Property owners in Lincoln must keep parcels free of dry weeds, dead vegetation, brush and combustible debris that pose a fire hazard. Lincoln enforces clearance under LMC Chapter 8.08 (Nuisance Abatement) together with California Public Resources Code §4291 defensible space (100 feet around structures in or adjacent to wildland areas) administered by Lincoln Fire / CAL FIRE.
Lincoln Municipal Code Chapter 8.08 (Nuisance Abatement), including §8.08.070, declares dry weeds, rubbish, dead trees, combustible vegetation and similar fire hazards on private property to be a public nuisance subject to abatement. Code Enforcement (LMC §8.08.100 et seq.) issues notice-to-abate letters each spring requiring owners to mow weeds to 4 inches or less, remove dead vegetation and combustible debris, and create defensible space. For parcels in or adjacent to State Responsibility Area (SRA) or Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zones identified by CAL FIRE, California Public Resources Code §4291 (administered by 14 CCR §1299.01 et seq., the Board of Forestry 'Zone 0/Zone 1/Zone 2' regulations) requires defensible space extending 100 feet from any occupied structure: 0-5 feet ember-resistant zone, 5-30 feet 'lean, clean and green' zone, and 30-100 feet 'reduced fuel' zone. The state's Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps for Placer County designate portions of eastern Lincoln within or adjoining moderate/high zones.
If an owner fails to abate within the time stated on the notice (typically 30 days), Lincoln Code Enforcement may order abatement by city contractor and record a special assessment lien against the parcel for all costs plus a 25% administrative fee under LMC §8.08.150-180. Administrative citations under LMC Chapter 1.16 are $100/$200/$500 for successive violations within 12 months. Failure to maintain PRC §4291 defensible space is also a state infraction with fines up to $500 and, on subsequent violation, a misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000.
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Lincoln, CA
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Lincoln, CA
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