New El Dorado County website launched as new vegetation ordinance begins

El Dorado County has created a new website as part of its efforts to keep residents informed, safe and prepared for wildfires. Part of this new informative site is an explanation of defensible space and the County's new vegetation ordinance that takes effect May 30, 2019.

The County will use the next nine months to educate the public as to what the ordinance is and how to comply.

“Over the last several years, we’ve noticed that fire season is less and less defined by particular months on a calendar,” said Supervisor Brian Veerkamp, who is also a member of the County’s Vegetation Management ad hoc Committee. “A year-round fire season has become the norm in California, so it’s important that we educate

The Board of Supervisors approved a new vegetation management ordinance last month which regulates the cleaning or removal of hazardous vegetation and combustible materials and the parameters of clearing for defensible space. It also sets forth regulations for inspections and mandatory vegetation mitigation.

The ordinance applies to improved parcels (property with a structure or building), neighboring properties, and improved and unimproved parcels adjacent to all roadways determined to be necessary for safe ingress and egress. It was developed after many public meetings throughout the County, research on other counties’
regulations, and input from the full Board of Supervisors, which took about a year.

Each year prior to February 15 the appointed enforcement official will contact residents and/or property owners who have excess waste, hazardous vegetation, and combustible material. Those contacted will have until June 1 to remove the hazards or they will be subject to fines. If items aren't removed the County can do so and then bill the property owner for their costs.

“Even though we’re dealing with the unpredictability of wildfires, there are steps residents can all take now to prevent a catastrophic event like the Camp Fire from occurring in El Dorado County,” said Supervisor John Hidahl, also a member of the ad hoc vegetation management committee. “We’re not asking people to clean their
property to remove all watered landscaping and/or trees, but rather to take some proven steps to create fire breaks, reduce or eliminate ground fuel and ultimately protect the lives and property of our residents.”

The web site contains information including the ordinance, information about defensible space, a list of community and state resources and frequently asked questions. To find out more: https://www.edcgov.us/Government/CAO/VegetationManagement.