Help the Atascadero Fire Department prepare for fire season
Property owners have until June 1 to complete abatement requirements
—It’s that time of the year again, and residents of Atascadero are encouraged to get an early start on weed abatement. The Atascadero Fire & Emergency Service’s mission, through its hazard reduction program, is to eliminate vegetative growth and/or refuse which may constitute a fire or life and safety hazard.
Initial field inspections began the first week of April, 2018, to identify parcels that have hazardous vegetative growth and/or refuse. Following the inspections, letters will be mailed to the property owners that have hazardous weeds and/or refuse on their property, requesting them to remove the hazards.
Property owners have until June 1, 2018 to complete the required abatement of the noxious weeds and/or refuse. If the abatement is not done by June 1st, the city’s weed abatement contractor will be authorized to clear the hazardous weeds and/or refuse for the residents.
If the City contractor must clear the weeds and/or refuse, the individual property owner’s tax assessment will include the contractor’s cost of abatement as well as a 150% administrative fee.
“The weather in April and May varies greatly from year to year and rain can be common after property owners have cut their parcels,” said Fire Chief Casey Bryson. “However, it is critically important to the overall safety of our community that property owners maintain their weeds/seasonal grass to 4” in length, year round so we can prevent small fires from becoming large,” said Bryson.
Per the City of Atascadero Municipal Code, Title 6 Health and Sanitation, Chapter 13 Removal of Vegetative Growth and/or Refuse, Section 6-1.08 Notice to Destroy or Remove Vegetative Growth and/or Refuse and Ordinance No. 371, the following guidelines are to be adhered to:
Clearance of vegetative growth
A) Maximum height of 4 inches;
B) Located within 100 feet of any building or structure, or to the property line, whichever is nearer;
C) Located within 50 feet from the edge of any improved roadway;
D) Located within 50 feet from each property line;
E) Located within 10 feet on each side of driveways.
F) Pastures are exempt as long as animals are on the property making significant weed reduction. Weeds outside of pasture fencing must be cut within the above specifications.
Exemptions to the clearance of vegetative growth
Exemptions shall apply to any land beyond 50 feet from improved streets, as declared by the City, State, or Federal Government, which has been acquired or is managed, for one or more of the following purposes:
A) Animal pastures and agricultural fields growing hay or grains. The interior portion of fenced pastures where the quantity of livestock significantly reduces the vegetative growth, therefore bringing the parcel into compliance. Agricultural fields must be cut at harvest time. Uncut hay and grain is subject to abatement.
B) Habitat for endangered or threatened species or any species that is a candidate for listing as an endangered or threatened species by the State of California or Federal Government.
C) Land kept in a predominantly natural state as habitat for wildlife, plant, or animal communities.
D) Open space lands that are environmentally sensitive parklands.
E) Other lands having scenic values.
Abatement requirements shall remain in effect in waterways where flood preparation measures and emergency flood control mitigation is necessary.
A) This exemption applies whether the land or water are held in fee title or any lesser interest. This exemption applies to any public agency, and private entity that has dedicated the land or water areas to one or more of those purposes or uses, or any combination of public agencies and private entities making that decision.
B) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the use of properly authorized prescribed burning to improve the biological function of land or to assist in the restoration of desired vegetation.
C) In the event that any lands adjacent to land or water areas, as described above, are improved such that they are subject to this ordinance, the obligation to comply with Section 6-13.04 shall be with the person owning, leasing, controlling, operating, or maintaining the occupied dwelling or occupied structure on the improved lands. All maintenance, activities, and other fire prevention measures required by Section 6-13.04 shall be required only for the improved land, and water areas as described above.
For further information, please contact the Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services 805-461-5070 or visit www.atascadero.org.
