NOTICE TO ST. CLAIR SHORES PROPERTY OWNERS ST. CLAIR SHORES CITY ORDINANCE PLANTING AND MAINETENANCE OF PLANT LIFE AND FORESTRY SEC. 28-21. - PURPOSE. The purpose of this article is to promote the planting, preservation and maintenance of plant life and forestry within the City in order to beautify public and private properties, enhance their values and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public from unsightly, damaged, diseased, noxious or dangerous plant life and forestry. SEC 28-22 DEFINITIONS Noxious weeds includes Phragmites Common Reed (Phragmites australis), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Canadian thistle (Circium arvense), dodders (any species of Cuscuta), mustards (charlock, black mustard and Indian mustard, species of Brassica or Sinapis), wild carrot (Daucus carota), bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), perennial sowthistle (Sonchus arvensis), hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana), ragweed (Ambrosia elatior 1.) and poison ivy (Rhus Toxicodendron), poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix), poison oak, oxeye daisies, goldenrod, or other weeds which are permitted to attain a height of eight inches or more. Prohibited species includes all noxious weeds, as defined in this section, and any tree of the species of poplar (Populus sp.), willow (Salix sp.), box elder (Acer regundo), and elm (Ulmus). SEC 28-29 NOXIOUS WEEDS PROHIBITED Growth prohibited. No owner, his agent, or tenant of any parcel of land within the City shall permit on such parcel or upon any sidewalk, alley, or right-of-way abutting same the growth of noxious weeds. The owner, his tenant, or agent shall destroy noxious weeds before they reach a seed-bearing stage, shall prevent their regrowth, and shall prevent them from becoming a detriment to public health. SEC 28-30 OVERGROWN GRASS, BRUSH, WEEDS PROHIBITED Any property overgrown with weeds, grass, or brush must be cut and maintained at a level of eight inches or less. Shrubs, plants and trees shall not obstruct any traffic sign or public way. Trees shall be trimmed to maintain eight feet of clearance above the sidewalk. Grass, weeds, noxious weeds, or brush in excess of 8” will be cut by the City as many times as necessary. Costs incurred by the City plus $100 administrative fee per cutting shall be billed to the owner of the property. Unpaid charges will be added to the tax rolls for such property. SEC 28-31 OVERGROWN OR DANGEROUS SHRUBS, PLANTS AND TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY PROHIBITED. The property owner, his agent or tenant shall remove from any tree, shrub or plant growing on his property all diseased, dangerous, decayed, unsightly or broken limbs, branches or vines which may hinder the safety of persons using abutting public property. Additionally, the property owner, his agent or tenant shall remove any shrub or tree on his property which is dying or dead and endangering the safety and welfare of the users of neighboring property. If the City determines that the current condition of a tree poses an imminent and significant threat to the preservation of the health, safety and welfare of the public, then the City shall have the authority to enter upon the premises or hire a contractor to enter upon such premises to remove or cut down same. The costs incurred by the City in maintenance, removal or trimming of shrubs, plants and trees plus an administrative fee of one hundred ($100) dollars per such activity shall be billed to the owner of the property. Questions? Contact the Code Enforcement Division of the Community Development and Inspection Department at 586.447.3336.