National City Municipal Code Ch. 9.12 Abatement of Weeds and Other Fire Hazards

Any of the following conditions are declared to constitute a public nuisance:

A. When the fire chief or his/her designee determines that there exists in any building or on any premises combustible, hazardous or explosive materials or dangerous accumulations of rubbish; or unnecessary accumulations of wastepaper, boxes, shavings or any highly flammable materials which are so situated as to endanger life or property; or finds obstructions to or on fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors or windows that reasonably tend to interfere with the operations of the fire department or the egress of the occupants of such building or premises; or finds that the effectiveness of any exit door, attic separation or any fire separation wall is reduced; or finds that any provision of the Uniform Fire Code is being violated.

B. When the fire chief or his/her designee deems any chimney, smokestack, stove, oven, incinerator, furnace or other heating device, electric fixture or any appurtenance thereto, or anything regulated under a nationally recognized standard in or upon any building, structure or premises not specifically mentioned in the Uniform Fire Code, to be defective or unsafe so as to create a hazard.

C. When the fire chief or his/her designee finds any condition which in his/her judgment increases or may cause an increase of the hazard or menace of fire to a greater degree than that customarily recognized as normal by persons in the public service regularly engaged in preventing, suppressing or extinguishing fire or any thing or act which may obstruct, delay, hinder or interfere with the operations of the fire department or the egress of occupants in the event of fire.

(Ord. 2083 § 1 (part), 1994)

All weeds growing or located upon streets, sidewalks or private property are declared to be a public nuisance. For purposes of this chapter, "weeds" shall include the following:

A. Weeds which bear seeds of a downy or wingy nature;

B. Sagebrush, chaparral, and any other brush or weeds which attain such large growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to adjacent improved property;

C. Weeds which are otherwise noxious or dangerous;

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

E. Dry grass, stubble, brush, litter, or other flammable material which endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard in a portion of the city which has been zoned for single and multiple residence purposes.

(Ord. 2083 § 1 (part), 1994)

If it is determined by the fire chief or his/her designee that a public nuisance, as herein defined, exists on any lot or premises, or upon any sidewalk, parking area or street adjacent to such lot or premises, an abatement notice may be issued to the responsible person to abate the public nuisance in accordance with Section 1.36.030 of this code. Upon issuance of the abatement notice, the procedures for abatement of public nuisances and recovery of costs therefor set forth in Chapter 1.36 of this code shall be followed.

(Ord. 2083 § 1 (part), 1994)

The owner, occupant, or agent of any lot or premises within the city who permits or allows the existence of a public nuisance as defined in this chapter, upon any lot or premises owned, occupied, or controlled by said person, or who violates any of the provisions of this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof is punishable as prescribed by Section 1.20.010.

(Ord. 2083 § 1 (part), 1994)