A. Premises: It is unlawful for any owner, occupant, agent or lessee of real property in the city to fail to maintain the height of weeds and grasses, in the manner provided herein, on such property, or to fail to remove from the property any cuttings from such weeds or grasses.
B. Park Strips: It is unlawful for any owner, occupant, agent or lessee of real property in the city abutting and bordering on any public street, for the distance such property abuts and borders the street, to fail to maintain the height of weeds and grasses, in the manner provided herein, in the area from the property line to the curb line of the street, or to fail to remove from such area any cuttings from such weeds or grasses.
C. Abutter's Alleys: It is unlawful for any owner, occupant, agent or lessee of real property in the city which faces on an abutter's alley for the distance such property abuts and borders, to fail to maintain the height of weeds and grasses, in the manner provided herein, in that portion of the abutter's alley for which the owner, occupant, agent or lessee is responsible as provided under section 12-4-1 of this chapter.
D. Weed Control Specifications:
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection D2 of this section, weeds and grasses shall be maintained at a height of not more than six inches (6") at all times, and the cuttings shall be promptly cleared and removed from the premises; provided, however, that this subsection shall not be applicable to any ornamental grass so long as it is used and maintained solely, or in combination with any other ornamental grass or grasses, as a supplement to an overall landscaping plan and does not constitute in square footage more than twenty percent (20%) of the property's overall landscaped area.
2. Weeds and grasses shall be maintained at a height of not more than twelve inches (12") at all times on any of the following properties, and the cuttings shall be promptly cleared and removed from the premises:
a. Areas zoned as open space zone (O-1) pursuant to title 15 of this code;
b. Ditches, ditch rights of way or railroad rights of way; and
c. Undeveloped property or vacant lots (no buildings or structures).
3. Weeds which are eradicated by chemicals must be done so before their height exceeds the height limits provided herein, or they must be cut at a level not exceeding such height limits.
4. Weeds which are rototilled or removed by the root must be buried under the soil or removed from the property.
5. When, in the opinion of the fire marshal, or any assistant fire marshal, the large size or terrain of property makes the cutting of all weeds or grasses impractical, the fire marshal, or any assistant fire marshal, may, by written order, allow and limit the required cutting of weeds and grasses to a firebreak of not less than fifteen feet (15') in width cut around the complete perimeter of the property and around any structures existing upon the property, unless the fire marshal, or assistant fire marshal, determines that a firebreak of a lesser width will provide adequate protection against fire spread at the particular location.
6. The fire marshal may from time to time exempt from, or limit, in whole or in part, the required cutting of weeds and grasses for property established and maintained as a nature park or wetland mitigation area, if the fire marshal, or assistant fire marshal, determines that such limitation or exemption will not present a potential fire hazard to adjacent properties.
(1979 Code § 8.26.030; Ord. 97-91, 12-16-1997; amd. Ord. 2002-73, 12-17-2002)