: DATE: April 7, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Supervisor Garry Bredefeld, District 2
Supervisor Nathan Magsig, District 5
Joe Prado, Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT: Amendment of Chapter 8.30 Related to the Land Application of Human-Derived Materials
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Conduct first hearing to amend the Fresno County Ordinance Code, Title 8 Health and Safety, Chapter 8.30 - Land Application of Biosolids, to add subsection 8.30.045; to amend subsections 8.30.010, 8.30.020, 8.30.040, and 8.30.070; to include prohibition on the land application of reduced human remains, or human compost, waive reading of the proposed Ordinance in its entirety, and set the second hearing for April 21, 2026;
2. Designate County Counsel to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed Ordinance; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to post and publish the required summary in accordance with California Government Code, section 25124(b)(1).
REPORT
The fiscal impact of the recommended actions are unknown at this time. Costs related to enforcement by Department of Public Health or collaboration with other County departments may be partially offset by payment of fees, citations, and allows for cost recovery of actual costs. The recommended actions will amend existing Chapter 8.30 of the Ordinance Code, related to the land application of human-derived materials, where subsection 8.30.045 is added, and subsections 8.30.010, 8.30.020, 8.30.040, and 8.30.070 are amended to prohibit the spreading, application, or integration of reduced human remains, or human compost, into the soil on land located in the unincorporated areas of Fresno County. This prohibition will not apply to private property that is not open to the public, except upon private land where food is grown that will be made available to the public.
Violations of the ordinance would include the unauthorized spreading, application, or integration of human-derived materials in ...
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