Ceres, CA Fire Regulations: Brush Clearance (2026)
Key Facts
- Clearance duty
- Remove weeds/brush from entire parcel
- Large-parcel exception
- 30-ft perimeter clearance if over 20 acres
- Enforcement
- City Manager or Code Enforcement Officer
- Penalty
- Infraction; each day a separate offense
- Legal basis
- Adopts Gov't Code § 39560 procedures
Summary
Ceres requires property owners to clear weeds, brush, and other flammable growth that creates a fire menace. Parcels of 20 acres or more can satisfy the duty with just a 30-foot cleared perimeter around structures.
Weeds growing upon any lot or tract of land which appears on the assessment roll as a single parcel and exceeds 20 acres in size may be abated by the removal of such weeds from a 30-foot area around the entire perimeter of the parcel and around all structures situated thereon. In all other cases, weeds must be removed from the entire parcel.B.It is the duty of every owner of private property within the City to keep their property clear of and to remove all weeds, rubble, rubbish or other obstructions from the sidewalks and the half of the streets abutting their property. (Ord. No. 2020-1055, § 1, 1-27-2020)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 4).
Full Breakdown
Ceres Municipal Code Chapter 6.05 treats brush as a form of "weeds": sagebrush, chaparral, and any brush that grows large enough to become a fire menace when dry is declared a public nuisance the owner must abate. Every private-property owner must remove weeds, brush, rubble, and rubbish from their lot and from the abutting half-street and sidewalk. Parcels of 20 acres or more, shown on the assessment roll as a single parcel, satisfy the duty by clearing a 30-foot area around the entire parcel perimeter and around all structures on it; every other parcel must be cleared in full. The City Manager or a Code Enforcement Officer enforces the chapter, using abatement procedures adopted by reference from Government Code § 39560 et seq.
Violations & Fines
Violating the weed/brush abatement duty is an infraction under § 6.05.060; each day the fire-hazard growth remains is a separate offense, and the City can abate it and lien the property for costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ceres regulate brush as a fire hazard?
How much of my land do I have to clear?
What happens if I don't clear it?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ceres
California rules heatmap·Compare Ceres to another location·View the California fire regulations overview
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