Chapter 8.25 — VECTOR CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT

Sections:

• 8.25.010 Purpose and authority.
• 8.25.020 Definitions.
• 8.25.030 Apiaries--Prohibited.
• 8.25.040 Infested building or structure declared a public nuisance.
• 8.25.050 Vector control measures.
• 8.25.060 Abatement of vectors.
• 8.25.070 Repayment by property owner of abatement costs.

This chapter enables certain authorized city representatives and the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District to abate or require abatement of feral bees and other vector infestations from public and private property and structures when necessary for the public health and safety. (Ord. 2001-09-1294 § 1 (part))

For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases are defined and shall be construed to have the following meaning: A. "Authorized city representative" means an officer, director, employee, or agent of the city of Signal Hill or an officer, director, employee, or agent of a licensed private pest control company which the city has previously entered into a contractual arrangement with for the control and abatement of vectors. B. "Beehive" (managed bees) or "Nest" (feral bees) means a colony of bees. C. "District" means the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District. D. "Feral bee" means any wild honeybee, including but not limited to the Africanized honeybee, also known as the "Killer Bee." E. "Infestation" means a colony or an established swarm of bees forming a colony. F. "Public nuisance" means any condition that endangers public health, safety and/or welfare. G. "Swarm" means a number of bees, including a queen and leaving a hive to start a new colony. H. "Vector," means any insect that poses a nuisance or danger to the public health and safety, and that potentially may transmit a disease-producing organism from one host to another, including but not limited to the following: Africanized and European honeybees, mosquitoes, midges (chironomids), and black flies (simulids).

No person shall maintain an apiary nor keep or permit the keeping of bees within the city. (See also Section 9.04.030) (Ord. 2001-09-1294 § 1 (part))

All buildings, structures, premises or any parts thereof within the city that are found or reported to be infested with feral bees and other vectors are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by either: A. The property owner; or B. The district or authorized city representatives, as set forth in Section 8.25.060, at the expense of the property owner. The district and/or city are authorized to determine whether to abate the nuisance in the manner provided in this chapter. In emergency situations involving the public health and safety, the district and/or city are authorized to determine how and whether to abate the nuisance immediately. (Ord. 2001-09-1294 § 1 (part))

A. All premises shall be cleaned, and effective pesticides applied, as often as necessary to prevent the infestation of feral bees or other vectors that may be a danger to public health and safety. The district and/or city may prescribe the type of pesticides, their manner and frequency of application, and the manner and frequency of cleaning for such purposes. B. It shall be unlawful for any property owner or tenant to maintain or permit an established beehive, nest or swarm to exist. This includes a commercially managed European beehive that has become Africanized. C. Notwithstanding the prohibitions regarding the maintenance of beehives, nest or swarms contained in this chapter, such prohibitions shall not restrict the activities of a professional beekeeper if otherwise not prohibited under the County's Zoning Code. For purposes of this subsection, the term "professional beekeeper" shall mean a person who holds a current registration as a beekeeper with the County of Los Angeles Department of Agricultural Commissioner. (Ord. 2001-09-1294 § 1 (part))

A. The district is authorized (pursuant to § 2270(f), California State Health and Safety Code) to enter upon any property in the city without hindrance or notice, for any of the following purposes:

1. To inspect to ascertain the presence of vectors or their breeding places;
2. To abate public nuisances located within or attached to a private structure that pose an immediate threat to the public safety and health, either directly or by giving notice to the property owner to abate a nuisance;
3. To ascertain if a notice to abate vectors has been complied with;
4. To treat property with appropriate physical, chemical, or biological control measures. The District is authorized to abate and remove feral bees and other vectors on private property except in the event vectors are located within or attached to a private structure. Abatement of feral bees and other vectors within or attached to a private structure shall be referred to authorized city representatives. B. Upon a written declaration by the district of a public nuisance within or attached to a private structure, a copy of which shall be provided to the property owner, authorized city representatives may enter upon said private property in the city without hindrance or notice, for any of the following purposes:
5. To inspect to ascertain the presence of vectors or their breeding places;
6. To abate public nuisances located within or attached to a private structure that pose an immediate threat to the public safety and health, either directly or by giving notice to the property owner to abate a nuisance;
7. To ascertain if a notice to abate vectors has been complied with;
8. To treat property with appropriate physical, chemical, or biological control measures. C. All or part of the cost of abating a nuisance pursuant to subection 8.25.060(B) shall be repaid to the city by the owner of the property, except as provided in subsection (B). However, the owner shall not be required to pay the cost unless, either prior or subsequent to the abatement by the city, a hearing is held by the city, the property owner is afforded an opportunity to be heard, and it is determined that a nuisance actually exists, or existed prior to abatement. The city may use a civil penalty assessment in lieu of charging for actual costs to abate the nuisance, or may include reasonable costs for abatement as a part of a civil penalty assessment. D. Upon the failure of the property owner or person in possession to pay the abatement costs to the city for all sums expended in abating a nuisance or preventing its recurrence and all civil penalties, the costs shall become a lien upon the property on which the nuisance is abated, or its recurrence prevented, when notice of the lien is filed and recorded. Assessment of any abatement liens or costs will be processed in accordance with the procedures in Chapter 8.12 of this code. (Ord. 2001-09-1294 § 1 (part))

Provisions for repayment by property owner of all or part of abatement costs to the district, and collection thereof, are set forth in California Health and Safety code Sections 2283, 2283.5, 2284, 2285, 2285.5, 2286, 2287, 2288, 2289, 2290. (Ord. 2001-09-1294 § 1 (part))