Millbrae Citywide Crackdown On Front Yard Landscaping Violations

Millbrae CA

08 January, 2021

7:29 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Millbrae: January 6, 2020 The City of Millbrae's Code Enforcement Division would like to remind local homeowners that at least 60% of their front yard must be landscaped. While 40% (maximum) of a front yard can be devoted to a driveway, landscaped areas CANNOT be surfaced with concrete, asphalt, or other impervious materials. This area also includes the landscape vegetation strip located between the street and sidewalk. Homeowners are required to maintain this landscape vegetation, but NO PAVING is allowed in this area. There are two reasons why the City regulates the amount and location of paving and similar impervious surfaces: 1) To increase landscape rain water absorption and decrease stormwater runoff that overburdens our storm sewer system. 2) To maintain an aesthetic, landscaped appearance along the frontage of residential properties Enforcement of this code will include a combination of courtesy notices, notices of violation, administrative citations, and 'stop work' flags on parcels. Fines in the amount of $500 may be continuously issued in some cases until the violation is corrected. In addition, front yard landscaping plans will be required before any residential building or planning permit is issued. Plans must comply with the Millbrae Municipal Code 10.05.0620 prior to the issuance of any permits. If any violations currently exist, the homeowner must bring their front yard into compliance prior to the issuance of any building permits. "Landscaped area" means any portion of a building site that is devoted to and maintained for the growing of live vegetative materials such as trees, shrubs, grass (including synthetic grass), and ground cover, for primarily decorative purposes. For more information on this and other City Codes, please contact the City of Millbrae's Code Enforcement Division at (650) 259-2440. This press release was produced by the City of Millbrae. The views expressed here are the author's own.