Lake County Municipal Code Art. VIII Hazardous Vegetation/Combustible Material Abatement

This article shall be known as, and may be cited or referred to as: "The Hazardous Vegetation/Combustible Material Abatement Ordinance."

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019)

Sec. 13-58. - Findings and Purpose.

58.1 The Board of Supervisors finds that hazardous vegetation or combustible material poses a danger to the health, safety and welfare of the public and exacerbates the risk of wild fires. Hazardous vegetation and/or combustible material requires a comprehensive abatement program in the County of Lake. Further, the establishment of defensible space benefits property owners, public safety personnel and all residents of Lake County by significantly increasing the likelihood that structures will survive a wildfire and it will provide for firefighter safety during a firestorm and assist in the protection of lives.

58.2 All hazardous vegetation and/or combustible materials within the unincorporated area of the County of Lake is deemed a public nuisance.

58.3 This ordinance shall apply to all real property located in the unincorporated areas of Lake County. The removal of hazardous vegetation in the areas subject to this ordinance is recognized as an essential action a homeowner or property owner can take to increase the chances that Lake County residents, wildlife, homes, and other structures will survive a wildfire.

58.4 It is the purposes of this ordinance to supplement the regulations established in Public Resources Code section 4291 and to establish a comprehensive abatement program specifically for hazardous vegetation and/or combustible materials within the unincorporated area of the County under the direction of the Lake County Fire Official, as assisted by Lake County Code Enforcement.

58.5 Nothing in this article is intended to replace, pre-empt, and/or abrogate state law requirements in regard to defensible space mandates within state responsibility areas on improved parcels.

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019)

Sec. 13-59. - Definitions.

59.1 Abate and/or Abatement. An act used to remove, destroy, eliminate, seize, impound, or any action taken to mitigate a public nuisance.

59.2 Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Costs. Any and all costs incurred by the County of Lake to abate the hazardous vegetation or combustible material on any property pursuant to this ordinance, including physical abatement costs, administration fees and any additional actual costs incurred for the abatement proceeding, including attorneys fees, if applicable.

59.3 County Fire Official. The Chief Building Official, his or her designee, or other officer of the County of Lake who is certified in fire prevention pursuant to the International Code Council (ICC) or National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), or California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection standards.

59.4 County Code Enforcement Official. A County official authorized to enforcement the nuisance abatement provisions of Chapter 13 of the Lake County Code.

59.5 Hazardous Vegetation. Vegetation that is flammable and endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard including, but not limited to, seasonal and recurrent weeds, stubble, brush, dry leaves, tumbleweeds and dead or severely damaged trees. Hazardous Vegetation shall not include a commercial agricultural crop which is being actively grown and managed by the property owner or his or her legal tenant.

59.6 Combustible Material. All rubbish, litter or material of any kind other than hazardous vegetation that is combustible and endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard. Said material does not include the combustible material used by a commercial enterprise licensed and/or certified to work with combustible material so long as said enterprise does so in compliance with any such license and/or certification and other legal requirements.

59.7 Improved Parcel. A portion of real property of any size which is located in an area primarily intended for residential uses, the area of which is determined by the assessor's maps and records and which may be identified by an Assessor's Parcel Number, upon which a structure is located.

59.8 Unimproved Parcel. A portion of real property of any size, the area of which is determined by the assessor's maps and records and which may be identified by an Assessor's Parcel Number, upon which no structure is located.

59.9 Structure. Any dwelling, house, building, or other type of flammable construction attached to or near any other structure.

59.10 Administrative Citation Fine. Monetary penalties assessed and imposed as a mechanism to encourage and obtain compliance with the provisions of this article. The issuance of citations imposing administrative fines may be performed at the discretion of the County Fire Official and the issuance of such citations constitutes only one remedy of the County to redress violations of this article.

59.11 Roadway. For purposes of this article, a road or roadway is any County street or road, other public road or alley, or private thoroughfare at least ten (10) feet wide that is ordinarily used for vehicular travel, open to public travel, and connects with a County road, state highway, or other public road, private road or an alley which affords primary access to an abutting lot.

59.12 Frontage Road. For purposes of this article, frontage road is a County or other public road auxiliary to and located on the side of a highway that gives indirect access to abutting property along that highway.

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019)

Sec. 13-60. - Duty to abate.

60.1 Upon receipt of a notice of violation and order to abate, as discussed in Section 13-62 herein, it shall be the duty of every owner, occupant, and person in control of any improved or unimproved parcel of land or interest therein, which is located in the unincorporated territory of the County of Lake to abate there from, and from all parcels, roadways and parkways, except for those roads maintained by the county, all combustible material and hazardous vegetation that constitutes a dangerous fire hazard in violation of the provisions of this article.

2.1

The duty to abate hazardous vegetation and/or combustible materials on improved parcels includes, but is not limited to the following:

a. Maintenance of a thirty-foot (30-foot) defensible space around all buildings/structures. However, in all circumstances where California Public Resources Code section 4291 is applicable, that state law shall control.

b. Maintenance of ten-foot (10-foot) clearance next to a frontage road.

c. Removal of all portions of trees within ten (10) feet of a chimney or stovepipe outlet.

d. Maintenance of a roof on any structure free from leaves, needles, or dead or dying wood.

e. Removal of all dead vegetation and/or combustible material from the subject property to the extent determined by the County Fire Official to be necessary to avoid an imminent risk of harm to public health, safety, and/or welfare.

f. Maintenance of shrubbery and trees year round.

2.2

If so determined by a County Fire Official or his or her designee, as defined herein, additional defensible space outward to one hundred (100) feet from all buildings and surrounding, neighboring structures may be required depending on the property slope, fuel load and/or fuel type. The necessity for such additional defensible space will be determined according to fire safety and fire protection standards recognized by the ICC, the NFPA, and/or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the imminent risk of harm to neighboring properties.

2.3

The determination for appropriate clearance distances will be made based upon a visual inspection of the parcel and shall consider all factors that place the property or adjoining structure(s) at risk from an approaching fire. These factors shall include local weather conditions, fuel type(s), topography, and the environment where the property or adjoining structure(s) is located.

2.4

The County Fire Official or his or her designee may mandate additional fuels management of an area more or less than the above-referenced widths or height, for the protection of public health, safety or welfare or the environment. Where the terrain, condition or environment on the Improved Parcel is such that hazardous vegetation cannot or should not be disked or mowed, the County Fire Official may require, or authorize other means of Hazardous Vegetation removal.

3.1

The duty to abate hazardous vegetation and/or combustible materials on unimproved parcels includes, but is not limited to the following:

a. Removal of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth within thirty (30) feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage.

b. Removal of dead and dying vegetation within thirty (30) feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage.

c. Trimming of grass and combustible surface vegetation within ten (10) feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage must be trimmed to less than six (6) inches in height unless necessary for erosion control.

d. Pruning of all trees within ten (10) feet of neighboring structures and roadway frontage to at least six (6) feet above grade; and

e. Removal of all dead vegetation and/or combustible material from the property to the extent determined by the County Fire Official to be necessary to avoid an imminent risk of harm to public health, safety, and/or welfare.

3.2

A County Fire Official or his or her designee may require more clearance distance than specified in the notice of violation and order to abate for the protection of public health, safety or welfare or the environment. If so determined by a County Fire Official, as defined herein, additional defensible space outward to one hundred (100) feet from all buildings and surrounding, neighboring structures may be required depending on the property slope, fuel load and/or fuel type. The necessity for such additional defensible space will be determined according to fire safety and fire protection standards recognized by the ICC, the NFPA, and/or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the imminent risk of harm to neighboring properties.

3.3

The determination for appropriate clearance distances will be made based upon a visual inspection of the parcel and shall consider all factors that place the property or adjoining structure(s) at risk from an approaching fire. These factors shall include local weather conditions, fuel type(s), topography, and the environment where the property or adjoining structure(s) is located.

3.4

The County Fire Official or his or her designee may mandate additional fuels management of an area more or less than the above-referenced widths or height, for the protection of public health, safety or welfare or the environment. Where the terrain, condition or environment on the Unimproved Parcel is such that hazardous vegetation cannot or should not be disked or mowed, the County Fire Official may require, or authorize other means of Hazardous Vegetation removal.

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019)

a. Plan and conduct hazardous vegetation/combustible material inspections and training presentations within the limits of available resources.

b. Seek voluntary compliance with the provisions of this article with property owners and/or occupants found to be out of compliance.

c. Conduct host-notice/pre-abatement inspections and prepare documentation relating to the areas of non-compliance.

d. The County Fire Official may seek the assistance of any of the County Fire Safe Councils and/or the Lake County Risk Reduction Authority for assistance in this informal process.

61.3 Summary Abatement. Nothing in this article is intended to in any way limit or restrict the authority of the County Fire Official, pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 14930 and Government Code section 25845, to summarily abate any public nuisance determined by the County Fire Official to constitute an immediate threat to public health or safety without prior notice or hearing.

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019)

If the County Fire Official determines that any real property is being maintained or permitted to exist in a manner prohibited by this article, the County Fire Official shall issue a written notice to the property owner and any known person in possession of the property, of the violation and order the hazardous vegetation or combustible material to be immediately abated.

1.2

The notice of violation and order to abate shall specify the corrective actions required to be taken and order the property owners and persons in possession to abate the hazardous vegetation or combustible material within thirty (30) business days and state that the failure to bring the real property into compliance with this article could subject the owner or persons in possession to civil, administrative and criminal penalties. The notice/order shall provide the property owner and person in possession of the opportunity to appeal that notice/order and appear before the Lake County Board of Supervisors and be heard prior to the abatement by the County.

1.3

Additional Time. Said thirty-day (30-day) period may be extended by the County Fire Official if that official determines additional time is justified due to the topography and/or size of a particular parcel.

1.4

The failure of the notice to set forth all required contents shall not affect the validity of the abatement proceedings.

2.1

The County Fire Official shall cause a copy of the notice/order to be mailed or otherwise delivered to all known persons to be in possession and to the property owner as such person's name and address appears on the last county equalized assessment roll. If the address is unknown, that fact shall be so stated and the notice shall be addressed to the person at the county seat. Service by mail shall be deemed complete at the time of deposit in the U.S. mail. The failure of any person in possession or owner of the property to receive such notice shall not affect the validity of these proceedings.

2.2

In the event that, after reasonable effort, the County Fire Official is unable to serve the notice as set forth above, service shall be accomplished by posting copies of the notice along the frontage of the subject parcel(s), and at such other locations on the parcels) as are reasonably likely to provide notice to the owners) and any person known by the County Fire Official to be in possession of the parcel(s). At least two (2) copies of the notice shall be posted on a parcel pursuant to this section.

62.3.Request for a Hearing. Any person who is adversely affected by the notice/order may appeal the determination to the Board of Supervisors.

3.1

Such a request must be in writing and be received within fifteen (15) calendar days of the postmark on the notice/order. Timely appeal shall stay any further action for abatement until the date set for hearing.

3.2

If no request for a hearing is timely made, the Lake County Board of Supervisors herein declares that abatement of the hazardous vegetation or combustible material shall have been deemed ordered by the Board of Supervisors as of the date of the postmark of the notice/order.

Upon timely written request for a hearing, the hearing shall be scheduled with the Board of Supervisors and shall proceed according to the process described in Lake County Code Section 13-7.

4.1

The hearing on the appeal shall occur not more the thirty (30) days after receipt of a timely request for hearing and shall provide written notice of the hearing date and time to the appellant at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the hearing, unless such time limits are waived in writing by both the County Fire Official and the appellant.

4.2

At the time fixed in the notice of hearing, the Board of Supervisors shall receive evidence from the County Fire Official and the owner or person in possession of the real property in violation, or their representatives and any other concerned persons who may desire to present oral or documentary evidence regarding the conditions of the real property or other relevant matter, if such persons are present at the hearing. Failure of the owner or person in possession to appear shall not affect the validity of the proceedings or order issued thereon.

4.3

Upon conclusion of the hearing, the Board of Supervisors shall make its decision and in the event it so concludes, may declare the conditions on the real property to be in violation of this article and to constitute a public nuisance. The Board of Supervisors may direct the owner or person in possession to abate the hazardous vegetation or combustible material within a reasonable time specified, but which shall not be less than ten (10) days from the date of the Board of Supervisors' order. The order shall include notice that if the hazardous vegetation or combustible material is not abated as directed and within the time specified, the County Fire Official may abate the hazardous vegetation or combustible material and the abatement costs and any administrative penalties assessed shall be a lien and an assessment against the real property.

4.4

The Board of Supervisors may grant any extension of time to abate such conditions that it may deem justifiable upon good cause being shown.

A notice of abatement lien may be recorded against the real property subject to this abatement proceeding, setting forth the date upon which abatement of the nuisance was ordered either by notice issued by the County Fire Official or by the Board of Supervisors after a hearing, the date the abatement was complete and the amount of abatement costs in the same manner and subject to the procedures described in Chapter 13, section 13-43, of the Lake County Code.

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019; Ord. No. 3090, §§ 3, 4, 4-14-2020)

When the County Fire Official observes a violation of this article, the County Fire Official may issue an Administrative Citation to any responsible person. For purposes of this article, a "responsible person" shall mean either each person committing the violation or causing a condition on a parcel of real property located within the jurisdiction of the County of Lake which gives rise to the violation, each person who has an ownership interest in that property, and/or each person who, although not an owner, nevertheless has a legal right or a legal obligation to exercise possession and control over that property. Each Administrative Citation shall contain the following information:

(1) The date of the violation;

(2) The address or a definite description of the location where the violation occurred;

(3) The name, address, and other identifying information for the person being cited.

(4) The section of this article violated and a description of the violation;

(5) The fine schedule for the violation;

(6) A description of how, when and where the fine must be paid;

(7) An order prohibiting the continuation or repeated occurrence of the violation;

(8) A brief description of the appeal process;

(9) The name and signature of the citing County Fire Official.

The person cited shall be requested to sign the citation to acknowledge receipt of the citation.

Any person aggrieved by an administrative decision of the Board of Supervisors may obtain review of the administrative decision by filing a petition for review with the Superior Court in Lake County in accordance with the timeliness and other provisions set forth in California Government Code Section 53069.4.

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019)

This article establishes the Hazardous Vegetation/Combustible Material Abatement Program. This Program is intended to specifically address the significant danger to the public created by the proliferation of hazardous vegetation and/or combustible material through enforcement of the abatement procedures specified herein, to implement community outreach to inform the public of the need to maintain their properties in compliance with this article, to work with the community to address abatement solutions for the indigent and those physically unable to self-abate, and to consider best practices for the reduction of wildfire risks associated with hazardous vegetation and/or combustible materials.

All administrative fines and abatement monies received shall be deposited in an account designated for the enforcement of this article and the implementation of the Hazardous Vegetation/Combustible Material Abatement Program.

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019)

The Board of Supervisors reserves its right to adopt reasonable rules, regulations, and resolutions consistent with this article to enforce, interpret, and carry out the provisions of this article.

(Ord. No. 3082, § 2, 3-26-2019)