Showing ordinances that apply to Fruitdale, CA
Fruitdale is an unincorporated community (population 989) in Santa Clara County, California. Because Fruitdale is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Santa Clara County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The vacant lot maintenance rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Santa Clara County requires vacant lot owners to clear weeds, debris, and fire hazards annually, with mandatory weed abatement before fire season.
Owners of vacant lots in unincorporated Santa Clara County must maintain their parcels free of fire hazards, blight, and illegal dumping. The county's annual Weed Abatement Program, administered by the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management, inspects lots and issues compliance notices in April requiring weed clearance by early May (typically May 15). Vacant lots in designated Fire Hazard Severity Zones (very high, high, and moderate) must maintain 100 feet of defensible space under Public Resources Code 4291, with grasses no taller than 4 inches in the first 30 feet. Owners who fail to comply face county crews performing abatement with costs (often 500-5,000 dollars) added as tax roll liens. Vacant lots must also be kept free of illegal dumping, construction debris, and unpermitted structures. Fencing to prevent trespass is recommended for lots fronting public roads. Bank-owned or foreclosed properties must register with the county vacant property registry within 10 days of taking possession.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
See how Fruitdale's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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