Chapter 8.16
WEEDS
Sections:
8.16.020 Duty to cut and remove weeds.
8.16.040 Failure to abate—Fees.
8.16.050 Failure to pay fees—Lien.
8.16.010 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter:
“Owner (occupant)” means and includes record owner, whether a person, firm or corporation, any agent or representative of the record owner and any occupant of the premises.
“Weeds” means weeds, grass, brush or other rank or noxious vegetation, and shall not include flower gardens, plots of shrubbery and vegetable gardens. (Prior code § 9-24)
8.16.020 Duty to cut and remove weeds.
It shall be the duty of every owner (occupant) to keep the weeds on all premises under his or her control cut to a height of not more than eight (8) inches. The weeds shall be cut in such a manner that all cut portions are reduced in length to eight (8) inches or less and shall be removed from the property to some site authorized for disposal of refuse. (Prior code § 9-25)
8.16.030 Notice of violation.
The City Manager, or his designee, shall use reasonable means to determine the owner (occupant) of land on which weeds exist in violation of Section 8.16.020, and shall give written notice to the owner (occupant) that the premises under his or her control are in violation of this chapter. The notice shall state that if the weeds are not cut and removed within ten (10) days, the city will cause the cutting and removal of the weeds. Such notice may not be required or necessary if the City Manager or Fire Chief determines an immediate health or fire hazard exists and must be abated. Failure to receive such notice shall not invalidate any proceedings under this chapter. (Prior code § 9-26)
8.16.040 Failure to abate—Fees.
If such weeds are not cut within the time specified in the notice, or are determined to be a health or fire hazard, the City Manager, or his designee, is authorized and empowered to order and cause such weeds to be cut and removed and charge the cost thereof to the owner (occupant) of the premises, together with a ten percent (10%) additional fee for inspection and other incidentals. (Prior code § 9-27)
8.16.050 Failure to pay fees—Lien.
A. In the event the owner (occupant) fails to cut and remove such weeds and they are cut by order of the City Manager, or his designee, the cost of cutting and removing such weeds, together with the ten percent (10%) fee established in Section 8.16.040 shall be paid to the City Treasurer within thirty (30) days following notice of assessment of such costs to the owner (occupant) of such premises by registered or certified mail.
B. Failure to pay the assessment within thirty (30) days shall cause such assessment to become a lien against the lot, block or parcel of land of owner (occupant) which shall have priority over all liens, except general taxes and prior special assessments. This assessment may be certified at any time thereafter by the City Manager, or his designee, to the Arapahoe County Treasurer to be placed upon the tax list for the current year to be collected in the same manner as other taxes are collected, with an additional ten percent (10%) penalty to defray the cost of collection. (Prior code § 9-28)