Agenda Item AGENDA STAFF REPORT ASR Control 26-000020
MEETING DATE:	04/14/26
legal entity taking action:	Board of Supervisors
board of supervisors district(s):	All Districts
SUBMITTING Agency/Department:	OC Public Works (Approved)
Department contact person(s):	Jose Arriaga (714) 955-0101
	Kevin Onuma (714) 647-3939

Subject: Adopt Resolution to Perform 2026 Fire Hazard Reduction Weed Abatement Program

ceo CONCUR

County Counsel Review

Clerk of the Board

Concur

Approved Resolution to Form

Public Hearing

3 Votes Board Majority

Budgeted: Yes

Current Year Cost: See Financial Impact Section

Annual Cost: N/A

Staffing Impact:

# of Positions:

Sole Source: N/A

Current Fiscal Year Revenue: N/A

Funding Source: See Financial Impact Section	County Audit in last 3 years: No
Levine Act Review Completed: N/A

Prior Board Action: 2/24/2026 #16, 6/24/2025 #82, 4/8/2025 #27, 4/9/2024 #26

RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):

1.	Conduct the Public Hearing.
2.	Adopt the Resolution, effective April 14, 2026, authorizing OC Agricultural Commissioner to abate weeds and combustible vegetation using contract services on private properties located in the unincorporated areas of Orange County when property owners or interest holders, after being notified, have failed to abate weeds and other combustible vegetation that are a public nuisance and fire hazard.
3.	Direct OC Agricultural Commissioner to provide the Fire Hazard Reduction Weed Abatement Cost Report detailing weed abatement costs incurred prior to July 1, 2026, to the Board of Supervisors at a Public Hearing on June 23, 2026.
4.	Direct OC Agricultural Commissioner to provide an itemized report detailing weed abatement costs incurred on and after July 1, 2026, to the Board of Supervisors at a Public Hearing at the last Board of Supervisors meeting in June 2027.

SUMMARY:

Adoption of the Resolution to abate weeds and combustible vegetation using contract services on private properties when property owners, after being notified, have failed to remove weeds and vegetation will improve fire safety in the unincorporated areas of the County of Orange.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Legal authority for the Fire Hazard Reduction Weed Abatement Program (Program) is derived through state law. California Health and Safety Code Sections 14875-14931 (Code) dictate that property owners who are required to comply with weed abatement be notified on an annual basis. In order to abide by the Code, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted a Resolution on February 24, 2026, authorizing the mailing of the Fire Hazard Reduction Weed Abatement Notices (Notices) and the legal notice of the Public Hearing. The Notices instruct property owners to remove the vegetation by April 14, 2026. Property owners must contact the County Fire Hazard Reduction Weed Abatement Program prior to April 14, 2026, if special circumstances may require a time extension. Similar Notices were approved by the Board on April 9, 2024, and April 8, 2025.

Notices also inform property owners they will incur costs as allowed by the Code. All properties that receive the notification and are ordered to remove the public nuisance will be charged a cost for inspection. The cost for inspections is authorized by Code Section 14902. If removal of hazardous weeds, vegetation, accumulated piles of rubbish, refuse, trash, litter or other hazardous and/or flammable material posing a fire hazard, or some other public nuisance condition is not completed by the final deadline of April 14, 2026, or by the deadline of a time extension granted by a County Fire Hazard Reduction Weed Abatement Inspector (Inspector), then a private contractor, under the direction of an Inspector, will clear properties utilizing mechanical and hand removal, as necessary. These properties will be charged, in addition to the inspection cost, contractor and administrative costs. All costs will be added to the property owner's tax bill as directed by Board Resolution.

Per Code Section 14905, OC Public Works maintains an accounting of all abatement costs for each parcel of land on which the nuisance exists. OC Agricultural Commissioner will present the Fire Hazard Reduction Weed Abatement Cost Report (Cost Report) to the Board showing the contractor and administrative costs for each separate parcel.

On June 24, 2025, the Board adopted the FY 2024-25 Cost Report. On June 23, 2026, the FY 2025-26 Cost Report will be presented to the Board for properties that were inspected or had weeds abated prior to July 1, 2026. At that time, affected property owners will once again have an opportunity to object to the expense of the abatement.

Compliance with CEQA: The proposed project was previously determined to be categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15304 (Class 4) of the CEQA Guidelines, on February 24, 2026, when it was originally approved because it involves fuel management activities through the adoption of the 2026 Program to abate weeds and other combustible vegetation, which will not result in the taking of endangered, rare or threatened plant or animal species, significant erosion and sedimentation of surface waters. Additionally, the proposed project involves fuel management activities within 100 feet of a structure if the public agency having fire protection responsibility for the area has determined that 100 feet of fuel clearance is required due to extra hazardous fire conditions. The proposed project is still consistent with this determination.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

Appropriations for the Private Contractor for weed abatement are included in the FY 2025-26 Budget in Budget Control 080, OC Public Works. The County will recover the costs of clearing vegetation, litter or other debris, including inspection and administrative costs associated with the abatement. These costs will be assessed to the affected parcel and collected on the property tax roll.

STAFFING IMPACT:

N/A

ATTACHMENT(S):

Attachment A - 2026 Resolution
Attachment B - California Health and Safety Code Sections 14875-14931
Attachment C - 2026 Affidavit of Mailing