Tehama County board declares Cottonwood property a public nuisance, authorizes abatement and cost recovery

The Tehama County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously March 10 to declare a property at 18975 Jewell Road in Cottonwood a public nuisance and to authorize county abatement and cost accounting if the owner does not remedy violations.

The action adopted the planning commission’s recommended decision in case CE25-29 after Code Enforcement Officer Ron Robbins presented drone and ground photos showing multiple large animals, unregistered and inoperable vehicles, and a history of prior enforcement dating to 2019. Robbins told the board, “We are asking that this be declared a public nuisance so we can take a more aggressive action if needed.”

The board’s decision follows earlier enforcement steps, including a warning limiting the owner to three large animals and a 2025 lien on the property for unresolved violations. Neighbor Robert Goble testified the site had generated flies and unsanitary conditions, saying, “This is all right in here is all full of chickens, ducks, geese, and goats… It’s a disaster. It needs to be cleaned up.”

Why it matters: Board members said the volume of animals (Robbins counted seven horses from the drone photos), vehicles and related storage raised public-health and code concerns and had frustrated nearby residents. Supervisors pressed staff on enforcement mechanics, including impoundment, holding facilities and potential court injunctions to prevent animals from being returned to the property.

Robbins said the county can place animals in a holding facility and seek to recover impound and care costs from the owner; he also told the board that a court injunction would likely be required to prevent the owner from bringing animals back permanently. The deputy said the county has already placed a lien on the property for outstanding violations.

The board approved two motions by roll call. The first asked the board to adopt the planning commission’s recommended decision declaring the existence of a public nuisance at the property; the second authorized the enforcing officer to abate the nuisance if not corrected by the owner and to keep an itemized account of abatement costs to be charged against the premises under Tehama County code chapter 10.16. Both motions passed 5–0 (Supervisor Hansen, Supervisor Zane, Supervisor Burrows, Vice Chair Jones and Chair Walker voting yes).

The board did not order punitive fines beyond cost recovery at the hearing; Robbins and supervisors noted that additional remedies such as injunctions would require further court action. The county will proceed with abatement steps if the owner does not come into compliance.