CHAPTER 15
WEEDS AND NOXIOUS MATTER
SECTION:
9-15-1: Purpose
9-15-2: Notice To Destroy
9-15-3: Detriment To Health And Safety
9-15-4: Action Upon Noncompliance
9-15-5: Charge To Constitute Lien On Property
9-15-6: Violations Of This Chapter And Penalties
9-15-1 PURPOSE:
No owner or occupant of any lot, place or area within the City, or the agent of any such owner or occupant, shall permit on such lot, place or area:
A. Any noxious weeds or deleterious, unhealthful growth or other noxious matter that may be growing, lying or located thereon.
B. Any encroachment of any hedge, fence, vegetation, trees, bushes or other obstructions on any public alley, street or other public right-of-way, including sidewalks or walkways.
1. Planter strips and vegetated planter islands in rights-of-way are permitted subject to City landscaping, maintenance, and street standards in RMC 4-4-070 and 4-6-060, as well as Chapter 9-13 RMC, and shall be managed to maintain pedestrian and vehicular passage and sight lines.
2. Vegetated low impact development facilities shall further be designed consistent with RMC 4-6-030 and the adopted Surface Water Design Manual. (Ord. 2738, 9-11-72; Ord. 5828, 12-12-16; Ord. 5958, 12-9-19)
9-15-2 NOTICE TO DESTROY:
The Community and Economic Development Administrator, or his duly authorized representative, is hereby authorized and directed to notify, in writing, the owner or occupant of any such lot, place or area within the City, or the agent of such owner and, if the owner cannot be located, then the occupant of such property, to cut, destroy and/or remove any vegetation constituting a detriment to health and safety pursuant to RMC 9-15-3, weeds or deleterious, unhealthful growth or other noxious matter found growing, lying or located on such owner’s or occupant’s property and thereupon such matter shall be removed by such owner or occupant within thirty (30) days from the date of such notice. In the event of any growth, vegetation, hedge, fence, tree or other obstruction encroaching upon any public right-of-way as hereinabove specified, a like prior notice shall be given unto such owner or occupant and the removal of such encroachment shall likewise be completed within thirty (30) days thereof. Such notice shall be either in person or by certified mail addressed to said owner, occupant or agent of said owner at his last known mailing address. (Ord. 2738, 9-11-72; amd. Ord. 2823, 1-21-74, eff. 1-30-74; Ord. 5450, 3-2-09; Ord. 5958, 12-9-19)
9-15-3 DETRIMENT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY:
It is hereby found by the City that each of the following constitutes a health and safety hazard:
A. Vegetation or refuse providing a harborage for rats or other rodents (excluding chipmunks and squirrels), rodent runs and habitats;
B. Vegetation which is poisonous or noxious, including but not limited to poison ivy, poison oak, poison hemlock, poison sumac and nightshade;
C. Diseased vegetation which creates a danger of contamination;
D. Vegetation which is infested with damaging insects;
E. Any such growth, whether noxious or deleterious, or any encroachment, as hereinabove defined, on public right-of-way, which is detrimental to the health, welfare and safety of the general public, including pedestrians and vehicular traffic. (Ord. 2738, 9-11-72; Ord. 5958, 12-9-19)
9-15-4 ACTION UPON NONCOMPLIANCE:
Upon the failure, neglect or refusal of any owner, occupant or agent so notified to cut, destroy and/or remove weeds, noxious or deleterious, unhealthful growth or other noxious matter growing, lying or located upon such property, or any hedge, tree, fence or similar vegetation encroaching upon any public right-of-way, including alleys, sidewalks, streets or walkways abutting same, within thirty (30) days after receipt of such written notice as provided for in the above Section, or within fifteen (15) days after date of such notice in the event that same is returned to the City because of its inability to make delivery thereof, providing the same was properly addressed to the last known mailing address of such owner, occupant or agent, then in any such case, the Administrator of the Department of Community and Economic Development or his duly authorized representative is hereby authorized and directed to cause such cutting, destroying and/or removal of such matter, as hereinabove described, or to have same done by any third party or to order the removal thereof by City forces. (Ord. 2738, 9-11-72; amd. Ord. 2823, 1-21-74, eff. 1-30-74; Ord. 5450, 3-2-09)
9-15-5 CHARGE TO CONSTITUTE LIEN ON PROPERTY:
Whenever the City has effected removal of such matter as hereinabove defined, then the total actual cost thereof, plus accrued interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum from the date of the completion of such work, if not paid by such owner, occupant or agent prior thereto, shall be and constitute a lien against the property and shall remain in full force and effect for the amount due on principal and interest, plus court costs, if any, for collection until final payment has been made and as otherwise provided by law; alternately the City may bring suit for the amount of principal and interest against the owner, his agent or occupant of said premises. Any such lien notice shall cause to be recorded in the office of the Director of Records and Elections, King County, which notice shall show the cost and expense incurred for the work and the date, place of property on which said work was done, and same shall be full notice to every person concerned that the amount of the statement, plus interest, constitutes a charge against the property designated or described in the statement, and that the same is due and collectible as provided by law. In the event such suit is instituted by the City of Renton, the City shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of suit as may be determined by the court. (Ord. 2738, 9-11-72)
9-15-6 VIOLATIONS OF THIS CHAPTER AND PENALTIES:
Unless otherwise specified, violations of this Chapter are misdemeanors subject to RMC 1‑3‑1. (Ord. 4856, 8-21-00; Ord. 5159, 10-17-05)