Brush Clearance Fees Raised 74% by Board

Ventura County supervisors Tuesday imposed a 74% increase in the fee charged to property owners who fail to clear brush and weeds from their land.

In an attempt to recover the total cost of doing the work, Ventura County fire officials recommended that supervisors increase the annual fee from $365 to $635.

“I don’t have a problem at all with noncompliant people paying,” Supervisor Maggie Kildee said. “I hope this will be a big red flag.”

Fire Chief James E. Sewell recommended the increase to compensate for the time and money the County Fire Department spends clearing brush from property.

Sewell said raising the fee would make up for virtually 100% of the resources the department spends clearing those parcels that property owners fail to clear themselves.

Sewell said his department cleared brush from 380 parcels throughout Ventura County last year. More than 17,500 property owners complied with the department’s vegetation management program, he said.

Board Chairman Frank Schillo also said the increase was necessary. “People were getting off for not complying, and it’s a real serious matter,” he said.