Vegetation / Weed Abatement
Weed Abatement season is upon us, are you ready?
Weed abatement requirements will be enforced following the start of fire season which is declared by the State Fire Marshal and usually begins around June 1st annually.
Message from the Fire Marshal:
The Sonoma County Fire District is thankful to all of the citizens who make fire safety a priority! Our communities have endured trying times over the last couple years but together we can share the responsibility in making our communities safer by each doing our part. Remember you are not just protecting your property by being responsible with your vegetation management, you are helping to protect your neighbors and the community at large!
Division Chief/Fire Marshal Cyndi Foreman
It shall be the responsibility of each owner/occupant to adhere to the 2019 California Fire Code, California Public Resource Code 4291 and Sonoma County Chapter 13A requirements to maintain their properties from overgrowing, dead or dying vegetation that increases risk of wildfire. All District property owners have a shared responsibility to provide a fire safe environment and maintain their property free of exterior fire hazards throughout the fire season.
LIABILITY
Property owners who do not clear their property in accordance with legal requirements face significant financial liability. They are responsible for:
- Inspection and non-compliant citation fees up to force abatement (in certain cases) from the Fire District and/or the County of Sonoma.
- All damage to the person and/or property of others as a result of a fire that originates on your property.
- Total cost incurred by any/all emergency responders dispatched to put the fire out and provide medical and/or law enforcement assistance
- Within the Town of Windsor, a citation may be issued that carries with it a fine of up to $500 per day (up to a maximum of $100,000) if the dangerous condition is not abated.
MOWING GUIDELINES
Fire departments respond every year to grass fires resulting from irresponsible mowing. If the mower blade strikes a rock, a spark occurs often followed by a grass fire. Mow early in the season and only in the early morning while vegetation is damp, humidity is high, and temperatures are low. NEVER mow during the heat of the day in the summer or fall!
Vegetation & High Weed Mowing Contractors.pdf
REPORTING DANGEROUS VEGETATION
If you have any questions or concerns regarding a neighboring property, please fill out and submit the online Vegetation / Weed Complaint Form This is the best way to file your complaint, phone calls are not the most effective way to submit your complaint as we are often in the field protecting our community. We can respond to online complaints in a much more timely fashion and will do our best to respond to your complaint with in 3-5 business days.
It is important to understand however, that we cannot enter onto private property (backyards, for example) to verify complaints. Please understand our authority extends only to fire hazards, not how bad a neighbor’s yard looks, we can’t fix ugly!
SUBMITTING DANGEROUS VEGETATION/WEED COMPLAINT
If you would like to submit a dangerous Vegetation/Weed Complaint, please complete the form below and click submit. Anonymous complaints are not accepted; however, the information provided is kept confidential.
Vegetation / Weed Complaint Form
If you are unable to submit an electronic complaint, you may contact:
Prevention Division at: 707-892-2441
VEGETATION/WEED COMPLAINT FOR AREAS NOT WITHIN THE SONOMA COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT
To submit a dangerous Vegetation/Weed Complaint for areas NOT within the Sonoma County Fire District, please contact the county of Sonoma at (707) 565-2361 or view their website here.
CODES AND ORDINANCES (click on title below to be directed to individual websites):
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
PREVENT WILDFIRE-ONE LESS SPARK
PREFERRED PLANTS-FIRE RESISTANT
FIRE CAUSES & RISKS-FIREWISE USA PROGRAM