This Division oversees the city’s Landscaping & Lighting (L&L) Districts and Community Facilities Districts (CFDs) established to maintain city-owned streetscapes, streetlights, mini parks, and amenities within the Districts. For more information about each District and the associated yearly assessments contact Jamison Larson at 916-461-6675 or jlarson@folsom.ca.us.

Fire safety is a top priority for the City of Folsom. Crews contracted by the city began work in late fall 2023 to remove ladder fuel in open space areas, parks, and Landscaping and Lighting (L&L) Districts. Ladder fuel consists of living or dead vegetation, including lower branches on large trees, small trees, and shrubs that grow under the canopy of the larger trees. This vegetation is easily ignitable under the right conditions, allowing a low burning fire to vertically climb up from the ground and into the tree canopy. Canopy fires involve additional fuel which can rapidly spread and are much more difficult for fire crews to contain. To remove ladder fuel, tree limbs are typically pruned to a height of 8 to 10 feet above the ground.

This grant-funded project will continue in phased stages to clear ladder fuel from 357 acres over the course of three years. The Folsom Fire Department has identified the areas needing ladder fuel work based on criteria that include the type of vegetation, proximity to structures, and recent fire history. City staff from the fire department, the city arborist, park maintenance, and L&L divisions will monitor the work to ensure that the pruning maintains the health of the trees and the intended safety outcome. Work in open space areas that provide habitat for native species will be scheduled so as not to interfere with breeding or nesting seasons.

Effective management of ladder fuel helps preserve and protect Folsom’s neighborhoods, parks, and open space areas, maintains the habitat of native plants and animals, and provides fire crews with greater access in the event of a fire. Learn more about the city’s ladder fuel plan and the weed abatement and defensible space requirements for residents on the City of Folsom Fire Department webpage.

Phase I of the Ladder Fuel Removal Project was completed in February 2024, with a total of 137 acres cleared. Phase II is scheduled to begin at the end of the summer. Contact Jamison Larson, City of Folsom Municipal Landscape Services Manager, with questions about the ladder fuel removal project.

Ladder Fuel Removal Progress

Ladder Fuel Removal Map

Reducing wildfire risk is a priority at the City of Folsom. Weed abatement involves removing weeds, brush, and dry grasses from public areas and open space to help reduce fire hazards.

The Parks & Recreation Department manages more than 980 acres of open space areas in parks and the city's Landscaping and Lighting (L&L) Districts. About 300 of those acres are weed abated.

The city uses multiple weed abatement methods, including:

• The work of city maintenance staff and contractors
• Managed grazing: sheep and goats are used in select areas in Folsom to control vegetation instead of manual, mechanical, or chemical methods. The animals graze on weeds and invasive species, including Chinese tallows and Tree of Heaven. Protected trees and plants, including young oak trees and elderberry shrubs, are fenced off from the grazing animals.

The L&L District weed abatement schedule is based on fire hazard ratings determined by the fire chief. The city requires defensible space of at least 30 feet from a structure or to the property line. The fire chief may increase this distance to 100 feet for high-hazard areas. These requirements apply to city-owned property and private property.

 L&L District 2024 Weed Abatement Schedule

L&L District 2024 Weed Abatement Map

Call Municipal Landscape Services Manager Jamison Larson at 530-559-9929 or email with questions about the L&L District weed abatement program.

If you notice an area in need of weed abatement, check the abatement schedule to see if the area is scheduled. To report an unscheduled weed abatement need, use SeeClickFix Folsom or contact the Folsom Fire Department at 916-461-6300.

More information about weed abatement on privately-owned properties