12-1617f. Weeds, removal or destruction; assessment and collection of costs; notice; procedure. (a) The governing body of any city is hereby authorized to provide for and require the cutting or destruction of all weeds on lots or pieces of land within the city. Except as provided by subsection (b), the city clerk shall issue a notice to the owner, occupant or agent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service to cut or destroy such weeds. If the property is unoccupied and the owner is a nonresident, such notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address of the owner. The notice shall state that before the expiration of the waiting period provided herein the recipient thereof may request a hearing before the governing body or its designated representative. If the occupant, owner or agent fails to request a hearing or refuses to cut or remove such weeds, after five days' notice by the city clerk, or in cases where the owner is unknown or is a nonresident, and there is no resident agent, 10 days after notice has been published by the city clerk in the official city paper, the city shall cut or destroy such weeds and shall keep an account of the cost of same and report to the city clerk. Except as provided by subsection (b), the city shall give notice to the owner, occupant or agent by certified mail, return receipt requested, of the total cost of such cutting or removal incurred by the city. The city also may recover the cost of providing notice, including postage, required by this section. Such notice also shall state that payment of such cost is due and payable within 30 days following receipt of such notice. If the cost of such removal or abatement is not paid within the thirty-day period, the city may levy a special assessment for such cost against the lot or piece of land in the same manner as provided in K.S.A. 12-1617e, and amendments thereto, or the city may collect the cost in the manner provided by K.S.A. 12-1,115, and amendments thereto. The city may pursue collection both by levying a special assessment and in the manner provided by K.S.A. 12-1,115, and amendments thereto, but only until the full cost and any applicable interest has been paid in full.

(b) In lieu of giving notice as provided by subsection (a), a city may give notice as provided by this subsection. The governing body shall adopt an ordinance which states its weed removal policy and notification procedure. Such procedure shall provide for a minimum one-time yearly written notification by mail or personal service to the owner, occupant or agent. Such notice shall include the same information required by subsection (a). In addition, such notice shall include a statement that no further notice shall be given prior to removal of weeds.

If there is a change in the record owner of title to property subsequent to the giving of notice pursuant to this subsection, the city may not recover any costs or levy an assessment for the costs incurred by the cutting or destruction of weeds on such property unless the new record owner of title to such property is provided notice as required by this section.

History: L. 1915, ch. 144, § 1; L. 1917, ch. 112, § 1; R.S. 1923, § 12-1642; L. 1975, ch. 66, § 2; L. 1985, ch. 73, § 2; L. 1986, ch. 74, § 2; L. 1992, ch. 266, § 1; L. 1997, ch. 186, § 1; L. 1998, ch. 80, § 2; July 1.