Medford grass & weed abatement ordinance now in effect May 1st

Medford, Ore — Medford’s grass and weed ordinance is going into effect a month early to encourage property owners to build a defensible space around their property.

The ordinance requires homeowners keep grass and weeds under 10 inches tall.

It does exclude certain agricultural and decorative plants.

The ordinance use to go into effect June 1st, but with drier weather and possible fire restrictions, the city amended the ordinance to go into effect May 1st.

“We can work in a partnership, they can prepare the property and make it as fire safe as possible and if a fire does occur it makes our job easier to defend that structure from fire,” said Deputy Fire Marshal Mark Shay.

Failure to comply to the ordinance may lead to fines from the city.

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Matt Jordan is the Chief Meteorologist for KOBI-TV NBC5. Matt joined the NBC5 weather team in 2014 after a year as a reporter and anchor in Alexandria, Louisiana. His experience with the severe weather of the Deep South and a love of the Pacific Northwest led him to pursue a certification with Mississippi State University as a Broadcast Meteorologist. You can find Matt working in the evenings of NBC5 News at 5, 6 and 11 as well as online. Matt also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. In addition to being passionate about news and weather, Matt is a BIG Oregon Ducks fan. When not rooting for the Ducks or tracking down the next storm over the Pacific, Matt can be found outdoors in the Oregon wilderness with his wife, his daughter and their dogs Stanley and Gordi.
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