9 rules for unincorporated Modoc County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Modoc County has no ordinance setting a numeric grass or weed height for residential yards. Overgrowth is handled case-by-case as a public nuisance under County Code Chapter 8.20, and fire-driven vegetation clearance is set by California state law (PRC 4290/4291), which the county adopts by reference in Chapter 8.31.
Unincorporated Modoc County has no general tree-trimming ordinance or permit for private trees. Routine pruning is unregulated. The practical trimming obligations come from California's defensible-space law (PRC 4291) for clearance around structures, which the county adopts by reference, plus the airport-hazard zone limits on tree height near the airport.
Unincorporated Modoc County has no tree-preservation or tree-removal permit ordinance for private trees on developed residential parcels. Removing trees on your own land is generally unregulated by the county. Commercial timber harvesting on Timberland Production zoned land is instead governed by California's Forest Practice Act and CAL FIRE.
Unincorporated Modoc County has no standalone weed-abatement chapter; the old nuisance-abatement ordinance was repealed and replaced by Chapter 8.20. Hazardous vegetation is abated as a public nuisance under Chapter 8.20, while wildfire vegetation clearance follows California state law (PRC 4290/4291), adopted locally in Chapter 8.31.
Modoc County Code Section 8.31.010
The fire hazard severity maps designate fire hazard severity zones and implement the requirements pursuant to PRC Sections 4290 and 4291 as follows: ... B. Defensible space vegetation clearance requirements of PRC Section 4291 in Local Responsibility Area (LRA) lands designated Very High (VH) severity.
Unincorporated Modoc County imposes no county-wide outdoor watering schedule. Water-use limits come from California state law: the State Water Resources Control Board's statewide conservation regulations and the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), which the county incorporates by reference for qualifying landscape projects in County Code Section 8.03.130.
Modoc County Code Section 8.03.130(b)
Property owners or their building or landscape designers ... who are constructing a new ... project with a landscape area greater than 500 square feet, or rehabilitating an existing landscape with a total landscape area greater than 2,500 square feet, shall comply with Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B)(C), (D), and (G) of the MWELO ...
Unincorporated Modoc County has no ordinance specifically addressing rainwater harvesting; a search of the county code returns no 'rainwater' provisions. Residential rain barrels and rooftop catchment for outdoor use are governed by California state law, principally the Rainwater Capture Act, which lets property owners capture rooftop rainwater without a water-rights permit.
Unincorporated Modoc County does not require or restrict native or drought-tolerant landscaping; a code search returns no 'native plant' or 'drought-tolerant' provisions. The relevant guidance is California's defensible-space law (PRC 4291), adopted in County Code Chapter 8.31, which shapes fire-wise plant choices and spacing near structures.
Unincorporated Modoc County has no ordinance addressing artificial turf; a code search returns no 'artificial turf' provisions, and the zoning code does not regulate it. Synthetic turf is generally allowed on private property without a county landscaping permit, subject only to standard building, grading, and drainage rules.
Unincorporated Modoc County regulates organic waste through County Code Chapter 8.03 (Organic Waste Disposal Reduction), the county's SB 1383 implementation. Single-family residents are encouraged to manage organic waste on site through backyard or community composting, and qualifying landscape projects must use compost and mulch under the MWELO provisions in Section 8.03.130.
Modoc County Code Section 8.03.060(b)
Single-family solid waste generators are encouraged to manage their organic waste by preventing or reducing their organic waste, managing organic waste on site, and/or using a community composting site pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18984.9(c).
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