Reduce fire risk from grass and weeds

ROSEBURG, OR – With fire season on the way, the City of Roseburg reminds property owners to maintain all grasses and weeds to a maximum height of 12 inches.

Despite recent rain and snow, the U.S. Drought Monitor shows the Roseburg area remains in severe drought and the rest of Douglas County suffers from moderate to extreme drought. As the rain diminishes and temperatures rise, vegetation will dry out rapidly and fire danger to homes and other properties will increase.

For that reason, all tall weeds and grasses, including blackberry vines, must be kept to the 12-inch height restriction year-round as required by the Roseburg Municipal Code.

“We want not only for Roseburg to be safe, but also to be beautiful,” said Roseburg Community Development Department Director Stuart Cowie. “So please mow your lawn and trim weeds regularly. Your neighbors will thank you – and we at the City thank you, too!”

Failure to maintain grasses and weeds at the appropriate height could lead to fines or penalties imposed by the City. The City Code applies to all property and property owners, including owners of vacant properties in residential subdivisions.

Under Roseburg Municipal Code 7.04.005, “obnoxious” vegetation includes weeds, grass or legumes taller than twelve inches; poison oak or poison ivy; vegetation that obstructs vision; vegetation including blackberry vines that extend into the public way, are used for habitation by trespassers, or pose a fire hazard because they’re near other combustibles. That doesn’t include agricultural crops that aren’t a fire hazard or vision obstruction, or natural vegetation in areas designated to remain in a natural vegetative state and that don’t pose a fire hazard as determined by the Roseburg fire chief.

Roseburg Municipal Code 7.04.140 states obnoxious vegetation won’t be allowed on public or private property except in wetland and riparian areas along creeks and rivers, or where strict compliance would be impractical as applied to a type of obnoxious vegetation; part of a parcel; or the height of weeds, grass or tree branches. The Roseburg city manager determines when requirements are impractical, according to the code.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep Roseburg beautiful and our residents safe from wildfire.

For more information, contact the Roseburg Community Development Department at cdd@cityofroseburg.org or 541-492-6750.