El Cerrito Municipal Code Ch. 8.20 Weeds—trash—debris

As used in this chapter:

A. "Debris" means remnants from the destruction of any structure, wall, foundation, or mechanical or constructed thing. Debris specifically includes cement, rock, stone, brick, concrete, mortar, wood, wire, nails and other metallic or plastic material.

B. "Garbage" means and includes all animal and vegetable refuse and household waste and all empty receptacles used as food containers, but shall not include recyclable material as hereinafter defined.

C. "Hazardous material" means rubbish, junk, debris, weeds, vines, shrubs, brush or grass, which alone or in any combination constitute a fire menace, or a fire hazard, or a harbor for rats, mice, skunks, snakes or other wild animals, or a menace to the life, health, comfort or convenience of the community, or which unduly conflicts with the enjoyable use of property by neighbors.

D. "Junk" means metallic, glass, wooden, paper, cardboard and plastic material, whether new and usable, or old and valueless. The term junk includes all recyclable material, automobiles and their parts, trailers and their parts, and boats and their parts.

E. "Noxious growth" means weeds, vines, shrubs, brush or trees which bear seeds of a wingy or downy nature, or which attain such growth as to become a fire menace when dry, or which contain poisonous oils, or which are otherwise noxious or dangerous to the life, health, comfort or convenience of the community.

F. "Recyclable material" means and includes newspapers, magazines, empty aluminum cans, foil containers, empty glass bottles, and other glass or metal receptacles which are disposed of for recycling purposes. Recyclable material shall also include any and all other material approved by resolution of the council for recycling.

G. "Rubbish" and "trash" mean and include all refuse other than garbage. Rubbish and trash include paper, rags, leaves, grass, vines, sawdust, products, cans, ashes and tree trimmings, but shall not include empty receptacles used as food containers, or recyclable material.

(Ord. 92-13 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1992.)

It is a nuisance for any person to deposit or cause to be deposited any earth, rock, junk, garbage, ashes, recyclable material, or hazardous material, or debris upon public or private property in the city.

(Ord. 92-13 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1992.)

It is a nuisance for any person to allow noxious growth to remain upon private property in the city.

(Ord. 92-13 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1992.)

It is a nuisance for any person to allow hazardous materials to remain upon his property.

(Ord. 92-13 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1992.)

If and when it appears that hazardous materials or noxious growth have been placed upon or are upon private property in the city in violation of any of the provisions of Sections 8.20.010, 8.20.020 or 8.20.030 of this chapter, the city may order the removal thereof or cause such order to be issued in accordance with Chapter 8.34 of this title.

(Ord. 92-13 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1992.)

The method of removing hazardous materials or noxious growth from property as provided in this chapter shall not be an exclusive method but shall be an alternative method, and such materials may be removed pursuant to the provisions of any law of the state or of any ordinance of the city applicable thereto.

(Ord. 92-13 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1992.)

Any violation of this chapter is a nuisance per se. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 92-13 Divs. 1, 2 (part), 1992.)