinance, prohibit disorderly conduct within the limits of the township and provide for the imposition of penalties for the conduct in accordance with this part. An enacted ordinance shall define disorderly conduct in a manner substantially sim…

The board of commissioners may take all necessary means to secure the safety of persons or property within the township.

The board of commissioners may: (1) Appropriate money for the use of the township or to fire companies providing fire protection to the township for the purchase, operation and maintenance of fire engines and fire apparatus and for the construction, repair and maintenance of fire…

In addition to other remedies provided by law, the board of commissioners may enact and enforce suitable ordinances relating to building and housing regulations in accordance with Chapter 75 (relating to Uniform Construction Code, property maintenance code and reserved powers).…

The board of commissioners may, by ordinance, require and regulate the numbering of buildings and lots.

To provide for the prohibition, licensing and regulation of business, a board of commissioners may: (1) In addition to licensing in accordance with Chapter 71 (relating to licenses and license fees), prohibit, license and regulate by ordinance the following: (i) The carrying on o…

(a) Authorization.--A board of commissioners may prohibit and remove a nuisance or dangerous structure on public or private grounds, including, weeds, accumulations of municipal waste, the storage of abandoned or junked automobiles and obstructions or nuisances in the streets of …

(a) Authorization.--In the manner authorized by the act of July 7, 1980 (P.L.380, No.97), known as the Solid Waste Management Act, and the act of July 28, 1988 (P.L.556, No.101), known as the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, a board of commissioners ma…

In conformity with Federal and State laws and regulations, the board of commissioners may, with respect to fireworks and inflammable articles: (1) Regulate and prohibit, by ordinance, the manufacture of fireworks or inflammable or dangerous articles. (2) Grant permits for display…

The board of commissioners may regulate the emission of smoke from chimneys, smokestacks and other sources, except locomotive smokestacks, to the extent that the regulation is not otherwise prohibited by applicable Federal or State law.

The board of commissioners may prohibit and regulate the smoking or carrying of lighted cigarettes, cigars, pipes or matches and the use of matches or fire-producing devices. An ordinance enacted or regulation or resolution adopted under this section shall not regulate smoking in…

The board of commissioners may prohibit or regulate, by ordinance, the following: (1) The running at large of dogs and direct the seizure, detention or euthanization of dogs running at large, including reasonable associated charges, and provide for the sale of the dogs for the be…

(a) General rule.--Subject to the provisions of and regulations adopted under the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45), known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, and other applicable law, the board of commissioners may provide regulations for foundations, party walls …

The board of commissioners may: (1) Acquire, operate and maintain motor vehicles for the purposes of transporting sick and injured individuals to and from hospitals. (2) Appropriate funds toward ambulance and rescue and lifesaving services. (3) Enter into contracts relating to re…

The board of commissioners may display the flag of the United States or the Commonwealth, the official POW/MIA flag or the flag of a county or municipal corporation in this Commonwealth on any public building or grounds of the township.

The board of commissioners may make regulations as necessary for the health, safety, morals, general welfare, cleanliness, beauty, convenience and comfort of the township and its inhabitants.

The board of commissioners may acquire property for the purposes of providing, maintaining and operating public facilities, such as comfort and waiting stations, drinking fountains and watering troughs.

The board of commissioners may, in townships having a population of 2,000 inhabitants or more, appropriate money for the support of an incorporated hospital that is engaged in charitable work and extends treatment and medical attention to the residents of the township.

The board of commissioners may appropriate money annually to nonprofit associations or corporations that provide for: (1) community nursing services for the elderly and other needy persons; (2) the control of communicable disease; (3) the immunization of children; (4) the operati…

(a) General rule.--The board of commissioners may: (1) Regulate parking and parking lots and provide parking accommodations to promote the convenience and protection of the public. (2) Establish or designate, at the board's discretion, areas exclusively reserved for parking by ha…

The board of commissioners may appropriate money annually for improvements to a street which is located wholly or partially within the township and has been adversely affected by parking availability as determined by the board.

(a) Acquisition of land.--A township may acquire by grant, lease, purchase or condemnation proceedings, subject to the limitations in 26 Pa.C.S. § 206 (relating to extraterritorial takings), any land lying either within or without the limits of the township which, in the judgment…

The board of commissioners may appropriate money to assist a municipality or municipal airport authority to acquire, establish, operate and maintain air navigation facilities lying either within or without the limits of the township.

The board of commissioners may accept, purchase and plant, or contribute to the purchase and planting of, shade trees and shrubs along the streets, highways and sidewalks of the township and exercise care, custody and control of shade trees in accordance with Chapter 73 (relating…

The board of commissioners may enter into agreements under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation) with the following: (1) Other political subdivisions, in accordance with existing laws, to: (i) make joint purchases of materials, supplies or equipme…

(a) General rule.--After permits have been secured from all applicable agencies, the board of commissioners or an agent or employee of the board may widen and deepen a watercourse running through the township and erect dykes, retaining walls and embankments along the watercourse …

The board of commissioners may make and regulate charges for the use of township facilities.

(a) General rule.--The board of commissioners may: (1) Regulate the streets, sewers, public squares, common grounds, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, culverts and drains within the township. (2) Regulate the heights, grades, widths, slopes and construction of an item listed under parag…

The board of commissioners may establish and maintain a separate capital reserve fund for anticipated legal capital expenditures subject to the following: (1) The fund shall be designated for a specific purpose or purposes when established. (2) The money in the fund shall be used…

(a) General rule.--The board of commissioners may create and maintain a separate operating reserve fund in order to: (1) Minimize future revenue shortfalls and deficits. (2) Provide greater continuity and predictability in the funding of vital government services. (3) Minimize th…

The board of commissioners may make an appropriation for the handling, storage and distribution of surplus foods obtained through a Federal, State or local agency.

The board of commissioners may make appropriations to an industrial development agency.

(a) General rule.--The board of commissioners may issue nondebt revenue bonds under 53 Pa.C.S. Pt. VII Subpt. B (relating to indebtedness and borrowing) to provide sufficient money for and toward the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, extension or improvement of: (1) Muni…

The board of commissioners may appropriate money to nonprofit associations or corporations organized for the purpose of acquiring and maintaining historical properties. The appropriations shall only be used by the association or corporation for the acquisition, restoration and ma…

(a) General rule.--The board of commissioners may secure insurance or compensation in accordance with Article VI of the act of June 2, 1915 (P.L.736, No.338), known as the Workers' Compensation Act, for: (1) Volunteer firefighters of companies duly recognized by the township, by …

The board of commissioners may: (1) Appropriate money for urban common carrier mass transportation purposes from current revenues. (2) Make annual contributions to county departments of transportation or urban common carrier mass transportation authorities to assist the departmen…

The board of commissioners may regulate open burning, including the prohibition of the open burning of combustible materials.

The board of commissioners may undertake community development programs, including urban renewal, public housing, model cities programs and neighborhood development projects.

The board of commissioners may appropriate money annually for the observance of holidays, centennials or other anniversaries or for township celebrations or civic projects or programs.