Weeds & Overgrown Grass: San Mateo vs South San Francisco
How do weeds & overgrown grass rules compare between San Mateo, CA and South San Francisco, CA?
San Mateo and South San Francisco have similar restriction levels.
San Mateo, CA
San Mateo County
Unincorporated San Mateo County does not publish a lawn-height number in its general code, but the County's Notice of Violation forms apply an International Property Maintenance Code standard requiring overgrown and dead weeds and vegetation to be removed and kept at 18 inches or less. Separately, fire-hazardous weeds are abated under California Health and Safety Code authority.
View full San Mateo rules →South San Francisco, CA
San Mateo County
Unincorporated San Mateo County does not publish a lawn-height number in its general code, but the County's Notice of Violation forms apply an International Property Maintenance Code standard requiring overgrown and dead weeds and vegetation to be removed and kept at 18 inches or less. Separately, fire-hazardous weeds are abated under California Health and Safety Code authority.
View full South San Francisco rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | San Mateo | South San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance height standard | 18 inches or less (NOV / IPMC 302.4) | 18 inches or less (NOV / IPMC 302.4) |
| Source of standard | County Notice of Violation forms (IPMC) | County Notice of Violation forms (IPMC) |
| Nuisance abatement | 10-day notice; cost + 15% fee | 10-day notice; cost + 15% fee |
| Fire-hazard weeds | Cal. Health & Safety Code Sec. 14875 et seq. | Cal. Health & Safety Code Sec. 14875 et seq. |
| Defensible space | Cal. Public Resources Code Sec. 4291 (state) | Cal. Public Resources Code Sec. 4291 (state) |
| Enforcing agency | Planning & Building Code Compliance | Planning & Building Code Compliance |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
San Mateo FAQ
How tall can weeds or grass be before it is a violation?
The County's Notice of Violation forms, applying the International Property Maintenance Code, require overgrown and dead weeds and vegetation to be removed and kept at a maximum height of 18 inches or less. This is a property-maintenance threshold enforced by Code Compliance in the unincorporated area.
Is the weed rule the same as wildfire defensible-space clearing?
No. The 18-inch figure is a property-maintenance standard. Fire-hazardous vegetation is abated separately under California Health and Safety Code Section 14875 et seq., and defensible-space clearance around structures is governed by state law (Public Resources Code Section 4291), which can require more than the maintenance standard.
South San Francisco FAQ
How tall can weeds or grass be before it is a violation?
The County's Notice of Violation forms, applying the International Property Maintenance Code, require overgrown and dead weeds and vegetation to be removed and kept at a maximum height of 18 inches or less. This is a property-maintenance threshold enforced by Code Compliance in the unincorporated area.
Is the weed rule the same as wildfire defensible-space clearing?
No. The 18-inch figure is a property-maintenance standard. Fire-hazardous vegetation is abated separately under California Health and Safety Code Section 14875 et seq., and defensible-space clearance around structures is governed by state law (Public Resources Code Section 4291), which can require more than the maintenance standard.
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