Manteca Fire Department’s annual effort to reduce fire hazards via weed enforcement abatement starts Wednesday.

The program is designed to enforce the City ordinance requiring property owners to control weeds and other growth on their property to reduce fire hazards.

The Manteca Fire Prevention Bureau is responsible for administering this program and is currently responding to citizen complaints regarding properties in violation of the City’s weed ordinance, Chapter 8.16, which requires that grass and weeds be shorter than 6 inches in height.

If a violation exists, the property owner will receive a written notice of violation requesting the property owner to cut the weeds or vegetation within 30 days of the written notice.

 If the property owner fails to comply within the specified time, the City will hire an independent contractor to mow the property. The owner will be responsible for the cost of the contractor’s work.

 In addition to the abatement costs, the property owner will receive a municipal infraction citation with a mandatory penalty of $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, and $500for each subsequent offense.

The Manteca Fire Department has seen a reduction in weed abatement citations over the past three years

The goal is to reduce fire hazards in Manteca by abating this common nuisance.

The department is grateful to achieve compliance without issuing citations whenever possible, ultimately creating a safer community for all.

 Manteca’s weed

abatement rules

Specifically, the following standards apply within Manteca’s city limits:

*Property of 1/2 acre or more: Mow all vegetation to a maximum of 4 to 6 inches in height. Remove all grass, weeds or debris from the property. Disc or till the entire property. (In the process of abating property, keep dust production to a minimum to ensure compliance with Manteca Municipal Code Section 8.17 - Prevention of airborne sand, soil or dust traveling to neighboring properties in visible amounts.)

*Property of 1/2 acre or less: Mow all vegetation to a maximum of 4 to 6 inches in height. Rake and remove all dry grass.

*Trees and shrubs: All dead trees, shrubs and bushes must be cut down and removed from the property. Prunings must also be removed from the property.

*Alleys: Mow all grass and/ or weeds to a maximum of 4 to 6 inches in height. Fence lines must be clean and free of weeds. Any and all combustibles must be removed. This includes, but is not limited to, trash, rubbish, dry grass, prunings, clippings, auto parts and furniture. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of the alley from the property line to the center of the alley.

*All properties: All weeds, rubbish, excess dirt, trash, dry vegetation, discarded furniture, appliances, garbage, auto parts or other material which constitutes a public nuisance, must be abated from the property fence line to fence line.

If you have questions about the Weed Abatement Program or would like to report a property that isn’t being maintained, call the Fire Prevention Bureau at (209) 456.8340.