Contra Costa County grass ordinance too lenient

According to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, there has already been a fourfold increase in grass fires this season vs. last.

This letter was read into the public comments at the June 23 meeting of the Contra Costa County Supervisors.

As the smoke lifted from the fiery events of October 27 2019, one thing became clear.  No part of Contra Costa County was immune to the cascade of fires that spread across the region that day.  From the Delta, to the Diablo foothills, to downtown Lafayette, it seemed at times as if the whole county was on fire.  Fire is an ever growing threat to public safety in Contra Costa County, and we need to do more to prevent fires, and do more to try to make fires more manageable when they do happen.

Management and reduction of vegetation is one of the primary ways that this is achieved, and this is why fire departments have stringent standards for weed abatement.  Primary in those weed abatement ordinances is that on parcels of 5 acres or less, that weeds, dry brush, and native grasses be trimmed to three inches or less.

In contrast, Contra Costa County Ordinance 720-2.006 states “no one shall maintain weeds exceeding 18 inches in height.” The result of that 18 inches standard is that in many instances, County Code Enforcement takes no action on overgrown and derelict properties regarding weed abatement.  However, the County clearly acknowledges that lack of abatement is a safety issue, stating on the County website that “It is not only an eyesore but can promote fire danger.”

Further, the County also recognizes the partnership between Code Enforcement and fire departments on vegetation enforcement with “The fire department takes the lead in fire hazard abatements (tall grass) and Code Enforcement the lead in public nuisances (weeds and overgrown brush).”

In recognition and facilitation of that partnership, and in the interest of public safety during future fires, I would ask that County Ordinance 720-2.006 be amended to change 18 inches to 3 inches which would align the County’s guidelines with those of the fire departments that serve the County.

Thank you for your time and for all that you do to keep public safety in the spotlight.

Susanna Thompson, Clayton, CA
Former Director East County Fire Protection District

See Related Story: Smoky skies and frayed nerves after two Clayton brush fires