State Parks charges Malibu homeowners $150 to clear brush on park land
Residents within 100 feet of state parkland are legally responsible for fuel modification — and must pay for a permit to do it.
Malibu homeowners who live near state parks lands are being told that they are on the hook for removing brush and other fire dangers within 100 feet of their homes — and that is the law, even if the brush is on state land.
And California State Parks is charging $150 for residents to get an entry permit.
Superintendent Richard Fink appeared at the city council meeting last night and said it doesn’t make sense to him either. But the state law sets the rules.
“The right of entry permit allows a resident to come onto the state park land and conduct fuel modification activities, whether that be brush clearance, removal of invasive plants, replacing them with native species,” Fink said.
The park superintendent said the obligation is on the homeowner, but State Parks is trying to make it easy.
“It’s a simple process: you contact our office, State Parks will send out an environmental scientist to your property,” Fink said. “They will walk your property with you, both your side of the property line and the state park side. The environmental scientist will work with you to come up with a customized plan for your home. Usually that is some of the ideas of the resident, but we will also provide recommendations as well.”
But still, it costs $150.
The obligation to pay the state to get permission to clear brush next to a house does not sit well with some city council members. Council member Marianne Riggins:
“Those employees that are reviewing those applications are gonna be working regardless, so why charge so much for having the homeowner get those permits? I just wanna tell everyone, I got that notification, I got the letter in the mail because I live adjacent to one of the parks.”
California State Parks owns land in the Malibu Lagoon, at Bluffs Park, and along PCH west of Trancas.