San Anselmo Municipal Code Art. 6 Abatement of Fire Hazards Associated with Flammable Vegetation and Other…

All rubbish, weeds, dry brush, dry grass and other rank growth, and all trimmings and cuttings thereof, or of trees, and all dead trees and all bushes, brush or grass or other matter which is in such state or condition as to be or become a fire menace because of the dryness thereof, or which are otherwise dangerous as a fire menace and which are on any lot or premises in the Town, or on the street or sidewalk area in front of such lot or premises or adjacent thereto, are declared to be a public nuisance and shall be abated as herein provided.

(§ 1, Ord. 972, eff. January 18, 1996)

The Fire Chief is hereby authorized to require the abatement of any nuisance condition described in Section 3-3.601. Notice requiring the abatement of such nuisance shall be given by mail to the owner of the property upon which, or in front of which, such nuisance exits at such owner's address as shown on the last equalized assessment roll of the County. Such notice shall contain the following:

(a) The street address and Assessor's parcel number for the affected property;

(b) The date of the inspection of the property by the Fire Department during which such nuisance was discovered;

(c) A description of the nuisance and its location on, or in front of, the property;

(d) The abatement action which the owner is required to take and a time limit for such abatement;

(e) A statement that if the owner fails to abate such nuisance within the prescribed time the Fire Department, or other Town agent, will abate the nuisance;

(f) A statement that if the Fire Department, or other Town agent, is required to abate the nuisance the cost of such abatement will be assessed as a lien against the property.

(§ 1, Ord. 972, eff. January 18, 1996)

* Article 6, codified from Ordinance Nos. 89, 170 and 213, as amended by Ordinance Nos. 157, 210, 720, effective January 6, 1977 and 738 effective September 8, 1977, repealed and replaced in its entirety by Ordinance No. 972, effective January 18, 1996.

Should the abatement of the nuisance not be accomplished by the owner of the affected property within the period set forth in the notice requiring abatement, the Fire Chief is authorized to perform such abatement and shall keep an accurate account of the cost of such abatement. The Fire Chief shall mail written notice of such cost to the owner of the affected property who may, within fifteen days of the date of such mailing, request a hearing by the Fire Chief with respect to such cost. The Fire Chief shall hold hearing within thirty (30) days of receiving the request. The decision of the Fire Chief shall be final. The cost of such abatement as finally fixed and determined by the Fire Chief shall constitute a special assessment against the affected property. The Fire Chief shall cause an order confirming such assessment to be recorded in the office of the County Recorder at which time a lien for such assessment shall attach to the affected property. The Fire Chief shall also file a copy of the order confirming the assessment with the County Auditor and the amount of such assessment shall, thereafter, be collected at the time and in the manner of ordinary property taxes. If delinquent, the amount of such assessment shall be subject to the same penalties and procedure for foreclosure and sale provided for ordinary property taxes.

(§ 1, Ord. 972, eff. January 18, 1996)