Chapter 17.12
WEED CONTROL
Sections:
17.12.030 Concurrent authorities.
17.12.070 Penalty – Infraction.
17.12.010 Findings.
The City Council finds and declares that the uncontrolled growth and/or accumulation of grass, weeds or other materials or obstructions on sidewalks, streets, and on lands or lots is dangerous or injurious to neighboring property and the health or welfare of residents of the vicinity and is a public nuisance in that it creates a condition that reduces the value of private property, promotes blight and deterioration, invites plundering, creates fire hazards, constitutes an attractive nuisance creating a hazard to the health and safety of minors, creates a harbor for rodents and insects and is injurious to the health, safety and general welfare. [Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 2000-14A §1, eff. 10-25-2000; Ord. 2000-1 §1, eff. 7-1-2000]
17.12.020 Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
A. “Garbage” includes, but is not limited to, the following: waste resulting from the handling of edible foodstuffs or resulting from decay, and solid or semisolid putrescible waste, and all other mixed, nonrecyclable wastes which are generated in the day-to-day operation of any business, residential, governmental, public or private activity, and may include tin cans, bottles and paper or plastic, or other synthetic material, food or beverage containers.
B. “Refuse” includes rubbish and garbage, as defined herein.
C. “Rubbish” includes all the following, but is not restricted to nonputrescible wastes, such as paper, cardboard, grass clippings, tree or shrub trimmings, wood, bedding, crockery, rubber tires, construction waste and similar waste materials.
D. “Weeds,” as used in this chapter, includes any of the following:
1. Weeds which bear seeds of a downy or wingy nature;
2. Sagebrush, chaparral, and any other brush or weeds which attain such hard growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to adjacent improved property;
3. Weeds and grasses which are otherwise noxious;
4. Poison oak and poison ivy when the conditions of growth are such as to constitute a menace to the public health;
5. Dry grass, stubble, brush, litter, or other flammable material which endangers the public safety by creating a fire hazard.
E. “Weeds, accumulation of” includes, but is not limited to, permitting or allowing the growth of weeds. [Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 2000-14A §1, eff. 10-25-2000; Ord. 2000-1 §1, eff. 7-1-2000]
17.12.030 Concurrent authorities.
This chapter is not the exclusive regulation for weed and refuse abatement within the City. It shall supplement and be in addition to the other regulatory codes, statutes, and ordinances heretofore and hereafter enacted by the County, the State, or any other legal entity or agency having jurisdiction. [Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 2000-14A §1, eff. 10-25-2000; Ord. 2000-1 §1, eff. 7-1-2000]
17.12.040 Enforcement.
The division of authority for enforcement of this chapter shall be as follows:
A. The Chief of the Cosumnes Community Services Fire Department shall have authority to enforce this chapter and issue citations for violations in their respective districts;
B. The County Fire Warden shall have authority to enforce this chapter in the Cosumnes Community Services District upon request of the Chief of the Cosumnes Community Services District Fire Department. [Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 2000-14A §1, eff. 10-25-2000; Ord. 2000-1 §1, eff. 7-1-2000]
17.12.050 Prohibited conduct.
A person shall not dump weeds or refuse, nor shall he permit the dumping of weeds or refuse, nor shall he permit the accumulation of weeds or refuse, on his property or on any other property in such a manner as to constitute a fire hazard. [Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 2000-14A §1, eff. 10-25-2000; Ord. 2000-1 §1, eff. 7-1-2000]
17.12.060 Firebreak required.
All dry grass, brush, vines or other dry vegetation shall be cleared for an area of not less than thirty (30' 0") feet from all structures, combustible fences, vehicles and combustible storage. The Chief of the Cosumnes Community Services Fire Department may require additional clearances when topographical or geographical conditions warrant said action. [Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 2000-14A §1, eff. 10-25-2000; Ord. 2000-1 §1, eff. 7-1-2000]
17.12.070 Penalty – Infraction.
A. Notwithstanding the provisions of EGMC Chapter 1.04 and EGMC Section 17.04.050 or the provisions of any other section of this code, violation of any of the provisions of any other section of this code, violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, or failure to comply with any of the regulatory requirements of this chapter is an infraction subject to the procedures described in Sections 19(c) and (d) of the California Penal Code.
B. Every violation of this chapter shall be enforced pursuant to the provisions of EGMC Chapter 1.04. [Ord. 7-2009 §3, eff. 5-1-2009; Ord. 2000-14A §1, eff. 10-25-2000; Ord. 2000-1 §1, eff. 7-1-2000]