Santa Maria Municipal Code Ch. 5-8 Weeds and Rubbish on Private Property

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to deposit or permit or cause to be deposited any rubbish, paper, tree or brush trimmings, earth, rock, garbage, ashes or other debris upon public or private property in the City.

(Prior Code § 16B-1; Ord. 2006-02, eff. 3/21/2006)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to allow weeds, vines, shrubs or brush which, upon maturity, will bear seeds of a wingy or downy nature, or which upon maturity will attain such growth as to become a fire menace when dry, or which contain poisonous oils, or which are otherwise dangerous to the life, health, comfort or convenience of the community to remain upon private property in the City after notice by the City in the manner provided in this chapter to remove them.

(Prior Code § 16B-2; Ord. 2017-10 § 10, eff. 8/31/17)

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to allow debris which is of such a nature that it constitutes a fire menace or fire hazard, or constitutes a harbor for rodents or insects, or a menace to the life, health, comfort or convenience of the community, to remain upon any private property in the City after notice by the City in the manner provided in this chapter to remove such debris.

(Prior Code § 16B-3)

If and when it appears that weeds, vines, shrubs, brush and/or debris have been placed upon or are upon private property in the City in violation of the provisions of the preceding sections of this chapter, and constitute a menace as set forth in those sections, the Council may by appropriate resolution order the removal thereof and shall cause notice to be posted upon such property to the effect that such weeds, vines, shrubs, brush and/or debris must be removed within 10 days from and after the date of such posting, and of a public hearing with regard thereto at which protests and objections will be considered. The City Clerk may also send a similar notice to the last-known owner of such property through the mail, but the sending of such notice or the failure to send it shall not affect the power of the City as provided in this chapter.

(Prior Code § 16B-4)

In the event the weeds, vines, brush, shrubs and/or debris have not been removed, then upon the expiration of 10 days from and after the posting of such notice, or following the public hearing with regard thereto, as provided in Section 5-8.01, whichever is later, the Council shall cause the weeds, vines, shrubs, brush and/or debris to be removed from the property upon which notice was posted by appropriate methods, including but not limited to chemical weed controls, and the cost of such work shall be made a lien upon such property until paid, and shall be payable under the same rules and regulations as are provided for the collection of taxes in the City. The lien shall attach at the time of the performance of such work, and the cost thereof shall be filed with the next ensuing tax bills against such property; provided, however, that if such work is performed subsequent to September 1st of any year, the bill therefor shall be annexed to the tax bill for the following fiscal year.

(Prior Code § 16B-5)

The methods of removing weeds, vines, shrubs, brush and/or debris from property, as provided in this chapter, shall not be an exclusive method, but shall be an alternative method and such weeds, vines, brush, shrubs and/or debris may be removed from such property pursuant to the provisions of any law of the State or of any ordinance of the City applicable thereto.

(Prior Code § 16B-6)

Any person, firm or corporation who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Prior Code § 16B-7)