Assessments for Forest Fire Protection.

Ala. Code tit. 9, ch. 13, art. 7, div. 2

in effect

Ala. Code § 9-13-180 “Forestlands” Defined.

9-13-180. “Forestlands” Defined. “Forestlands” shall mean any lands which support a forest growth, which under prevailing natural and economic conditions may be expected to support such a growth in the future or which is being used or reserved for any forest purpose. Such term shall not include any lands within an urban area which are primarily used for residential purposes nor shall it include any publicly owned lands. (Acts 1955, No. 552, p. 1208, §2.)

Ala. Code § 9-13-181 Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Authorized.

9-13-181. Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Authorized. The county commission of any county in this state is authorized, when the need therefor exists, to provide in the manner specified in this division protection against forest fires in such county by participating in the State Forestry Commission’s fire protection program. (Acts 1955, No. 552, p. 1208, §1.)

Ala. Code § 9-13-182 Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Authorized; Limitations.

9-13-182. Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Authorized; Limitations. Any county commission which provides forest fire protection to the persons and property of its county by participating in the State Forestry Commission’s fire protection program may in the manner specified in this division assess the whole or any part of the cost of such fire protection program, not in excess of $.05 per acre, to the owners of forestland in the county; provided, that such assessment is not greater than the benefit accruing to such forestland due to the availability of such fire protection. (Acts 1955, No. 552, p. 1208, §2.)

Ala. Code § 9-13-183 Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Determination of Need Therefor; Determination and Establishment of Amount.

9-13-183. Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Determination of Need Therefor; Determination and Establishment of Amount. The need for special assessments to provide forest fire protection within the county shall be determined by the county commission after a public hearing is held thereon. Such hearing shall be held by such body only after a petition signed by a majority of the total number of persons owning forestlands within the county has been presented thereto; provided, that such persons are the owners of more than one half of the forestland situated within the county. The county commission shall give 10 days’ notice of the time and place at which they shall meet to determine the need for a program in such county to provide protection against forest fires, the manner of financing a fire protection program, the part of the cost of such program to be assessed against owners of forestland and the manner of assessing the cost of such protection proportionately to each parcel or tract of forestland in the county. The notice of the meeting hereby required shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the county and shall also be posted at the courthouse of the county and in every post office within the county. Any person owning forestland in the county may appear in person or by attorney at such time and place and make defense against such assessment or the amount thereof. After such hearing the county governing body shall determine the amount of such assessment and enter on the minutes of the governing body an order fixing such assessment. (Acts 1955, No. 552, p. 1208, §3.)

Ala. Code § 9-13-184 Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Time and Manner of Payment; Reports to Tax Assessors; Lien on Property for Payment.

9-13-184. Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Time and Manner of Payment; Reports to Tax Assessors; Lien on Property for Payment. Any assessment fixed as provided in Section 9-13-183 shall be payable at the same time and in the same manner as county taxes, and the owner of the forestlands, as defined in this division, in those counties becoming subject to the provisions of this division shall make report of same to the tax assessor of the county at the time fixed by law for making return of other property of such property owner. Assessments made pursuant to this division shall constitute a lien on the property against which they are assessed and, in case of default in the payment of such assessments, the land may be sold in the same manner and under the same conditions that lands are sold for the satisfaction of liens for county taxes. (Acts 1955, No. 552, p. 1208, §4.)

Ala. Code § 9-13-185 Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Disposition and Expenditure.

9-13-185. Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Disposition and Expenditure. All moneys accruing to any county from the assessments as provided in this division shall be placed in the county treasury or depository, as the case may be, to the credit of a special fire protection fund, which fund shall be used or disbursed by said county commission only in participating in the State Forestry Commission’s fire protection program within such county under such procedures and policies as may be prescribed by the State Forestry Commission. Any unexpended balance in said fund at the end of any fiscal year shall remain therein for use during the ensuing fiscal year. (Acts 1955, No. 552, p. 1208, §5.)

Ala. Code § 9-13-186 Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Compensation of Officials Making or Collecting Same.

9-13-186. Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Compensation of Officials Making or Collecting Same. Any officer performing any duties relative to the assessing or collecting of assessments made pursuant to this division shall receive as compensation therefor the same fees and allowances that he would receive for the performance of similar duties relative to the collection of special county taxes. (Acts 1955, No. 552, p. 1208, §6.)

Ala. Code § 9-13-187 Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Removal.

9-13-187. Participation by County Commissions in Fire Protection Program of State Forestry Commission - Assessments Against Owners of Forestlands for Costs - Removal. The county commission in any county where the assessment provided for in this division has been adopted may, upon its own motion, remove said assessment at any time; provided, that no county commission may remove said assessment without first having a public hearing relative to the removal of the assessment. (Acts 1955, No. 552, p. 1208, §7.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026