Fueled by winter rains, the annual spring onslaught of weeds is well under way. The beautiful green grasses and weeds quickly dry out as soon as temperatures rise. Unabated weeds can harbor rodents and pose a fire hazard as well as being a blight for neighboring properties.

The Fire Department urges residents to survey their property and clear any dried vegetation that could pose a hazard. Weeds can be cut, pulled or mowed. Sprays are also available that can be applied during the early spring to prevent the weeds from growing. If your property is considered a burrowing owl habitat and there are owls inhabiting your property, care must be taken not to disturb the nesting sites since law protects the owls. The preferred and recommended method for abating weeds on properties that contain burrowing owls is mowing since this has the least impact on the owls.

The City of Santa Clara participates in the Santa Clara County Weed Abatement Program, managed by the Santa Clara County Consumer and Environmental Protection Agency. The County inspectors will begin inspecting properties in the City of Santa Clara from April 15 – August 31 to check compliance. For more information regarding the program, please visit the Santa Clara County Website. If a property is determined not to be compliant, the property will be added to the County commencement list and the associated fees will be added to the property owner’s taxes. Property owners will be notified of their proposed inclusion on the list and a public hearing will be announced before the list is confirmed.  

You may also report "overgrown vegetation on private property" at MySantaClara.