Code Enforcement - FAQs

No owner or the person in charge of real property within the city may not permit grass, thistles, cockleburs, brambles, wild blackberry bushes, weeds or other noxious vegetation to grow to a height greater than eight inches upon such real property. It shall be the duty of an owner or person in charge of real property within the city to cut down or otherwise destroy grass, thistles, cockleburs, brambles, wild blackberry bushes, weeds or other noxious vegetation which has reached height of eight inches or over as often as needed in order to prevent such grass, thistles, cockleburs, brambles, wild blackberry bushes, weeds or other noxious vegetation from becoming unsightly or from becoming a fire hazard or from maturing or going to seed.

Debris on Private Property

A. No person may throw, dump or deposit upon public or private property any injurious or offensive substance or any kind of rubbish, trash, debris or refuse which would mar the appearance, create a stench or detract from the cleanliness or safety of such property, or would be likely to injure an animal, vehicle or person traveling upon a public way. 

B. No person may compost materials which either cause offensive odors, or create a health hazard, or are capable of attracting or providing food for potential disease carriers such as birds, rodents, flies or other vectors.

A. It is made the duty and routine obligation of all owners or occupants of land adjoining any street or sidewalk in the city to trim overhanging shrubs or trees and to remove any growth or fixed object which creates an unreasonable risk of harm to any person or property. 

B. It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any real property in the city to permit any tree, shrub or any fixed object located on the real property or the abutting right-of-way to overhang any sidewalk within the city at a height of less than eight feet; or to overhang any other traveled portion of any street within the city at a height of less than twelve feet. Trees, shrubs and any growth or fixed objects which are not trimmed or placed so as to meet the above specifications shall be deemed to present an unreasonable risk of harm to persons or property.

A. No person shall maintain, or allow to exist on property which they own or which is in their possession or control, trees, shrubs, hedges or other vegetation or projecting overhanging limbs thereof, which obstruct the view necessary for safe operation of motor vehicles or otherwise cause danger to the public in the use of city streets. It shall be the duty of the person who owns, possesses or controls the property to remove or trim and keep trimmed any obstructions to the view. 

B. A clear vision area shall be maintained on the corners of all property adjacent to an intersection as provided by Section 12.24.040. C. A clear vision area shall contain no planting, fence, wall, structure or temporary or permanent obstruction, except for an occasional utility pole or tree, exceeding thirty inches in height, measured from the top of the curb, or where no curb exists, from the street centerline grade. Trees exceeding this height may be located in this area; provided, all branches and foliage are removed to the height of eight feet above the grade. Open wire fencing that does not obscure sight more than ten percent is allowed to a maximum height of six feet.