BOARDMAN, Ore.-The City of Boardman has amended its Municipal Code in regard to noxious and prohibited vegetation in the hopes of limiting fire risk.
The City worked with the Boardman Fire Department to amend the municipal code following the fires that sparked last July 18 and burned five homes and a food pantry.
The Boardman City Council adopted Ordinance 7-2026, which added Chapter 8.06 “Vegetative Management,” to the City’s Municipal Code, with the purpose “to reduce the risk of damage to property and persons by fire and to reduce hazards to public health, agriculture, recreation, and wildlife by controlling the growth of prohibited and noxious vegetation,” on April 7.
According to the City of Boardman, the ordinance declares noxious and prohibitive vegetation a nuisance and requires landowners to limit fire risk by implementing fire breaks, requires that weeds or grass not be more than 6 inches tall during the “summer season” of April through October, and creates clear notice and enforcement measures.
Noxious vegetation must be removed, prohibited vegetation must be mowed or trimmed, and the owners of vacant lots or plots more than an acre in size must create 20-foot fire breaks along property boundaries, with 100-foot fire breaks required adjacent to all 20-foot breaks, according to the ordinance.
The City of Boardman will publish notice in the newspaper, on utility bills, and on its website before the start of the summer season, that conditions constitute a public health and safety hazard and direct that growth be cut.
Those found to be out of compliance with the ordinance will be given second and final notice to remove the noxious or prohibitive vegetation before possible citations or fines are issued.
The City of Boardman Municipal Code is available online.
Boardman residents are also invited to an Open House for the Boardman Comprehensive Plan Update on May 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Riverfront Center.
The Boardman Comprehensive Plan Update launched in winter 2025 and is a long-range planning effort to guide city growth in a well-planned and sustainable way for the next 20 years.
According to the City of Boardman, the Comprehensive Plan will help guide decision making in regard to housing, jobs, infrastructure and public services as Boardman continues to grow.
Boardman city leaders will share input about the community’s vision for the city’s future collected through events, conversations and online surveys, and will discuss how that information is informing the comprehensive plan.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about the planning process, review key themes from community input, and share their ideas at the open house.
Light refreshments will be provided at the open house. The Riverfront Center is located at 2 Marine Drive Northeast in Boardman.
