Chapter 8.08
REMOVAL OF VEGETATION1
Sections:
8.08.020 Obstruction of streets and sidewalks.
8.08.030 Dead vegetation—Fire or health hazard.
8.08.010 Owner defined.
The term “owner” as used in this chapter, shall be and include the owner of record according to the records of the office of auditor of Snohomish County. (Prior code § 11.08.010)
8.08.020 Obstruction of streets and sidewalks.
Each and every owner of property situated in the city shall remove or destroy all trees, plants, shrubs, or vegetation or parts thereof which overhang any sidewalk or street or which are growing thereon in such a manner as to obstruct or impair the free and full use of a sidewalk or street by the public. (Prior code § 11.08.020)
8.08.030 Dead vegetation—Fire or health hazard.
Each and every owner of property situated in the city shall remove or destroy all grass, weeds, shrubs, bushes, trees or vegetation growing or which has grown and died upon property owned or occupied by such owner, and which are a fire hazard or a menace to public health, safety and welfare. (Prior code § 11.08.030)
8.08.040 Enforcement.
A. The city council of the city is authorized to initiate a resolution requiring the owner to remove and destroy all trees, plants, shrubs and vegetation upon the property owned by him, which overhang any sidewalk or street, or which are growing thereon in such a manner as to obstruct or impair the free and full use of the sidewalk or street by the public; and to remove and destroy all grass, weeds, shrubs, bushes, trees or vegetation growing or which has grown and died upon said property, which are a fire hazard or a menace to public health, safety, and welfare.
B. Notice of proposed adoption of resolution setting forth description of property and the hazardous condition and requiring the owner to make such removal or destruction shall be served upon the owner not less than five days prior to the date set for the adoption of said resolution, which resolution shall not be adopted if the owner shall, within five days of service of notice, remove the condition in accordance with said notice. That, in event the owner shall fail to remove or destroy said condition in compliance with said notice, the city council shall then be authorized to adopt a resolution ordering said removal or destruction, and the cost thereof shall be charged against the owner of the property and such charge shall become a lien upon the property. That said lien shall be filed by the city with the same officer, within the same time and the same manner and enforced and foreclosed in the same manner as provided by law for lien for labor and materials.
C. In lieu of the enforcement provisions set forth in subsections A and B of this section, the city is authorized to use the enforcement procedure set forth in Chapter 1.20. (Ord. 2222-97 § 1, 1997: prior code § 11.08.040)
For statutory provisions authorizing cities to require removal of vegetation which overhangs streets or sidewalks, see RCW 35.21.310; for provisions regarding weed control, see RCW Chs. 17.04—17.08.