Chapter 11.24
Weeds and Vegetation1

Sections:

11.24.010    Owner's responsibility.

11.24.020    Compliance--Property lien.

11.24.030    Street committee's report.

11.24.040    Hazardous--Report.

11.24.050    Out of state owner.

11.24.010 Owner's responsibility.

All property owners within the city required to remove or destroy all trees, plants, shrubs or vegetation, or parts thereof, which are growing in a manner which obstructs or impairs the free and full use of the sidewalk or street by the public. All such property owners are further required to remove or destroy all grass, weeds, shrubs, bushes, trees or vegetation growing, or which has grown and died upon property owned or occupied by such property owners and which are a fire hazard or menace to public health, safety or welfare. (Ord. 675 §1; May 2, 1950).

11.24.020 Compliance--Property lien.

The proceedings to require any property owner to comply with Section 11.24. 010 shall be initiated by resolution of the city council, adopted after a notice of not less than five days shall have been given such owners to comply with Section 11.24.010. The notice and the resolution shall describe the property involved and the hazardous condition thereof, and shall require the owner to make such removal or destruction within ten days after such notice has been given. If such removal or destruction has not been completed by that time, then the city council shall cause the removal or destruction and cause the cost and expense to be a charge against the owner of the property and a lien against the property of the owner. The notice of the lien shall, as nearly as practicable, be in substantially the same form, filed with the same officer, within the same time and manner, and enforced and foreclosed, as is provided by law for liens for labor and material (Ord. 675 §2; May 2, 1950).

11.24.030 Street committee's report.

The street committee of the city council shall make a report to the city clerk of all property where trees, plants, shrubs or vegetation or parts thereof are growing in a manner obstructing or impairing the free and full use of the sidewalk or street by the public.

The city clerk shall prepare a notice directed to the owner, or owners, of the property to remove or destroy them, and if not removed and destroyed, the city will cause them to be removed and destroyed and the cost and expense charged against the property. A lien for the cost and expense shall be filed and enforced as heretofore provided. Such notice shall be served upon the property owner if a resident within the city; and if the property owner is not a resident of the city then the notice shall be mailed to the property owner by the city clerk and a copy posted on the premises involved. (Ord. 675 §3; May 2, 1950).

11.24.040 Hazardous--Report.

The street committee of the city council shall make a report to the city clerk of all property where grass, weeds, shrubs, bushes, trees or vegetation are growing or have grown and died and are a fire hazard or a menace to public health, safety or welfare. The city clerk shall prepare a notice directed to the owner, or owners, of the property to remove or destroy them. If not removed or destroyed, then the city shall cause them to be removed or destroyed and the cost and expense shall be charged against the property and a lien for such cost and expense shall be filed and enforced as provided. The notice shall be served upon the property owner as directed in Section 11.04. 030. (Ord. 675 §4; May 2, 1950).

11.24.050 Out of state owner.

In case a property owner cannot be served within the state of Washington and given at least five days notice within which to comply with the provisions of this chapter, a copy of the resolution requiring the property owner to comply with this chapter shall be served upon such property owner by registered mail giving him at least ten days from the receipt of the notice within which to comply with the resolution. (Ord. 675 §5; May 2, 1950).


1

    All cities and towns empowered to regulate the use of sidewalks--See RCW 35. 21. 220