SLMC §3-2-205 caps grass and weeds at 4 inches in height citywide; properties in the newly mapped High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (adopted June 2025 from CAL FIRE 2025 maps) must also meet Public Resources Code §4291 / Government Code §51182 defensible space - 100 feet of clearance around structures.
Two parallel rules govern vegetation clearance in San Leandro. (1) Citywide nuisance rule: SLMC §3-2-205 (Property Maintenance Standards) requires grass and weeds to be kept under 4 inches in height on all residential properties; SLMC §3-1-200 declares dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous trees, weeds, or other vegetation visible from the street to be an unlawful property nuisance. Overgrown vegetation likely to harbor rats or other vermin is separately prohibited. (2) Wildfire defensible space: On Feb 24, 2025, CAL FIRE released updated Local Responsibility Area (LRA) Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. San Leandro's 2025 maps added Moderate and High FHSZ designations in the hillside neighborhoods east of I-580 (Bayfair/Estudillo/Bay-O-Vista area along the East Bay hills); the prior Very High zones were eliminated. The City Council adopted the new maps in mid-June 2025. Properties in High or Very High LRA FHSZ must comply with California Public Resources Code §4291 / Government Code §51182, which require 100 feet of defensible space (Zone 1: 30 ft of lean/clean/green; Zone 2: 30-100 ft of reduced fuel). California's new Zone 0 (ember-resistant 0-5 foot zone) under AB 3074 / PRC §4291(a)(4) is being phased in by State Board of Forestry regulation. Alameda County Fire Department (which provides fire service to San Leandro) inspects defensible space in mapped zones annually.
SLMC §3-2-205 / §3-1-200 violations are enforced by Code Enforcement under SLMC Title 1, Chapter 1-12 (administrative citations) - typically a courtesy notice, then a $100 first citation, $200 second, $500 third and subsequent, plus city cost-recovery if the City abates the weeds. Defensible space violations under PRC §4291 / Gov Code §51182 are infractions punishable by fines from $100 (first violation) to $500 (subsequent), and the local fire agency may abate and lien the property.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Leandro, CA
SLMC §4-1-1115 prohibits use of any loudspeaker, loudspeaker system, public address or similar device between 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. when it disturbs neigh...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro is unusual among Bay Area cities: SLMC Article 11 sets only one numeric noise threshold — 5 decibels above ambient at the complainant's property ...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro does not recognize any 'dibs' or 'savie' parking custom. Public streets are public space — placing chairs, cones, garbage cans, or other objects ...
San Leandro, CA
Permitted fence/wall materials are wood, steel, finished concrete, and stucco. Chain-link and corrugated metal fencing are prohibited. Street-facing fences m...
San Leandro, CA
Retaining walls 4 feet or less measured from bottom of footing to top of wall are exempt from a building permit, unless they support a surcharge (e.g., drive...
San Leandro, CA
San Leandro has no standalone hoarding statute, but SLMC §4-11-1100 caps household dogs at two and applies an Animal Permit requirement to additional animals...
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