Citrus Heights Municipal Code Art. III Weed Control

The city council finds and declares that the uncontrolled growth and/or accumulation of grass, weeds or other materials or obstructions on sidewalks, streets, and on lands or lots is dangerous or injurious to neighboring property and the health or welfare of residents of the vicinity and is a public nuisance in that it creates a condition that reduces the value of private property, promotes blight and deterioration, invites plundering, creates fire hazards, constitutes an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, creates a harbor for rodents and insects and is injurious to the health, safety and general welfare.

(Ord. No. 97-01, § 2(17.12.010), 1-2-1997; Ord. No. 97-13, § 2, 3-26-1997; Ord. No. 97-17, § 2, 9-24-1997)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Accumulation of weeds includes but is not limited to permitting or allowing the growth of weeds.

Garbage includes but is not limited to the following: waste resulting from the handling of edible foodstuffs or resulting from decay, solid or semisolid putrescible waste, and all other mixed, nonrecyclable wastes which are generated in the day-to-day operation of any business, residential, governmental, public or private activity, and may include tin cans, bottles and paper or plastic, or other synthetic material, food or beverage containers.

Refuse includes rubbish and garbage, as defined in this section.

Rubbish includes all the following, but is not restricted to nonputrescible wastes, such as paper, cardboard, grass clippings, tree or shrub trimmings, wood, bedding, crockery, rubber tires, construction waste and similar waste materials.

Weeds includes any of the following:

(1) Weeds which bear seeds of a downy or wingy nature.

(2) Sagebrush, chaparral, and any other brush or weeds which attain such hard growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to adjacent improved property.

(3) Weeds and grasses which are otherwise noxious.

(4) Poison oak and poison ivy when the conditions of growth are such as to constitute a menace to the public health.

(5) Dry grass, stubble, brush, litter, or other flammable material which endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard.

(Ord. No. 97-01, § 2(17.12.020), 1-2-1997; Ord. No. 97-13, § 2, 3-26-1997; Ord. No. 97-17, § 2, 9-24-1997)

Cross reference— Definitions generally, § 1-2.

This article is not the exclusive regulation for weed and refuse abatement within the city. It shall supplement and be in addition to the other regulatory codes, statutes, and ordinances enacted by the city, the county, the state, or any other legal entity or agency having jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 97-01, § 2(17.12.030), 1-2-1997; Ord. No. 97-13, § 2, 3-26-1997; Ord. No. 97-17, § 2, 9-24-1997)

The division of authority for enforcement of this article shall be as follows:

(1) The chief of any county fire department or fire protection district having jurisdiction shall have authority to enforce this article and issue citations for violations in their respective districts.

(2) The city fire warden shall have authority to enforce this article in any area lying without any organized fire district or fire department.

(3) The city fire warden shall have authority to enforce this article in any county fire protection district upon request of the chief of the fire department of the district or the governing body thereof.

(Ord. No. 97-01, § 2(17.12.040), 1-2-1997; Ord. No. 97-13, § 2, 3-26-1997; Ord. No. 97-17, § 2, 9-24-1997)

A person shall not dump weeds or refuse, nor shall a person permit the dumping of weeds or refuse, nor shall a person permit the accumulation of weeds or refuse on his or her property or on any other property in such a manner as to constitute a fire hazard.

(Ord. No. 97-01, § 2(17.12.050), 1-2-1997; Ord. No. 97-13, § 2, 3-26-1997; Ord. No. 97-17, § 2, 9-24-1997)

All dry grass, brush, vines or other dry vegetation shall be cleared for an area of not less than 30 feet from all structures, combustible fences, vehicles and combustible storage. The local fire authority may require additional clearances when topographical or geographical conditions warrant such action.

(Ord. No. 97-01, § 2(17.12.060), 1-2-1997; Ord. No. 97-13, § 2, 3-26-1997; Ord. No. 97-17, § 2, 9-24-1997)

(a) Notwithstanding sections 1-21 and 38-27 or the provisions of any other section of this Code, violation of any of the sections of this article or failure to comply with any of the regulatory requirements of this article is an infraction subject to the procedures described in Penal Code § 19(c) and (d).

(b) Every violation of this article is punishable by the following:

(1) A fine not exceeding $100.00 for a first violation;

(2) A fine not exceeding $200.00 for a second violation of the same section within one year; and

(3) A fine not exceeding $500.00 for each additional violation of the same section within one year.

(Ord. No. 97-01, § 2(17.12.070), 1-2-1997; Ord. No. 97-13, § 2, 3-26-1997; Ord. No. 97-17, § 2, 9-24-1997)