Plymouth Municipal Code Ch. 8.01 Weed, Rubble and Rubbish Control

All weeds, rubble, rubbish or other rank growths located upon private property located within the City, or upon sidewalks and streets abutting private property within the City, which constitute a fire menace or which are otherwise a menace to health or safety, are a public nuisance and may be abated as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 2000-08 § 1)

The procedure for abatement, including, without limitation, the definitions, provisions for notice, hearings, appeals, abatement by City forces or contract, the recovery of costs, and the imposition of liens, found in Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Part 2 of Title 4 of the California Government Code (commencing with Section 39560) is hereby adopted by reference. Said procedure shall be utilized not only for abatement of weeds and rubbish, refuse and dirt and specified in said article, but shall additionally be used for the abatement of rubble as defined in this chapter. The procedure established by this chapter and said article shall be an alternative to and cumulative to any other remedy available at law or equity for the abatement of the nuisances defined by this chapter or said article.

(Ord. 2000-08 § 1)

Certain words and phrases are defined in this section to clarify their use in this chapter. Where a definition is not given or where a question of interpretation arises, the definition that shall control is the definition found in Article 2 of Chapter 13 of Part 2 of Title 4 of the California Government Code (commencing with Section 39560), or if not defined in said article, then the normal meaning of the word within the context of its use.

"City Clerk"

means and includes the City Clerk of the City of Plymouth and authorized representatives.

"City Council"

means the City Council of the City of Plymouth.

"Rubbish"

means and includes all putrescible and nonputrescible, combustible and noncombustible, solid wastes, including garbage, refuse, trash, garden refuse, tree trimmings, ashes, tin cans, dirt, street cleanings, dead animals, abandoned or no longer used motor vehicles, junk, or worthless and useless articles, which are in such a state or in such a quantity as to be unsightly and offensive to the senses or detrimental to the attractiveness of the surroundings, against the general welfare, unhealthful, dangerous to persons or property, or an interference with the abatement of weeds and any other offensive or nauseous substances.

"Rubble"

means and includes any rubble, residue, structure or part or portions of a structure, remaining after the demolition or partial demolition of any building or structure in the City.

"Superintendent"

means the Public Works Supervisor of the City of Plymouth.

"Weeds"

means all grass, weeds, plants or brush growing upon the streets, sidewalks or private property in the City and includes any of the following:

Weeds which bear seeds of a downy or wingy nature;

Mistletoe or other parasite growth;

Sand burrs or puncture vines;

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;

Weeds which are otherwise noxious or dangerous;

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

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

(Ord. 2000-08 § 1)

A. It is the duty of every owner of private property within the City to keep their property clear of, and to remove and destroy all weeds, rubble, rubbish or other rank growths located on their property. Weeds growing upon any lot or tract of land which appears on the assessment roll as a single parcel and exceeds one acre in size may be abated by the removal of such weeds from a 30 foot area around the entire perimeter of the parcel and around all structures situated thereon. In all other cases, weeds must be removed from the entire parcel.

B. It is the duty of every owner of private property within the City to keep their property clear of, and to remove all weeds, rubble, rubbish or other obstructions from the sidewalks and the half of the streets abutting their property.

(Ord. 2000-08 § 1)

In removing or destroying weeds, rubble or rubbish in accordance with this chapter, owners shall comply with such standards as may be established by the City.

(Ord. 2000-08 § 1)

The violation of any of the provision of this chapter is unlawful and an infraction. Each day conditions or action in violation of any provision of this chapter continue is deemed a separate and distinct offense.

(Ord. 2000-08 § 1)