Mendocino County directs agricultural commissioner to use AB 732 and county nuisance tools on neglected vineyards

The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors on May 20 directed the Agricultural Commissioner to begin work using existing county nuisance authority and, where appropriate, the state’s AB 732 enforcement tool to address neglected and abandoned vineyards that threaten neighbors with pests, diseases and wildfire hazards.

What staff said: Agricultural Commissioner Angela Godwin told the board the office has received at least 10 informal complaints over recent months about vineyard blocks that were poorly maintained or abandoned. Godwin said neglected blocks can become reservoirs for pests and pathogens—naming powdery mildew, vine rots and insect vectors such as sharpshooters that carry Pierce disease—and that these infestations can spread to neighboring active vineyards and harm quality and insurance coverage. She listed education and outreach as the preferred first step.

What AB 732 adds: Godwin described AB 732 as a new enforcement option (effective this year) that gives counties a civil‑penalty mechanism to encourage faster compliance. In the meeting transcript she said the law allows for civil penalties that “could be set up to $500 per acre, increasing to a higher amount if no good‑faith effort is shown within 45 days”; the transcript contains a garbled higher figure, so the exact escalation amount is not specified in the record provided to the board. Godwin said existing county nuisance and abatement processes remain available.

Public input and industry reaction: Grower representatives, including Lorenzo Pacini of Shannon Ranches and the Farm Bureau, urged the county to align its rules with state standards and adopt AB 732‑based procedures quickly to protect operating growers. Some public commenters warned that owners who can’t afford maintenance need assistance; growers and industry groups countered they want a level playing field and urged adoption of established RMA/USDA best practices.

Board action: Supervisor Williams moved—and the board unanimously approved—a direction for the Agricultural Commissioner to begin using available authority to ensure vineyards meet a minimum standard of maintenance and to pursue compliance under AB 732 where appropriate, within department staffing and budget constraints. The board asked staff to return with a formal process and recommended procedures for complaints, inspections and enforcement.

Next steps: Ag staff will refine complaint forms and case‑tracking, share best‑management‑practice guidance with landowners and stakeholders, and build a step‑by‑step enforcement procedure for board review. Commissioner Godwin warned the work will require staff time and additional resources if the problem expands.

Why this matters: Mendocino County’s grape industry is locally important and clustered; unchecked pest reservoirs can reduce yields and harm the economic viability of nearby growers. The board’s direction creates an enforcement pathway that pairs education with potential civil penalties under state law, while leaving room for case‑by‑case discretion.