Wildfire Mitigation

The community of Buckingham has one of the most successful wildfire resiliency programs in the area. See the links below for information on how to protect your home, maintain compliance with our abatement requirements, get a discount on your home insurance with our Firewise Community certificate, participate in our Free Chipping Days program, and more.

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• Weed Abatement / Fire Protection Compliance

• Weed, Brush, and Tree Services

• Firewise Certification

• Free Chipping Days

• Home Hardening

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Each year, Buckingham Homes Association inspects every property in the association for compliance with weed abatement as provided for in the CC&Rs. The BHA can and will assess $500 fines and hire contractors to clear any properties that are not compliant by mid-July.

 

Our goal is to keep the community safe by completing the actual clearing and compliance of all properties as soon as possible, instead of letting it drag out for months as in prior years. We desire all clearing to be done by property owners, but will not wait if they delay or do not respond.

Prompt collections and liens ensure that the 95% of compliant BHA members are not paying for costs incurred from the non-compliant members. The late August inspections are meant to be proactive and avoid neighbors having to face issues with hazardous, overgrown properties again.

Property owners are responsible for:

• Maintaining weed abatement compliance the entire fire season, June 1–Nov. 30. This means you may have to clear your property more than once: weeds, grass, and brush can grow back after June 1.

• Checking that the work done, whether by yourself or a contractor, achieves weed abatement compliance. Violations include:

  • Brush and grass/weeds of 3 inches tall

  • Dry brush less than 30 feet from the road

  • Dry brush less than 100 feet from a structure

  • Dead and dying trees that create a fire hazard

  • Flammable material in contact with structure or under deck

  • Tree limbs less than 6 feet from the ground

 

In 2025, BHA is tightening up the enforcement process as follows:

• ALL notices will be sent as First Class and Certified mail, as well as email if available, with photos showing any violations found.

• After the grace period given in the second notice, BHA will proceed to clear the property without further delay or discussion with the property owner.

• The process for final invoices, appeals, and collections will be accelerated so that all dispositions have been made and the 2025 program is complete by Nov. 30.

 

Please contact the BHA office:

• If you received a violation notice for a property that is  NOT yours. Please let us know as soon as possible!

• For clarification, if you receive a violation notice and don't understand the citations.

• For re-inspection, after you've corrected the issue(s) in a violation notice.

• To update us with your current contact information. You will NOT be excused from non-compliance fines and clearing costs if we are unable to contact you. If you have changed your mailing address or email in the last year, or aren’t sure we have your latest contact info, please get in touch!

 

SCHEDULE FOR 2025 WEED ABATEMENT ENFORCEMENT

June 1:   Notices will be sent to non-compliant property owners, with a 30-day deadline for compliance.

July 1:   Reminder notices will be sent to remaining non-compliant property owners, with a 15-day courtesy extension for compliance, or for requesting a “meet and confer” agreement with the Board if the property owner believes the lot complies.

Mid-July:   After the 15-day grace period, as per the CC&Rs, BHA can and will hire contractor(s) and proceed to clear all remaining non-compliant properties, whose owners have been given notice but have not reached an agreement with the Board.

Late Aug:   Re-inspection of all BHA properties for new weed abatement violations, such as grass and weeds overgrown again or new dead brush accumulations. The same process and timeline (30-day notice, 15-day courtesy extension, etc.) will be used for notices and enforcement.

Sept 1:   Hearing notices will be sent to owners who failed to comply or reach an agreement with the Board within the grace period given in the reminder notice. Invoices will be sent with these notices, including a $500 penalty fine, any contractor cost to clear, and 10% administrative fees.

Sept 23:   As required by California law, a special hearing will be held by the BHA board for any property owners who wish to appeal their $500 fine.

Nov 1:   Any unpaid fines/assessments will be sent to collections. Liens will be applied to properties if unpaid fines and assessments have accumulated from prior years.

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