Rialto Municipal Code §15.28.060 (Vacant Lot Clearance) requires owners of vacant lots and improved parcels to clear weeds, brush, rubbish, and combustible vegetation creating a fire hazard. The Rialto Fire Department administers an annual weed abatement program; non-compliant lots are cleared by the city with costs (plus an administrative fee) becoming a lien on the property.
Per Rialto Mun. Code §15.28.060, every owner of vacant land within the city must cut, remove, and dispose of weeds and combustible vegetation that constitute a fire hazard. Fire chief sends notice; owner has typically 30 days to comply. After the compliance window, the city contracts forced abatement and bills the owner (forced-abatement cost + 25%+ administrative overhead) which can be recorded as a tax-roll lien under Government Code §39574–39581. For parcels in or adjacent to the Cajon Pass/foothill WUI (north of the city), Cal. Public Resources Code §4291 separately requires 100 ft. defensible space around occupied structures: 5-ft. ember-resistant zone, 5–30 ft. lean/clean zone, and 30–100 ft. reduced-fuel zone. Cal. Government Code §51182 imposes similar 100-ft. requirements in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (VHFHSZ).
Non-compliance authorizes forced abatement at owner's expense with administrative overhead (often 25–40%) and a tax-roll lien. Continuing violations are infractions under Rialto Mun. Code §1.16 (up to $1,000 per occurrence) and may be escalated to misdemeanor for repeat offenders.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Rialto, CA
California Government Code §53087.7 (AB 349, 2015) bars cities and HOAs from prohibiting artificial turf on residential property. Rialto allows synthetic gra...
Rialto, CA
The Rialto Municipal Code's Title 9 (Public Peace, Safety and Morals) is the primary framework for nighttime curfew and related public-order rules; the publi...
Rialto, CA
Door-to-door commercial solicitation in Rialto is regulated through (1) RMC Title 5 Business Licenses framework — every person 'engaging in business' in the ...
Rialto, CA
Mobile food vending in Rialto requires (1) a City of Rialto Business License under RMC Title 5 (Business Licenses and Regulations, Chapter 5.04 General Provi...
Rialto, CA
Rialto Community Services & Recreation operates the city's parks (Frisbie Park, Jerry Eaves Park, Margaret Todd Park, Andreson Park, Bud Bender Park, and oth...
Rialto, CA
Commercial drone work in Rialto — real-estate photography, warehouse roof inspections, intermodal-yard surveying, film crews — is governed by FAA Part 107. T...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Bernardino County.
See how other cities in San Bernardino County handle brush clearance.
See how Rialto's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.