Subject:
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Consider amending and re-enacting Sections 5-2-18, 5-2-19 and, 5-2-20 of the Harrisonburg City Code on combustible landscape cover material (mulch)
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Presented By: Chris Brown, City Attorney
Recommendation and Review
At its 2016 session, the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 736, which was signed by the Governor. This legislation, copy of which is attached, states in relevant part that the “The City of Harrisonburg shall not include in any local fire prevention regulations a requirement that an owner of real property who has an occupancy permit issued by the City, use specific landscape cover materials or retrofit existing landscape cover materials at such property.” This legislation affects Harrisonburg’s ordinance regarding use of combustible landscape cover materials. The proposed amendment to sections 5-2-18, 5-2-19 and 5-2-20 of the Harrisonburg City Code are recommended to the council to bring these sections into compliance with the newly enacted state law.