FAQ

Process for Short Term Rentals

All rental properties must be registered with Tunhannock Township.  This needs to be done before you can rent your home in Brier Crest Woods.

Once Tunkhannock Township approves your rental, complete the following steps:

1. Complete the online registration form with the following information:

• Rental property address
• Owner’s name
• Owner’s permanent address, phone number, and email address
• Check in dates
• Renter’s permanent address, phone number, and email address
• Number of guests (both day and night guests)
• Number of cars
• Make, model, and license plate of all vehicles at the property

2. Sign that you understand and will abide by all BCW rules and regulations
3. Pay all applicable fees

 

4. The office will process your registration after completing the following:

• Verifying that the home is up-to-date on their Tunkhannock Township registration.
• Verifying that the homeowner is in good standing with BCW.

5. Security will drop off car tags and a rental rules sheet in the property's mailbox.

REQUIREMENTS of all STR Properties:

• STR will be a minimum of 2 nights and not greater than 14 days. Single night rentals are prohibited. Rentals over 30 consecutive days will be considered long term. If a rental is booking for a time period in excess of 14 days, then the property owner must register the rental a second time and pay appropriate rental fees.
• Registration Fee = $60 per rental
• All property owners MUST make their guests aware of BCW Rules & Regulations.
• NO STR rental guest is permitted to use property owner’s badges

Suggestions for STR owners to share with their guest:

• Fire rules and regulations
• Vehicles MUST have tags when driving to the beach and dropping off trash

 

 

Below please find the most current policy changes for short term rentals:

 

 

 

 

• If there is an emergency, call 911.

• If you want to report rules being broken or a disturbance, call security - 570-656-5583.

 

             

 

6.6 NOISE 

There shall not be any unnecessary loud or irritating sounds either by voice or instrument that disturbs the peace and composure of a property owner not residing in the same household. This shall include but is not limited to barking dogs, loud radios or any other entertainment/audio equipment, foul language, automobiles, amplifying devices, etc. between the hours of 11:00 P.M. and 8:00 A.M. No warnings will be given during these hours. During all other hours of the day, one warning will be given. If the violation continues, or if it stops and re-occurs later during that same day, then a fine will be issued for non-compliance with the BCWPOA Rules and Regulations. Should this not remedy the situation, BCW will look to legally stop this misconduct through our court system. We will also seek to have the offending party be responsible for any and all legal costs and fees incurred by BCW to enforce this relief. 

The beach will be open to all Association members in good standing, their guests, visitors, renters and tenants. BCW badges must be visible at all times in order to enter and remain in this area.

- Swimming at the beach, whenever lifeguards are not present, is at your own risk.

- Admittance to the beach area is restricted to Association members in good standing, their guests/visitors, renters and tenants who have current-year, BCW badges. 

- Children under the age of twelve (12) must be accompanied by an adult who will have full responsibility for the safety and conduct of the child, or a babysitter over the age of sixteen (16) who will assume the same responsibility.

 - The Lifeguards have full responsibility for the safety and conduct of all persons within the beach area and have, at his or her discretion, use of such disciplinary action as may be necessary to maintain proper conduct of the safety and enjoyment of all persons using this facility. Enforcement of these Rules and Regulations will be uniformly administered.

 - No glass containers are allowed on the beach area.

 - No running, pushing, loud or boisterous play will be permitted on the beach area.

 - Lifeguards will not permit loud music or sounds by way of portable radios, cassette decks, CD players, etc.

No vehicle of any kind can be ridden in or on the lake and dam area.

 

• Lake Shangri-la is a catch and release lake. Keeping fish other than trout is prohibited.
• No gasoline motors permitted on lake. Lake Shangri-la is designed for non-powered and electric trolling motors use only. Electric motors over 3hp are prohibited.
• No diving, or jumping off dam or fishing platforms into the lake.
• Glass beverage containers are prohibited.
• Any Boat/Kayak/Paddle Board or any other type of raft that requires a paddle/oar or electric motor, must display a current BCW sticker.
• Pennsylvania regulations require that life jackets be available for all passengers while in boats, and must be worn at all times by children 12 and under. Inflatable life vests jackets) are acceptable. An emergency whistle must also be on board.
• BCW does not allow entrance in to the lake for boating or swimming except at the designated areas of the beach for swimming and the boat launch area across from the beach for boating of any kind. Any entrance in to our lake from points not noted are subject to citations being issued.
• BCW does not allow larger floats beyond a two-person float to be used on our lake. All floats are restricted to the designated swimming area only.
• Boats and kayaks must be stored on the owner’s property or in the designated boat storage racks.  There is a seasonal rental fee of $10.00 to reserve a space in the boat racks.  Any boat/kayak/Paddle Board found in the racks without registering first in the office will be removed and taken to the community building until the fee is paid and the subsequent fine for illegally using the racks is paid.
• Boat/Kayak rack spaces are reserved and assigned annually by the Brier Crest Woods office.  At the end of the fall season(October 31st), all boats/kayaks using the storage racks must be removed from the racks. The boat rack is open for boats/kayaks on April 1st.

Members can access the governing documents and forms by clicking here or on the "MEMBERS" dropdown menu located at the top of the page where you will be required to log in if you are not already logged in.

Contained outdoor fires are permitted in covered devices such as a chiminea, provided such devices are outfitted with a spark arrestor.

 - A source of water must be available within 25 feet of the fire.

 - No burning of refuse, trash, rubbish, leaves, twigs, and the like are allowed in Brier Crest Woods

 

No open outdoor fires of any kind are permitted in the community except for fire contained in the fire pit at the beach area

 

Fines for outdoor burning or burning in an uncovered fire pit starts at $100.00.

Click here to access the BCW Appeals Checklist.  Please email the office if you have any questions.

Pau close attention to the time frame.  Appeals outside of the required time frame will not be accepted.

The car tags are intended to identify the BCW members, guest, and renters.  This aids our security officer in determining if vehicles attempting to use facilities such as the dumpster belong to members in good standing. 

Please Note: The hours of operation posted for our dumpsters are the only hours during which you are allowed to dispose of your trash and recyclables. Anyone caught utilizing this area outside of these posted hours will be fined accordingly. 

 

Hours:  Everyday 7 am to 8 pm EXCEPT Wednesday.  Wednesday hours are 11 am to 8 pm.  
 

Beach badges are required to dump trash.

 

- Household trash or garbage may be deposited in the dumpsters. Owners must separate recyclables such as plastic, glass and aluminum and deposit them in the appropriate dumpster.  DO NOT put plastic bags in the recycling bins.

 

Contractors, sub-contractors and suppliers are not permitted to dump any items in the trash containers. Property owners are responsible for any fines issued to a contractor, subcontractor or supplier while they are performing services or delivering goods to the property of the property owner.

 

Large items, such as furniture, refrigerators, washers, dryers, water heaters, etc, are not permitted in the trash containers.

Additional or replacement wristbands can be purchased at the BCW office for $5.00 each.

The community center may be rented.

1. No smoking is permitted in the building at any time.

2. No unsupervised youth functions.

3. No alcoholic beverages permitted on the premises during affairs run primarily for persons under the age of 21.

4. The occupancy of any event shall not exceed the limitation imposed by the state or local statute or ordinance.

5. If users desire to provide alcoholic beverages, they bear full responsibility at any function for violation of the law.

6. It is be the responsibility of the user to reserve the building with the BCW office during regular office hours.

7. There is a five (5) hour limit for any function. No event can function continue beyond 2:00 A.M. the following day.

    If the function ends at 2:00A.M., the user has the option to remain one (1) hour longer for clean-up and damage inspection or may return no later than 10:00 A.M. that day to take care of clean-up and damage inspection.

 

The pavilion may also be rented.

1. A $10.00/hour fee is needed to reserve the pavilion and/or for the use of the BBQ pits. The pavilion may be reserved for a maximum of 4 hours/day.

2. It is the responsibility of the user to clean up this area and restore it to the condition in which it was prior to their affair and to ensure that any fire or hot coals left  in the BBQ pits, if used, is completely extinguished.

3. Please note that the bathrooms are winterized and closed during part of fall, all of winter, and part of spring.  Please contact the office for specifics on the availability of the bathrooms when you book the pavilion.

 

 

 

All persons fishing must obey the State Fish and Game Regulations. (PA Fish, Game and Forestry Rules).

• All persons 16 and older are required to have a fishing license.
• No fishing in designated beach area(s).
• Badges must be worn while fishing. Brier Crest is a private lake community.
• Parking is permitted ONLY on the lake side of Elk Drive. Vehicles must display a BCW hang tag.
• Ice Fishing is permitted at participant’s own risk. Holes drilled must be properly marked.
• No glass receptacles on the fishing docks.
• Lake Shangri-la is a catch and release lake. Keeping fish other than trout is prohibited. 

The club meets regularly throughout the fishing season.  Its purpose is to bring Brier Crest property owners, their families and friends together who are passionate about fishing. We are dedicated to improving the fishing experience at the lake. Through various fundraisers throughout the year the club uses the money to stock the lake with trout, sponsors an annual kid's fishing event and holds multiple bass and pickerel fishing tournaments. We are always looking for new members, if you are interested please contact our president John Sarnese or vice president Dennis Campbell. The membership fee is $20 for the year. Click here for more information

- No building contractor or property owner shall remove more than 70 or 80 percent, depending on lot size, of the trees at the time of construction or thereafter without written authorization to include an acceptable replacement plan.

 - Tree removal plan. The plan shall consist of a copy of the survey marked with the location of all trees on the lot and an “X” over the trees that are to be removed. No tree removal shall commence until the plan is approved. Once approved, trees to be removed must be marked for review during the site inspection. No tree may be removed until the site inspection is complete and all permits have been issued.

- No live trees whose girth exceeds twelve (12) inches shall be removed without written permission from the Association.

 

In all cases, a buffer of trees must remain on three sides of the property. Violation of this rule will result in one or all of the following consequences:

       1. A “STOP WORK” order will be placed on the site and a fine issued

       2. A lien placed on the property will be requested by BCWPOA in the amount estimated by a landscape contractor chosen by the Board, to bring the property within compliance.

 

 - For new construction or additions, BCW also requires photos to be taken and submitted showing the property prior to any tree removal being done.

 - BCW will not issue any permit without having a copy of the township permit and photos submitted with the BCW permit application.

 

Fines for improper tree removal start at $500.00.