With fire season looming, Nevada County Supervisors have adopted what’s termed a “Hazardous Vegetation Abatement” amendment that adds more enforcement powers to an existing ordinance. Office of Emergency Services Manager Vic Ferreira says it will allow the county to clear any private property, not just parcels that are five acres or less, of what’s considered combustible materials, and charge the owner, including the ability to place a lien on the property. It would be complaint driven, and fire departments would also have more legal discretion…

click to listen to Vic Ferreira

In addition to maintaining 100 feet of defensible space around around structures, Ferreira says property owners would also have to clear any hazardous vegetation in a separate 10-foot wide strip to aid firefighters…

click to listen to Vic Ferreira

Under the abatement process, two formal inspections of a property must be conducted before the process could begin. The property owner would also receive warning letters. Property owners would have 10 days to appeal or 30 days to remove the vegetation. The revised ordinance is expected to take effect in June.