The purpose of AMC Chapter 9.04 is to reduce the risk of damage to property and persons by fire due to weeds and prohibited flammable plants, and to reduce hazards to public health, agriculture, recreation, and wildlife by controlling the growth of weeds and noxious vegetation.
This ordinance requires:
The mowing or cutting of weeds and grass to a maximum height of 4 inches maintained throughout fire season each year, or at any other time of the year when deemed a fire, health or traffic hazard (AMC9.04.020).
No species identified on the Prohibited Flammable Plants List is to be newly planted on your property within 30-feet of a structure, and requires the cutting down and/or removal of any new seedlings and volunteer plants of listed prohibited flammable plants as often as needed to prevent them from posing an increased fire hazard (AMC9.04.022).
The cutting down, destruction and/or removal of all noxious vegetation as often as needed to prevent it from becoming a fire, health or traffic hazard, from becoming unsightly, or maturing, spreading and going to seed (AMC9.04.024). Targeted species include, but not limited to, Himalayan blackberry, Scotch Broom, poison hemlock, bull thistle, star thistle, tree of heaven.
To keep property in compliance with AMC 9.04 and avoid possible legal action, Ashland Fire & Rescue is enforcing the following minimum* requirements be met:
Property Owners or Renters of Property One Acre or smaller in size are required to cut and maintain all weeds and grass to no more than 4 inches in height on the entire property and on abutting park rows, sidewalks, alleys and other rights-of-way abutting the property.Establish a 3-foot clearance radius around any fire hydrant on the property or in the adjacent rights-of-way.
PLEASE NOTE:
If a required area to abate is within a riparian zone or wetland:
Refer to the City of Ashland's Planning Department for further information regarding requirements and restrictions for working within riparian zones (AMC18.3.11.020)
The minimum abatement on property of any size shall include:
the cutting and/or removal of ALL Scotch Broom and thistles on the entire property
Any Himalayan blackberry bushes, Poison hemlock, and/or Tree of heaven within the required areas to abate.
Debris (including tree litter) shall comply with AMC9.08.110 or be removed.
EXAMPLES:
The owner of any lot or parcel of land within the limits of the City of Ashland shall cut and/or remove weeds growing thereon, and on adjacent and abutting rights-of-way AMC 9.04.020
***Decorative residential landscaping is exempted from these requirements unless that vegetation is a fire, health or traffic hazard. AMC 9.04.15
Noxious Vegetation (includes Himalayan Blackberry, Scotch Broom, poison hemlock, bull thistle, star thistle, tree of heaven)
Noxious weeds can be burned anywhere in the city once a permit is issued. WEEDS MUST BE PILED. NO WEED BURNERS (TORCHES) ARE ALLOWED.
The owner of any lot or parcel of land within the limits of the City of Ashland shall not permit noxious vegetation to grow upon their property and on adjacent and abutting rights-of-way. AMC 9.04.024
Clearance Distances from Structures
Weeds and noxious vegetation on a property of any size are required to be removed within a minimumof 30 feetfrom any structures, including structures on adjacent properties.
Minimum clearance distances shall be increased by 10 feet for each ten percent increase in the average slope of the property over ten percent.
Please check out this useful resource: MANAGING HIMALAYAN BLACKBERRY IN WESTERN OREGON RIPARIAN AREAS
By Max Bennett-Forester, Associate Professor and Oregon State University Extension Agent
for Jackson and Josephine counties