Butte County Municipal Code Art. III Diseased Trees

It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to knowingly maintain, cultivate or propagate any fruit or nut tree or other host plant infected with any serious virus disease within the county.

(Ord. No. 968, § 1)

The term "serious virus disease" specifically includes the virus diseases referred to as the yellow leaf roll of peach, the western x disease of peach (also known as the buckskin disease of cherries), the peach mosaic disease, the peach wart disease, yellow bud mosaic and other as specified by the county agricultural commissioner or the director of agriculture.

(Ord. No. 968, § 2)

The agricultural commissioner of the county shall, whenever he deems it necessary, cause an inspection to be made of fruit and nut trees for the presence of serious virus diseases and shall cause a suitable mark or tag to be placed on any plant found to be infected with any such serious virus disease and shall report the finding of such infection in writing to the owner or other person in charge of the property completion of a positive determination of the disease.

(Ord. No. 968, § 3)

Any person, firm, corporation or association of individuals who knowingly grows, maintains or propagates any fruit or nut trees or other host plant infected with any such serious virus disease for a period of more than seven (7) days after written notification of such infection by the county agricultural commissioner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be punished by confinement in the county jail for a period not to exceed six (6) months or by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. No. 968, § 4)

If the infected plant has not been treated or destroyed within the seven day notification period, it shall be the duty of the agricultural commissioner to treat or destroy the infected plant.

(Ord. No. 968, § 5)